Trust pays tribute to past and present forces this Armistice Day

Graphic with the text Lest We Forget to commemorate Armistice Day.

This Armistice Day, healthcare colleagues from across the Trust paused for two minutes to pay heartfelt respects to the brave members of our Armed Forces community, both past and present.

Observed on the 11th of November each year, Armistice Day serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by those who have served in the military. It is a day when nations around the world unite to honour and remember those who have dedicated their lives in service to our country.

The Trust recognises the importance of this day and upheld the tradition of observing two minutes of silence, a powerful yet simple gesture that allowed colleagues to reflect on the courage and dedication of our Armed Forces community.

Trust staff pictured after the two minute silence

Ellie Valentine, Associate Director of Workforce & Organisational Development and Armed Forces employment lead at the Trust, commented: "Armistice Day is a time for us to come together as a community and as a nation to express our gratitude for the sacrifices made by our service members. We must never forget the courage and commitment of those who have defended our country."

"As a Trust, our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community remains unwavering. We are dedicated to preserving the memory of those who have served and continue to serve. As we pay tribute, we give thanks to our service members for the ongoing impact they have on our lives. We are committed to improving access to services for members of the Armed Forces community, reducing health inequalities, and supporting our workforce through training and education to provide specialist care for their specific needs. Our ‘Armed Forces Employee Network’ offers a space for employees connected to the Forces community to come together and share their experiences."

We were joined on the day by Sgt Bowles, from 212 Field Hospital.

A special thank you to our Estates team for the beautiful poppy displays and to Lynn Clegg for creating the wonderful post box topper honouring all those who served on foot, paw, hoof, and wing, now on display at Pinderfields Hospital.

The MY Choir also performed war time classics to commemorate the day.

Beautiful bright red poppy displays across Mid Yorkshire Teaching Hospitals