Dame Vera Lynn praises Armed Forces (From Crewe Guardian)

Dame Vera Lynn praises Armed Forces

6:08am Sunday 2nd November 2008 in

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Dame Vera Lynn has spoken of her admiration for the Armed Forces as she launched a new anthology of poetry dedicated to and written by service personnel and their families.

The 'Forces Sweetheart' paid tribute to their bravery and sacrifice as she talked about the importance of the written word as an emotional outlet during times of war.

In a penned introduction to Voices of the Poppies, Dame Vera, said: "To see this tradition still flourishing in the fertile minds of today's young men and women of our armed forces is gratifying and humbling. They leave us such a precious legacy which is matched by their courage, honour and duty. We must never forget them."

Speaking during the book's launch at Jubilee Library in Brighton, East Sussex, Dame Vera drew parallels between the poems and the lyrics to her famous wartime songs such as We'll Meet Again.

She said: "I think it's a wonderful idea that these people have the opportunity of putting their thoughts and feelings into words. It isn't always easy to express what you really feel. That is why I have always thought how important music and songs were during the war years.

"When I was singing I felt I was the go-between for all those sweethearts left behind. In listening to the songs and hearing the words it was as if they were speaking to their loved ones individually."

Among those in the audience was Graham Knight, who lost his youngest son Sergeant Benjamin James Knight, 25, in the Nimrod crash in Afghanistan on September 2, 2006.

He contributed to the anthology alongside other parents and children. In the book's foreward he said: "I wrote my poem through a veil of tears and read it out at Ben's funeral. The act of putting my thoughts into writing somehow helped me to move on a few steps."

Dame Vera also spoke of the importance of Remembrance Sunday. She said: "Just because it happened a long time ago, doesn't mean to say people must forget and of course all the wars that break out everywhere now makes them remember more. The last war was supposed to be the 'War to end of all Wars' but it hasn't proved to be. It's very sad."

Proceeds from the work will go towards Flow for All, the Forces Literary Organisation Worldwide. The new charity of which Dame Vera is patron, gives help to those affected by war.