AS time passes, we should never forget the men and women who have inspired us or who have, through their actions, changed the course of our history.

But neither should we forget that every time this country has been threatened or has chosen to defend hard-won freedoms, many ordinary men and women have also answered the call, put their country before their own well-being and sometimes, sadly, paid the ultimate price for their endeavour.

This Sunday, up and down the country, we will remember these men and women and the sacrifices that they have made - armed services, police, fire and a range of voluntary organisations that helped defend the home front.

It is very important at this time of the year that everybody takes the time to recognise the sacrifice that our service men and women have made in recent wars in the service of our country.

People can and should wear their British Legion poppies with pride and, if they can, attend a Remembrance Day service. Given the magnitude and, in many cases, the severity of the sacrifices made, remembrance should not be too much to ask for.

I actually think that this matters more as fewer of the veterans from the First World War are still with us, rather than less. I have attended the Remembrance Day parade at Harrow Civic Centre for the best part of the last 20 years and have done very proudly and with respect.

I hope that people in Harrow will forgive me, but I cannot be there this year as I have been asked to attend the Whitehall parade, as the police have been asked to lay the wreath this year on behalf of the civilian services contingent.

Everyone knows that many in the civilian services also served, some making the ultimate sacrifice, and I will be very proud as Policing Minister to inspect and address the civilian services with Sir Ronnie Flanagan, Chief Inspector of Police, before he goes to lay the wreath at the Cenotaph.

It will be strange for me not to be in Harrow on this important occasion, but I can assure everyone, especially the veterans, that I will be with them in spirit and, that, I will bring a little of Harrow's pride in the sacrifice made to the Cenotaph event.

The more that we can do to recognise the sacrifice of Harrow people, especially the First and Second World Wars, the better. The more that we can say "We will remember them" and mean it in actions as well as spirit - the better.

The more that we remember those who have served all year round rather than on one day a year - the better.