Armistice Day sonnet shines light on enduring bonds forged through military service
Today, the National Memorial Arboretum, in Staffordshire, will lead the Nation in commemorating Armistice Day with a Service of Remembrance on the iconic Armed Forces Memorial.
Attended by HRH The Princess of Wales, the service will feature the reading of a specially commissioned poem by the Arboretum’s Poet in Residence, Arji Manuelpillai. “A Sonnet For Us All” reflects the importance of personal connections, experiences and bonds that are formed through military service; themes which are particularly close to The Princess’ heart.
“’A Sonnet For Us All’ captures the stories etched into the hundreds of memorials within the National Memorial Arboretum, it invites people to listen, reflect and consider the emotion that was the inspiration for these sculptures,” said Arji Manuelpillai, Poet in Residence at the National Memorial Arboretum. “I hope these words shine a light on the bonds and relationships that lay often hidden by the conflict. Those quiet acts of care, the friendships that endure, and the sense of duty that binds one generation to the next.
“These human connections, and the gentle responsibility to carry love forward, are themes that resonate not only with me, but also with HRH The Princess of Wales, for whom the importance of service and compassion lies especially close to the heart.”
“A Sonnet For Us All” By Arji Manuelpillai
When you speak of our country, do not speak of war.
Speak of the nurse who held a hand like her own father’s,
A lieutenant who embraced a soldier like his own brother.
Remember, sometimes those who go into burning buildings
burn brighter than the fire inside. Those who rise from burning
buildings carry scars we cannot see. If you speak of this country
speak of the widow who never stopped waiting, the sailor
who kissed a photo till it turned to ash in his hands,
or the pilots who meet in the pub to talk of anything but war.
You see love is a compass, love is a bugle mourning.
Love is sacrificing tomorrow so that a stranger can live today.
So when you speak of this country, do not think of it as a place.
Think of it as a feeling, the feeling of being loved, the duty to pass
that love to whoever needs it.
Arji Manuelpillai is a published poet and performer based in London whose work often explores themes of identity, Britishness and conflict. He has taken poetry to a broad range of settings including prisons, youth clubs, and cultural landmarks, including The Southbank Centre, The Barbican, and The Young Vic.
Since his appointment as Poet in Residence at the Arboretum in May 2025, Arji has composed a series of poems reflecting on the events of 1945. In addition to poems that complemented national events commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day, Arji has created the ‘Poetic Reflections’ audio poetry trail inspired by Arboretum memorials connected to conflict in the Far East during the Second World War.
Today’s Service of Remembrance on the Armed Forces Memorial at the Arboretum will begin at 10.45am with a two-minute silence at 11am followed by wreath laying. In addition to the Act of Remembrance and poetry recital, the service will include performances by members of Talent in the Ranks, the Arboretum’s artist development programme for members of the Armed Forces community, and all-female a cappella quintet Black Voices, associate partners of the Arboretum.
Once the service has concluded, Her Royal Highness will be invited to view newly dedicated names on the Armed Forces Memorial before meeting veterans in attendance at the service.
All public tickets to attend the service on the Armed Forces Memorial have now been allocated and parking for the morning is sold out. Visitors without a valid booking will not be able to gain entry to the Arboretum. Visitors without advance parking can arrive using alternative transport including local taxis and the Diamond Bus Service which runs directly to the Arboretum.
To learn more about Armistice Day at the National Memorial Arboretum, visit: https://thenma.org.uk/armistice
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