At 105 years old, Don's presence at today's commemoration was a powerful reminder that history is not just something we read about in books, for a precious few, it is something they lived through.
A former Paratrooper, Don served his country during one of the most challenging periods in modern history. Like so many of his generation, he answered the call to serve, putting duty before self and helping to secure the freedoms that many of us enjoy today.
TheRoyal British Legion Enfield Branch said "it was an absolute honor to assist Don as he laid a wreath and paid his own personal respects to the friends and colleagues who made the ultimate sacrifice on D-Day and throughout the Second World War. Standing alongside him, it was impossible not to reflect on the extraordinary courage of those young men and women who faced unimaginable circumstances in the service of their country."
The D-Day landings involved Allied forces from across the world, including personnel from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Poland, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Denmark and Czechoslovakia. Together, they changed the course of history.
As the years pass and fewer veterans remain to share their stories firsthand, moments like these become even more important. They remind us not only of the sacrifices that were made, but also of our responsibility to ensure those stories are never forgotten.
Today, we remember all those who served.
Today, we remember all those who never came home.
And today, we thank people like Don Howkins, whose courage and sacrifice helped shape the world we live in.
We will remember them.
Thank you to Royal British Legion Enfield Branch for sharing photos and a very special event with Love Your Doorstep
