One of my grandfathers fought in WW2, sadly he died 2 years before I was born so I never got to meet him, whatever medals he won during his service are long gone as my mum's side of the family is cuntish to say the least, I don't doubt they ended up at a pawn shop somewhere. I'm hoping to get them reissued to myself as I'm the only one in the family with any interest in military history.
I come from a military town, Petawawa, sadly, I am not there this year to go to the ceremonies, but I'm going to try and get to the Cenotaph here in Medicine Hat tomorrow. Then in the evening after work, I'll be watching Storming Juno on History Television.
Quote:
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal,
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation,
And a glory that shines upon her tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall not grow 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.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the daytime;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known,
As the stars are known to the night.
As the stars will be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
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