ALTHOUGH undoubtedly a solemn and serious occasion, the turnouts seen at Remembrance Day are surely to be celebrated.

The message about the sacrifices our armed forces personnel have made through the decades in conflicts across the world is being spread down through the generations.

Youngsters are learning about the consequences of war and learning to appreciate what those who came before them have given up for their benefit.

A family from Australia who were visiting commented on their surprise at the wide range of ages at the service.

There were plenty of youngsters among the crowds, including at Marlow, where a staggering 5,000 people are estimated to have turned up in total.

It would be easy to move on and think of wars as a thing of the past, something our grandparents fought. But still today, our brave servicemen and women and travelling the globe and have been fighting in conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan in recent times.

Ultimately, the services and parades which went on throughout Bucks and the country at the weekend are about remembering. The point of not forgetting is hopefully not to repeat the same mistakes - but also to appreciate what the fallen did for this country. So, to see them being so well attended and enthusiastically marked is encouraging.

Next year, the service will be even more significant, marking as it will, the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of World War One.

It is incredible to think that a whole century will have passed since The Great War - though also sad that the terrible lessons it taught have not prevented further bloodshed throughout the consequent decades.

Let's hope that it will be a cause to enlighten our younger generations even further about the horrors of war and the importance of remembering those who laid down their lives so that they can today live free.