At 88 years old, Edinburgh veteran Chris Armstrong is preparing for a moment he has waited a lifetime to experience.
This November, Chris will travel to London with Sight Scotland Veterans to take part in the Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph, fulfilling a life-long ambition he never thought would become reality.
Chris completed his National Service between 1957 and 1959 and has always felt a deep connection to Remembrance. After developing cataracts and losing confidence in later life, he says Sight Scotland Veterans helped him regain his independence, make new friends and enjoy opportunities he never thought possible.
Now, thanks to the charity’s support, he will proudly march past the Cenotaph and salute His Majesty The King for the very first time.
He said: “Remembrance means a great deal to me. It’s such an important occasion to honour those who lost their lives. I remember the end of the war in our street when I was young. Two local heroes came home, one had lost an arm and the other had lost his sight. Those memories have stayed with me all my life.
“I lost two uncles and an aunt as a result of the World Wars, so Remembrance has always been very personal for my family. My brothers also served, and we have always taken time to remember the loved ones, friends and comrades who never came home.
“Every year we attend the Edinburgh Remembrance parade to pay our respects. It’s an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the true cost of war. So many people gave everything, and we owe them so much for the freedoms we enjoy today.”
Chris says he will be very proud and emotional to march in the Cenotaph Parade and owes so much to Sight Scotland Veterans for making it happen.
“I’ve always wanted to be part of the Cenotaph Parade, so I’m really excited and incredibly proud to be going. To march past the Cenotaph and salute the King is something I’ve dreamed about for many years, but I honestly didn’t think it would ever be possible.
“To be there with my friends from Sight Scotland Veterans means a huge amount. It will be an emotional day. Marching alongside veterans from across the country, remembering those we’ve lost and representing the veteran community is a real honour.
“After having problems with my sight, I never imagined I would have an opportunity like this. To be 88 years old and finally fulfil a lifelong ambition is something very special, and I can’t thank Sight Scotland Veterans enough for making it possible.”
Chris adds: “Sight Scotland Veterans has been a tremendous help to me. I’ve been part of the charity for around nine months and it has genuinely changed my life. I live in sheltered housing in Edinburgh and always look forward to my days at the Linburn Centre.
“When you have problems with your sight, it’s easy to lose confidence and start to think there are things you can’t do anymore. What Sight Scotland Veterans has shown me is that this is simply not true and there is still so much life to be lived.”
For more information visit sightscotlandveterans.org.uk
