REMEMBRANCE Day has traditionally been a time where the sacrifices made in World War I and II have been marked with respect.

But as we pause in silent tribute for two minutes at 11am on Wednesday, November 11, the moment will have even greater resonance.

Our thoughts will not only turn to the loss of fallen heroes on the poppy strewn Flanders Fields, but to the deserts Afghanistan where so many servicemen and women have tragically died.

It will be a difficult time for many grief-stricken families, as Debbie John knows only too well — the conflict in Afghanistan claimed her 25-year-old son Corporal Dean John.

She and her Port Talbot family were left devastated at the news that he had died in a blast while travelling in a Jackal armoured vehicle on March 15, in Garmsir.

The dad-of-three was serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (Reme), attached to 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, when he lost his life alongside his comrade Corporal Graeme Stiff.

She said the sacrifices being made in Helmand Province should never be forgotten and that the war in Afghanistan had ensured Remembrance Day had even greater prominence.

"Afghanistan makes it more meaningful — but we have always respected Remembrance Day," she said.

"My father is an ex-Royal Marine and served for 22 years, it's always been part of my life.

"But this year it has been meaningful to us and the immediate family because of Dean.

"My son, Simon, is still serving and he is coming back for the march in Port Talbot on Sunday from the Civic Centre down to Taibach Memorial Park.

"There are going to be a few members of our family there."

The British death toll in Afghanistan, since operations began in 2001, currently stands at 230, and 179 were killed in Iraq.

Dean's mum said she continued to be reminded of her own loss every time a new death was reported.

In the last week alone, five British servicemen were killed by a rogue Afghanistan policeman and a member from 3rd Battalion the Rifles died following an explosion near Sangin on Thursday.

She added: "Afghanistan is a constant reminder, it's been a tragic time. You can't get away from the fact that another boy has been killed and that his family is going through the same thing.

"More people are focused on Remembrance Day now." The corporal's family has been invited along on Wednesday to a special unveiling of a plaque in his memory at Glan Afan Comprehensive School, in Station Road, Port Talbot, where he was a former pupil.

His mum is heavily involved in the setting up of a support group for service families in Wales, to help them along with those who have been bereaved.

She called on people to take time out this Remembrance Day to think about the risks being taken by the troops on the ground in the war-zone.

"I just want people to remember the boys for what they have sacrificed and remember the families they have left behind," she added.

Their immediate grief was shared by that of Lance Corporal Chris Harkett's Pontardawe family. Chris died just a day before Corporal John.

The pair were distant cousins.

Lance Corporal Harkett, of 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh, was killed in a blast in Musa Qala on March 14.

Chris's uncle Mike Warner, who lives in the Swansea Valley town, said he believed Remembrance Day was not only significant to his family, but had a greater meaning among the younger generation because of the Afghan conflict.

Mr Warner said: "You see youngsters wearing poppies — everyone is wearing poppies.

"Afghanistan is bringing it home to everyone.

"The younger generation has got mates out there, and it's on the news as well.

"Someone knows someone who has been injured, or has unfortunately been killed out there.

"To our family, Remembrance Day is extremely important."

He said this year's advertising around the Poppy Appeal had been geared towards a younger audience, with injured soldiers in their 20s and 30s being relied upon to promote the campaign.

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Mr Warner said the pain of his family's personal loss of Chris had proved difficult to deal with.

"They showed all the Welsh boys who had died in Afghanistan on TV and there was a picture of Chris on there, it's very, very hard," he added.

"But you seem to get some inner strength."

Although, the pain of losing a loved-one fighting against the Taliban never dulls.

Morriston-based mum-of-one Samantha Hetherington, is the sister of Port Talbot Lance Corporal Jonathan Hetherington, of 14 Signal Regiment, who died three years ago.

The 22-year-old was killed while fighting rebels in Southern Afghanistan, during August 2006.

Miss Hetherington said she found Remembrance Sunday a comforting time as she and other families came together to mark their loss.

She said would be at the Remembrance service being held at Briton Ferry and would then join in the march to the Cenotaph, where her brother's name is on a plaque.

"We will always go to our home town, it's more emotional," she said.

"Members from Jonathan's 14 Signal Regiment usually come down but they are currently out in Afghanistan, but we will always see Mark Morgan — Jonathan's Sergeant Major."

The 27-year-old, who will be taking her son Harrison, aged five, on the march for the first time, said she would also be attending the official service being held in Swansea's Castle Square.

"People should take a moment out to think about what people are doing for them," she added.

"We feel so bad for the families and know there are little pockets of grief opening up all over the country."

Brigadier Russ Wardle, Commander 160 (Wales) Brigade and head of the Army in Wales, added: "The sacrifice of those brave men and women who served their country must never be forgotten, even with the passing of generations.

"This year is particularly poignant.

"In the past 12 months the final three survivors that linked current generations with those that gave their lives in World War I sadly passed away.

"While this link may have been cut, we will continue to honour those that gave their lives on Flanders Fields — the freedom that we treasure today is lasting tribute to those that died in both World Wars and we will not forget their sacrifice."

He said: "This year also saw the end of the British military mission in Iraq.

"There is always a sense of relief at the end of any military operation, but over the course of operations in Iraq, 179 British soldiers gave their lives and we honour their sacrifice as well.

"The past week has again reminded us of the risks and sacrifices made by British and international servicemen and women in Afghanistan.

"It is an operation that continues to demand considerable sacrifice from our armed forces, the armed forces of 43 other allies and the Afghan National Security Forces.

"We all have a duty to honour the fallen of all generations and what they gave up so that the rest of us can live in freedom.

"Not only that, we also have a duty to care for those left injured by conflict and for those who have lost loved ones in conflict."

Bob Ainsworth, Secretary of State for Defence, said: "We will remember the sacrifice made by so many over generations in service of the country, in defiance of tyranny, in defence of freedom.

"Brave men and women are again defending our national interest in Afghanistan. Without our presence there, along with 41 other nations, our safety and security would be reduced.

"For me, the wearing of the red poppy in October and November is a tradition so familiar; so ingrained; so much a regular entry in the national diary, that it seems to mark the passing of the season as clearly as the falling of the leaves.

"We in Britain have a deep and abiding respect for our forces."