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David Norfield, Anglican Priest and Chaplain:

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There have been 3 themes to the RAF100 events across this centenary year 鈥� Commemorate, Celebrate and Inspire. Three words that flow 鈥榯rippingly off the tongue鈥�, as Shakespeare might put it, but each with a clear and different emphasis. The RAF community gathering at Westminster Abbey later this morning will Commemorate the past; remember those groundcrew and aircrew that were foundational in the early years of the last century and the generations that have served and sacrificed across the hundred years since.

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When you think about it Sarah in those early days they were adventurers as much as aviators 鈥� I mean, aircraft were made from wood, canvas, wires and no small degree of hope; they really were 鈥榯hose magnificent men in their flying machines鈥�.

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Today is also very much about Celebrate and Inspire. It鈥檚 about celebrating the wide-ranging role of the modern RAF and about that鈥檚 far more than its air power. It鈥檚 about service at home whether it鈥檚 mountain rescue; or in times of flood, or of fire on the Moors around Manchester; and abroad it鈥檚 about delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged, or to flood, famine, earthquake or tsunami survivors.听听

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Today is also about inspiring a new generation to want to 鈥榬each for the sky鈥� whether that鈥檚 serving as aircrew, engineers, caterers, administrators, or even as chaplains from across the world faiths.

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Throughout history 鈥榟olding the high ground鈥� has been a military doctrine 鈥� it鈥檚 why towns and forts were built on hills 鈥� and this last hundred years has seen the RAF go ever higher - from air to space and now to cyberspace. When you stop to think about it Sarah, it鈥檚 hard to take in just how much change has happened in such a short time span.

Sometimes the speed of change can leave us behind or feeling 鈥榣ost鈥�; but, people of all faiths recognise that no matter how high we might take ourselves physically there is always a higher place for us to seek in our virtues and our values, in our daily living and in our aspirations.

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St. Augustine reflected that when he declared that 鈥渙ur hearts are restless until they find their rest in God鈥� 鈥� the irony of that, is that this highest ground is closer than the heavens, it鈥檚 closer than air, space or cyberspace - it鈥檚 as close as our very next breath.