THIS year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

It is a long time ago - practically two generations ago - and memories are beginning to fade.

However, we are confident that by the time the official commemoration of the anniversary comes around on July 10 - midway between Victory in Europe Day in May and Victory Against Japan Day in August - the anniversary will have toppled the latest reality TV antics as the talking point of the moment.

It is important that we do remember.

It is important to acknowledge the sacrifices made by our predecessors - "thanks for our future" is the Government's tagline for the commemoration which is a little trite but does express the huge debt of gratitude owed to the previous generation.

It is important also to confront ourselves with some awkward questions - questions that the previous generation addressed. Our modern lives are often so comfortable that they are consumed by the relentless pursuit of the newest DVD. We no longer have to ask ourselves what we believe in, what we would be prepared to lay our lives on the line for.

But unless we have some basic grasp on these fundamental questions, we will become a rootless, careless, thoughtless collection of money-grabbing individuals (incidentally, the money-raising for the tsunami victims suggests we do, when confronted by horror, ask ourselves these questions).

And it is important to recognise the past so that it may influence our futures. In the context of Iraq, the Blitz would have told us about the huge cost to civilians of war, but Auschwitz would also have told us that there are times when evil dictators have to be confronted.

So for all these reasons, it is a little disappointing that Darlington is not remembering William McMullen today - the 60th anniversary of the day he sacrificed himself to save the town.

Of course, life is too short to salute every anniversary with a formal ceremony. Which is one of the reasons why The Northern Echo is helping build a statue at Durham Tees Valley Airport to another heroic Canadian airman, Andrew Mynarski. Although the statue will bear Mynarski's likeness, it is meant to acknowledge the contributions of all our local aircrew.

Still, it is to be hoped that a few of the thousands of cars speeding along McMullen Road in Darlington today will slow, every so slightly, as they pass McMullen's roadside monument and give a nod of appreciation to a man who died so that others might live.