Former British soldier Stu Mendelson is aiming for the 2026 Christmas No.1 with ‘We’re Still Here’, an original single bringing together veterans and members of Chicksands and Henlow Military Wives Choirs. Scheduled for release at 11:00am on Armistice Day, 11 November, the track carries a message of hope and solidarity while highlighting the challenges that can continue long after military service ends.
Written, composed and arranged by Mendelson, the song features veterans from The Muster Point in Hertfordshire and Veterans in Crisis Sunderland alongside the choir singers. Mendelson also performs the lead vocal and has independently organised and funded the project, overseeing its production, recording and distribution. Bringing the wider Armed Forces community into the recording was central to his approach.
The project draws on Mendelson’s own experiences. He joined the British Army as a Royal Engineer in 2005 and was seriously injured by a Taliban improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in December 2009. After losing his right eye and temporarily losing all sight, he eventually regained vision in his left eye. He later faced PTSD, mental health difficulties and addiction before becoming clean and sober in 2023 and co-founding The Muster Point in Stevenage.
Money generated by the record will help support the participating Military Wives Choirs, The Muster Point and Veterans in Crisis Sunderland. As the campaign builds throughout November and December, Mendelson hopes the single will bring veterans’ experiences to a wider audience. Beyond its chart ambitions, ‘We’re Still Here’ asks listeners to remember those whose struggles do not end when conflicts leave the headlines.