You can make a difference!

A few weeks ago I heard the following quote on the radio: "If you think you're too small to make a difference, you've clearly never been in bed with a mosquito!"

Really made me think. It's very easy to feel insignificant in the big world we live in and I find myself reminded of this frequently - whether it be stuck on the motorway with hundreds of other cars or travelling on the tube in London, wandering round the shops or even looking at the number of people who blog!

I was then reminded again this week of the importance of following through with beliefs and convictions and the wider difference that can make, when I read the story of Edna Wallace, who sadly died last week at the age of 89. Along with her husband, she changed military history and made a difference to the lives of thousands of people.

Edna's second son was 17yo when he died in 1965 while on duty with the Royal Anglian Regiment, three days after beginning a posting in Yemen. Edna and her husband, Jack, received this news via a telegram which told them that their son was presumed drowned after a swimming accident and to find out more, they could contact the War Office between 10am and 4pm Mon-Fri.
The couple were advised that the funeral would be held within hours. No consideration that the family may have wanted to be present at the funeral. They did however gather the money together for a flight and made sure they were present for the funeral.

When they returned to the UK after the funeral, they focussed their energies on changing the way the war dead and their families were treated. After a campaign of thousands of letters and an appeal to the Queen, in 1967 it was announced in the House of Commons that in future, news of a soldier's death would be broken to the families by a senior officer from the regiment and that soldier's bodies would be brought home.

Then later, during the Falklands War, Edna also wrote to Margaret Thatcher, reminding her of the law change following the then Prime Minister's declaration that soldiers killed in conflict would be buried on the island.

What an amazing woman! One who stuck by what she believed to be right to ensure a change. We could do with more people like her in the world and I hope in some small way, some day, I may be able to have a positive impact that will benefit others.

Rest in peace Edna