WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
Remembrance is, at its core, about continuity; it is the thread that runs through generations - binding past, present and future through shared values of courage, duty and gratitude. It is not static; it evolves with each telling, each ceremony, each name spoken aloud. Mike Harbon understands that continuity more deeply than most because, for him, remembrance is not only about honouring those who served - it’s about carrying forward a family legacy that has shaped his identity.
Mike Harbon – Generations of Service
A proud Royal Navy veteran, Mike served from 1973 to 1979, first as a Signalman and later as a Tactical Radio Operator 1st Class. His work took him far beyond familiar shores - across the Mediterranean, through the Pacific Islands, and deep into NATO operations that demanded precision, discipline and trust. Life at sea meant long stretches away from home, the hum of the engines replacing the stillness of sleep, and the ocean itself becoming both ally and adversary.
But Mike’s connection to the military reaches far beyond his own service. It’s woven into his family’s history - his father, brothers, uncles, grandfathers and great-grandparents all wore the uniform before him. It’s a lineage built on shared purpose, sacrifice and pride.
That heritage gave him a lifelong understanding of what remembrance truly means. It isn’t just two minutes of silence once a year - it’s a constant acknowledgement of those who came before, and a commitment to live by the values they defended. For Mike, remembrance is active, not passive. It’s in the way you raise your children to understand respect, in the way you carry yourself, and in the gratitude you feel for those who never came home.
His design for the 2025 Remembrance Coin captures that belief perfectly. It depicts three generations of service - a grandfather, a father and a son - standing together in quiet strength. Their uniforms may differ, but their posture, their pride and their purpose are the same. In the background, the ship Mike once served on sails steadily across calm seas - a symbol of both movement and memory, of how service carries on, one generation after another.
To accompany the image, Mike chose words that reflect his deep sense of reverence:
“A message of sombre respect, remembrance, and the importance of showing gratitude to those prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.”
Those words are not mere sentiment; they speak about something enduring - the understanding that every freedom we enjoy today was built upon the courage of those who served yesterday. As Mike sees it, remembrance is the bridge that connects sacrifice to legacy - it’s the way we ensure that names do not fade into history, but live on through storytelling, tradition and collective gratitude.
Across the nation, that same spirit plays out in countless small gestures: a wreath laid at a memorial, a poppy pinned to a coat, a letter tucked away in a drawer. Each act is part of the same continuum, reminding us that peace was earned and that freedom carries a cost worth remembering.
When Mike speaks of remembrance, he speaks not only for himself, but for every family that has ever stood in uniform - and for every parent, partner or child who has waited for a knock on the door, hoping it would never come. His coin honours them all.
More than a piece of metal, it is a symbol of lineage and gratitude - a tribute to those who served before, a promise to those who will serve after, and a quiet reassurance that their sacrifices will never be forgotten. Mike’s story reminds us that remembrance is not just about loss - it’s about legacy, endurance, and the unbroken chain of service that defines who we are as a nation.
