An act of rememberance

[FxrAndy]

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

We will remember them.

[KB]

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep,

though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Lest we forget

Ken

[Victoria]

Thanks FxrAndy.

Remembering all who served, who died, who fought for us.

Special thanks to the French volunteers in Normandy who visit my great-uncle's and other's graves once a month. Those who truly treasure freedom will never forget.

[FxrAndy]

We will remember them..

[Guest TTK]

It's all so different now

From just a few weeks ago

When April was about to smile on England

And I had to go.

So here I am again

Far from where the blackbird sings

And lanes I love to walk along

Lost in my thoughts

And what of you my love

Though you're so far away

Yet so close to me in all I do and see.

And so on my day off

I could have chosen monuments

Historic chateaus, palaces

Or finding ways of improving my French

Instead I wandered out alone

Here where woods and fields abound

And in a quiet corner found the resting place

Of English soldiers killed in war.

And what of them my love

Who died so far from home

No last farewell kiss

All that remains is this.

It makes me so ashamed to feel alone

Whatever would they think of me

For I shall see my love again.

It's all so different now

From those few years ago

When April smiled so sweetly still

And they had to go.

[stilty]

The 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month. We should all Remember.

Please show your respect with a minute of silence.

[Guest TTK]

Well, how do you do, young Willie McBride,

Do you mind if I sit down here by your graveside?

And rest for awhile in the warm summer sun,

I've been walking all day, and I'm nearly done.

And I see by your gravestone you were only 19

When you joined the glorious fallen in 1916,

Well, I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean

Or, Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?

Did they Beat the drum slowly, did they play the pipes lowly?

Did the rifles fire o'er you as they lowered you down?

Did the bugles sound The Last Post in chorus?

Did the pipes play the Flowers of the Forest?

And did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind

In some loyal heart is your memory enshrined?

And, though you died way back in 1916,

To that loyal heart are you forever 19?

Or are you a stranger without even a name,

Forever enshrined behind some glass pane,

In an old photograph, torn and tattered and stained,

And fading to yellow in a brown leather frame?

The sun's shining down on these green fields of France;

The warm wind blows gently, and the red poppies dance.

The trenches have vanished long under the plow;

No gas and no barbed wire, no guns firing now.

But here in this graveyard that's still No Man's Land

The countless white crosses in mute witness stand

To man's blind indifference to his fellow man.

And a whole generation who were butchered and damned.

And I can't help but wonder, now Willie McBride,

Do all those who lie here know why they died?

Did you really believe them when they told you "The Cause?"

Did you really believe that this war would end all wars?

Well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame

The killing, the dying, it was all done in vain,

For Willie McBride, it's all happened again,

And again, and again, and again, and again.

Edited November 11, 2007 by TTK

[Victoria]

These are our heros. We shall not forget them.

I cannot tell you how much being on this forum means to me. I hope never to foresake you for any gen forum, no matter what.

Just now, I was at a gen forum and read with sinking heart the disgusting words aimed at the US Marine Corps. I won't relay what they said. It was diabolical in tone.

I'm just thankful that those who have their reservations about these kinds of threads (and I know there must be some), have the decency to restrain themselves and not pile on needlessly. Having transgressed myself recently, I find that exceptional of you.

Thanks guys. May you all have a restful Armistice/Poppy/Veterans Day.

[b16a2]

My thoughts are with those who lost lives to give us freedom, and for the current military who continue to strive to protect HM's State.

[cornerstone]

Just one amongst millions....but my flesh and blood.

15th Battalion Highland Light Infantry. Killed at the Battle of the Somme, aged 23.

Now remembered here:

The Thiepval Memorial.

Just a single name amongst a list of 73,000 other soldiers killed during the battle with no grave; just blown to smithereens and lost to the mud.

One name on this panel here (15C):

Poor bastard.

[offshore]

Whilst the young remember.

We cannot forget.

LEST WE FORGET

Offshore

[Guest TTK]

Whilst the young remember.

We cannot forget.

So true.......but WE must ensure that the young understand the great sacrifices made.....and also that they do NOT forget...!

[FxrAndy]

Every year after the sevice i always send my program and poppy to my mum, this year my eight year old daughter has told me that she will send hers to her great grandfather so that he know that she was there. She told me this in the car on the way home, its hard to drive with tears in you eyes!