LAST Saturday, I attended the annual flag raising at Newbridge as part of the celebrations for Veteran's Day.

Young and old turned out to thank our veterans for the service they have given to our country.

It is now 70 years since the end of the Second World War, in that time we have lived in relative peace. It is therefore easy to take the freedoms we enjoy today for granted.

We teach our children that these freedoms were hard-fought and won by our forebears on the battlefields of the Somme, over the English Channel, the beaches of Normandy and so many other historic sites.

Each November, on Remembrance Day, we rightfully honour and give thanks to those heroes who have died in the line of duty. They sacrificed their lives to protect us from threats at home and abroad.

But we must remember to show our utmost support and respect for the 157,000 serving members of the Armed Forces, and those still living who have served during their lifetimes. June 27th – Veteran’s Day – is a day for celebrating them.

We live in an increasingly unstable world. Old rivalries are beginning to come to the fore once again. Instability is spreading through the Middle East, in Ukraine, and in other parts of the world. Yet we feel secure on our island, safe in the knowledge that the bravery of our Armed Forces protects us from these threats.

Every day they put their lives on the line in the most difficult and dangerous circumstances imaginable. We sent thousands of troops into Afghanistan to defeat the terrorist threat, and many are still there to train the Afghan Military so local forces can continue the fight independently.

We must ensure that our returning servicemen and women are given the level of respect and support they deserve when they come home. The terrible violence they suffer in the line of duty often leaves them with life-changing consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder, difficulty re-integrating into civilian life, and serious injuries.

Figures obtained by a BBC Panorama investigation showed that, in 2012, 21 serving soldiers and 29 veterans took their own lives.

Over the same year, 40 were killed while fighting the Taliban. It is devastating to know that suicide accounted for more losses than combat.

We owe them so much for the crucial work they do to keep us safe, and we must celebrate, honour and thank them for our freedom.