It’s imperative that the sacrifices made to the nation by our armed forces should never be forgotten, and that future generations are made aware of the respect they deserve. Remembrance Sunday serves to ensure that this happens.
As in previous years, on Sunday people of all ages across the nation paid tribute to the sacrifice and commitment of those who have served in our armed forces and remembered all those who have died for their country in the First World War and all wars since.
I too paid my respects both at services in my constituency, and, the Thursday before I laid a wreath in Jerusalem to remember the Welsh Troops who died there during WW1.
Commemorative events, such as Remembrance Day and those for the Battle of the Somme, also provide us with the opportunity to evaluate how we, as a country, can better support our ex-servicemen and women.
An estimated 385,000 members of the current and ex-armed forces community live in Wales and Ministry of Defence statistics have suggested that there are 153,000 veterans amongst this population.
It is impossible to overstate the massive contribution that those serving in our armed forces make to keeping our nation safe, often at great personal risk and we owe it to them to provide the care and support they so richly deserve. However, unfortunately Wales is currently failing to deliver in this respect.
The previous Welsh Government adopted a disjointed approach towards services for ex-Armed Forces personnel, leaving many veterans without the proper signposting they need after leaving the services and making the transition into civilian life more difficult. Underfunding of Veterans NHS Wales has also left veterans without the immediate support and mental health referrals they sorely need.
As Chair of the Cross Party Group on the Armed Forces in the National Assembly, I have long been highlighting the fact that support for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is lacking and highlighting the dreadful impact of PTSD on many former service men and women, and their families.
In order to support and represent the specific needs of the Armed Forces community to the Welsh Government and our public service organisations Wales needs an Armed Forces and Veterans Commissioner. Such an approach has been used to great effect in Scotland.
The role of the third sector in providing services for veterans needs to be strengthened and expanded and it is also crucial that those in power listen to veterans regarding the pathways of care which work best for them. There needs to be more of an emphasis on veteran to veteran support and calls for veteran specific residential treatment centres should be given proper consideration.
We must all do more to remember and recognise the dedication and sacrifice that our armed forces make. Their professionalism and courage sets an example to young people across Wales and it is only right that we should show our appreciation and admiration by providing them with the support and top quality services they so deserve.