IN 1918, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month' the fighting stopped after four years of vicious conflict.

Each year since then Britain has stopped for two minutes to pause and reflect on the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.

At the weekend, as usual, I attended a series of events in Dudley to pay my respects - not just to those who fought in the First World War, but to those who served in the Second World War and Korea and to those involved in more recent conflicts such as in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, and of course to our brave service men and women overseas today in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Along with Councillor Ali, we organised the first memorial service at the newly-restored Grazebrook memorial park in Grazebrook Road in Dudley.

Grazebrook Memorial Park has recently been cleaned of litter and graffiti, after a successful campaign by Councillor Ali. The service was taken by Father Tony Attwood, from St Thomas's Church and representatives from the British Legion led the tributes. Members of the Friends of Buffery Park took part as well.

I had no idea how many people would attend, but there must have been eighty local people there which showed me once again that people are feeling stronger than ever about remembering those who have made such huge sacrifices for the rest of us.

After that I popped along to see the huge march lead off in Gornal and congratulate the organisers before heading to Dudley for the town's main event at Coronation Gardens.

It's always a privilege for me to meet and speak to the veterans who have given so much for the rest of us and to remember those who have fought and lost their lives whilst serving their country and upholding the great British values of democracy, equality, freedom, fairness and tolerance.

But as well as remembering those from the past we must also look after those who are serving today.

We ask the armed forces to do a dangerous and difficult job involving huge risk and great sacrifice. In return we have not just a responsibility but a duty to provide support and respect. I have and will always press the government to ensure that it properly discharges its duty to our armed forces.

I think that it is also important to remember that when people sign up to the Armed Forces and voluntarily risk their own lives to protect our national security and interests abroad, it is not just the government that has a role to play. Society as a whole has a duty to ensure that our brave service men and women receive the care, support and respect that they deserve.

It was with this in mind that I have called on Dudley Council to organise civic receptions for those brave service men and women returning to Dudley from overseas tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. A welcome return to show our respect and gratitude is the very least that we can do for our armed forces.