Mr Mayor, Honoured Guests, Sirs, Ladies and Gentlemen,

May I begin with a word of thanks for the kind invitation to allow me, on behalf of the British Embassy and the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces, to pay tribute to the bravery and courage of these six airmen; also for the warm welcome that has been extended today to my wife Michelle and me on this auspicious occasion.

It is especially poignant for me to remember members of the Royal Air Force, and I would like to mention them individually here:
Wg Cdr Edward Lart, Plt Off Maurice Gillingham, Sgt Augustus Beeby, Plt Off Clive Wigley, Sgt Arthur Patchett, and Sgt Archibald Morrison. 
Brave men, without the likes of whom our lives would be very different today.

I always feel mixed emotions at these events: sadness at the loss of brave young men, but also admiration of the selfless acts of courage which so many displayed
in the fight against oppression and tyranny all those years ago.

Many cannot imagine today what it must have been like to live through a World War, but there were many special bonds of comradeship and friendship formed in
those days of adversity and a sense of common purpose to protect the ideals of democracy, freedom of speech, human rights and the rule of law.  Ideals which are embedded in both our countries’ cultures, traditions and laws, and often taken for granted in this new century.  A special friendship has existed between our two
countries ever since and continues to flourish, making me proud on a personal level to be serving in Denmark at this time.

Whilst we should commemorate the fallen from the Second World War and honour their memories, we should also remember those who continue to make the
ultimate sacrifice for our most important freedoms.  Denmark and the United Kingdom have continued to be brothers in arms in Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan and more recently in Libya and Mali, upholding the principles that our countries value so greatly.  Sadly, upholding these ideals has also seen both our countries lose young
men – and women – in the continued struggle against oppression and the fight to protect human rights.  Support from family, friends and communities continues
to be essential for these young men and women, enabling them to perform their duty with confidence and pride.

Thank you again for your warm welcome and for the community efforts to ensure that these brave men will not be forgotten.  I must especially thank Ole Rønnest
who has worked hard to ensure the success of this event and has personally hosted us today, making it such a memorable event.  Finally I would like to thank all
of you from the local community who turned out today to pay their respects and ensure that the fallen will be remembered.

Thank you all.