Homeless Veterans Appeal: Help them to face their own No Man's Land this Christmas
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Those who fought in the First World War continue to be an inspiration to many of us. Their courage, their camaraderie, sometimes their stoical acceptance of events, meld into a quiet heroism that we can only admire and learn from.
For that is where real military history lies, in the hearts and memories of those who fought, wherever or whenever that was. If we listen to their stories, repeated again and again down the decades, we might learn how little war can achieve.
The quiet heroes are still with us, the Second World War veterans, of which fewer and fewer remain, and those who've served in conflicts around the world in the years since.
We must extend the same respect to all of those who have served in today's Armed Forces. Wherever they were stationed, whenever they leave their life of soldiering, however old they are – some will struggle as they face civilian life. We need to recognise this and we have a responsibility to ensure that, whatever their challenges, they have a place to call home. It's a fitting recognition of the sacrifices they have made and something of a tribute to those who served before them.
The writing of War Horse was inspired by a veteran from the First World War, a generation now lost to us. Right now, we have a new generation to take care of, who still share that feeling of kinship and survival.
The Christmas truce match, or matches, that marked the Christmas of 1914, show the power of the human spirit to triumph. We take great comfort knowing that soldiers reached across No Man's Land and found kinship in the most unlikely situation.
The message of helping soldiers who find themselves in a kind of No Man's Land today is a powerful one, especially at this time of year. Donating to the Homeless Veterans Appeal can help prevent soldiers and veterans facing their own No Man's Land this Christmas.
Michael Morpurgo is the author of 'War Horse'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments