Heather's March Past the Cenotaph Blog for Armistice 2019
Our Treatment Centre Manager Heather Steers will once again be accompanying our veterans in the March Past. below, she explains what her role is on the day, how she calms the veterans and why it’s so important that Combat Stress is represented.
This month, the nation will pause for two minutes at 11am on Remembrance Sunday to remember the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces community. In Whitehall, London, 10,000 veterans will then participate in the March Past the Cenotaph to pay their respects to the fallen.
One of the most poignant sights each year, few watching are aware of the vital role that some of the participants in the March Past play to ensure veterans can fulfil their ambition of taking part. Many of the veterans supported by Combat Stress want to take part in the parade but it can be too overwhelming to attend.
For those who do go, they’re supported by my clinical team and me. It’s a very big day for our veterans and is often a challenge. We have plans in place in case they have a wobbly moment, such as sweets and aromas for mindfulness [to concentrate their mind], all the things we do here in the treatment centre.
The feeling when the march starts is just magical. We are quite close to the front, not far from the Chelsea Pensioners. It’s A Long Way To Tipperary is usually playing so we’ll walk down Whitehall singing it. To the side of us are lots of people in uniform, usually serving personnel, and they clap all the way down showing their respect to the veterans, which is massively moving. For example, if you have a Royal Green Jacket marching with you and you pass a group of Royal Green Jackets, there’ll be a huge cheer.
As you approach the Cenotaph everyone becomes very serious at that point. Everybody’s trying to make sure they have their steps right because the cameras are on them and they don’t want to let themselves down. Whoever’s got the wreath has to hand that over, so you have to time that right as a group. Then there’s the “eyes left” as you pass the Cenotaph to pay respect to the fallen.
The march continues and the crowd is there cheering. It’s such an uplifting moment. There have been times when the military wasn’t respected so to have that respect from the crowd and from those still serving is just so meaningful to the veterans. Marching this year, Combat Stress’ centenary year, will be a real moment to pause and reflect on where we were 100 years ago, and the work Combat Stress has undertaken to address the needs of veterans.
A century ago people were returning from the front line shell shocked and needing understanding. It’s important that at this year’s Remembrance Parade we look back and pay our respects not only to the fallen but to all those we’ve supported over the last 100 years.
