Hero is such an overused word these days. To me that whole generation were real heroes. The fighting men and women, of course, are due our eternal respect and gratitude (although none of them asks for it). But we should also remember the popluation as a whole, who endured air-raids, shortages and the fear of loved ones being killed or maimed in a remarkable and stoic fashion, for years on end. To my mind they were a remarkable generation.