Lest we forget.... — Remembrance Day / Veterans Day
 

"In Flanders Fields"

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.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 – 1918)

Every year, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks the anniversary of the end of World War I. This day is known as Armistice Day (France, New Zealand, and many other Commonwealth countries), Remembrance Day (U.K., Australia, and Canada), and Veterans Day (America), but the purpose is the same.

We mark this day as a day of remembrance. We take this time to go out of our way to remember the sacrifices made by those who took part in this war, in addition to those who gave themselves to the conflicts that would follow: World War II, the Korean War, and the other conflicts that are still fresh in our memories, and some that are ongoing still.

I like to take this time to remember that there have been many men and women throughout these years who showed great courage, who suffered, and who gave their lives while shouldering the difficult burden of having to face violence in the struggle for peace.

Feel free to use this space share your thoughts, memories, and well-wishes.

There is only one thing I ask of you: Never forget.

"Dulce et Decorum Est"
 

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! — An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . .
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori.*

— Lt. Wilfred Owen (1893 – 1918), recipient of the Military Cross

* Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori: "it is sweet and right to die for your country"

This site has some very poignant photos, momentos, letters, memorabilia from "The Great War" Claggett Wilson: The Great War From Verdun:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...gettWilson.jpg

I've already heard one radio news anchor refer to "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" as the time that the Treaty of Versailles was signed.

So any remembrance would be better than what we have now, at least in America.

I find it sad that today my father-in-law, who is a vetran, had to go to work.

My own experiences in the military are pedestrian at best and not much to discuss.
Both of my grandfathers served in WWII. One of them was a surgeon (he just died this year at 90 in poor mental and physical health) who refused to carry a gun and stood firm by that conviction despite the hardships it caused. The other one served in India - none of the men in his group lived past 54.

My great-uncle survived Normandy Beach, never talked about it with us but he became a preacher after that experience.

I find it sad that we still send boys off to wars without demonstrable respect for them for our appointed leaders.
By respect, I mean, clearly defined reasons why they are there. What are our goals, and once attained, get
our soldiers out of harm;s way.
Most importantly, FULL SUPPORT for our troops in the field, as far as mission, armour, have engagment
policies go. If they are in harm's way, make sure they can kill the enemy before the enemy kills them.
Let them do their job.
And when they get back, HELP THEM! Remember the scandal about the Veteran's admin?
These folks put their lives in danger for us, we should fund whatever they need to get back on their feet.

Politicians, don't just pay lip service, follow up.

Today I am taking my Grandad Albert's medals earned in WW2 in the RAF out of the drawer to show them to my daughter to help her understand what Remembrance Day is all about.

I am always thankful for our men and women who have served. Without them, it's unlikely that my family would be here today.

I was paying my respects today in Ottawa with approx. 25,000 others. Very emotional. It was a little chilly but all things considered, a great day for our veterens.

Put my poppy on the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Not sure if the link will work, but I am in there somewhere.

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loca...hub=OttawaHome