WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Remembrance means something different to everyone. For some, it’s standing still in the morning chill, poppy pinned to the heart. For others, it’s a quiet toast to absent friends or a letter never sent. There’s no single way to honour those who served - because remembrance, at its core, is personal.

Stephen Moran - A Life of Service

For Stephen Moran, it’s a lifelong act of reflection - a connection to his past, his brothers, and the comrades he’s carried in memory ever since his first day in uniform.

Stephen Moran, former Warrant Officer Class 1 (Regimental Sergeant Major) in the Royal Marines, served from 1987 to 2015 - nearly three decades of dedication to country, Corps and comrades.

Over his 28 years of service, Stephen’s career spanned continents and conflicts. From Afghanistan (four tours) and Iraq (two tours) to the Sierra Leone conflict, Balkans campaign, Northern Ireland, and numerous humanitarian and counter-piracy missions, his time in uniform was marked by both hardship and honour.

He served with RMR Scotland, 45 Commando, 42 Commando, 30 Commando IX Group, and 3 Commando Brigade HQ, later instructing at the Commando Training Centre RM in Devon - shaping the next generation of Royal Marines.

For Stephen, Remembrance Day is a moment to pause - not just for the fallen, but for everyone shaped by service. Each year, wherever he is in the world - whether in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Cyprus, Morocco, or back home in Devon - Stephen marks the day.

It’s a ritual he shares with his two younger brothers, both of whom also served. “We’re usually in three different places on November 11th, but it’s a family tradition now. The bond remains, no matter the distance.”

The poppy holds special meaning for Stephen - not as a decoration, but as a reminder.
“It symbolises sacrifice,” he says. “It’s not just tied to the conflicts I served in, or to the friends I lost - it goes beyond that. From the aftermath of the First World War to the modern-day operations of 2025, the poppy connects generations.”

For him - and for so many veterans like him - remembrance isn’t an event marked once a year; it’s a quiet vow repeated every day: to remember, to honour, and to never forget.

His coin design is stark, powerful and deeply human - it depicts a soldier kneeling at a gravestone, laying flowers in solemn tribute. Behind him, a map of the globe symbolises the breadth of his service and the reach of remembrance. His chosen words are simple, yet eternal:
“We will remember them, and we must always remember them.”

Stephen’s story gives voice to the countless servicemen and women who live with invisible scars. His design reminds us that remembrance is not just about honouring the fallen - it’s about standing beside the living, those who carry the memories of their comrades every day.

As a nation, we mark Remembrance Day not because it’s tradition, but because it’s necessary. It grounds us in gratitude and ensures that the lessons of sacrifice are never lost to time.