Just because someone has won a talent contest or is particularly good at sport does not mean they are a hero. Too often, we are quick to label someone as brave or daring just because they have scored the winning goal or have sold a million records. Successful they may be but a hero?
Perhaps this was the question we should have asked in the past week during the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. Hundreds of veterans, who helped defeat fascism in their youth, revisited Normandy to remember their fallen comrades.
When those men took part in operations on that June day, they did not know if they would be alive at the end of it. Sadly, as we know, many of those young people who landed made the ultimate sacrifice.
For those who remained, they did not boast about their experiences but got on with the job of building a world free of tyranny and fascism.
It was with these thoughts in mind when I was given the honour of presenting 93-year-old Newbridge veteran, Ron Jones with a commemorative 75th-anniversary pin. At only 19 years of age, Ron was a member of the Royal Corp of Engineers who landed on the beaches of Normandy. If anybody deserves recognition and respect it is Ron.
However, it is not just the World War Two generation who deserve our gratitude. Earlier this month, Newport East MP Jessica Morden and I met with veteran and Royal British Legion member, Chris Headon. He told us of the good work the charity does to support veterans whether they have been in conflict or not.
That is why events like Armed Forces Day, which we will mark in Islwyn at Waunfawr Park, Cross keys between June 22 and 23, are vitally important. It will be a real opportunity for the community to come together to thank our veterans for the freedoms we enjoy today and recognise them as the heroes they really are.