Lest We Forget...

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

In Flanders Fields - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's been 70 years and many conflicts since. Remember the veteran's sacrifice today

 

TAPS A/K/A Day Is Done*

Day is done, Gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hill,
From the sky.
All is well, Safely rest,
God is nigh.

Thanks and praise, For our days,
’Neath the sun, ’Neath the stars,
’Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is nigh.

Fades the light; And afar
Goeth day, And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well; Day has gone,
Night is on.


Go to sleep, Peaceful sleep,
May the Soldier or Sailor,
God keep.
On the land or the deep,
Safe in sleep.


Love, good night, Must thou go,
When the day, And the night
Need thee so?
All is well. Speedeth all
To their rest



*There are several versions of the lyrics.

--------------------------------------
TAPS (The Last Call)


He's at rest, with the blest
For his country he did do his best
Put the flag on his breast
Comrade rest


---------------------------

The edit function isn't allowing me to separate Day Is Done into 'paragraphs.'

 

I did like the point my grandfather made that this is day for the living while Memorial Day was for the dead.
If you know anyone who went through the meat grinder or who supported those who did, who waited at home while their family served, thank them today.

 

Excellent to remember those who have given their lives and limbs in service to our country. And even better to remember those who served and lived, to treat them with the respect and honor and gratitude that they deserve. Especially considering how often our government has ill-used their honorable service to fight dishonorable conflicts (which is entirely on the authorities, not on those who serve).

***

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.

-Wilfred Owen

 

Excerpt from Ralph McTell's Streets of London.

Have you seen the old man
Outside the Seaman's Mission
Memory fading with the medal ribbons that he wears
In our winter city,
The rain cries a little pity
For one more forgotten hero
And a world that doesn't care
--- merged: Nov 12, 2015 at 12:18 PM ---

Rough translation:

It is sweet and glorious to die for ones country.

--------------------

And yes, I know the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran's Day.

 

Everybody I know always makes a point to reach out to me and thank me for my service. My usual reply is "It was a privilege" or "Thank you for your support."

How do I really feel?

The wiseass in me has started referring to veteran's day as national mattress sale day....

But really, while I appreciate the thought and effort that everyone makes, I can't stop thinking about the friends I lost, or those who were badly hurt, or how it all affected me, and even though it's been nearly 30 years, I still have a sadness about me that will probably never go away.

I still don't tolerate crowds or loud noises well. I don't tolerate being startled well at all. I still scan rooftops and experience hyper-vigilance, and PTSD is just the gift that keeps on giving. Will it never end? Probably not.

So instead I am just trying to focus on those things I have to be grateful for. My wife, my family, this outlet that tolerates my occasional unfounded (or sometimes founded) bitching. It's just one day, until May. I'll always feel the sadness and I accept that.

But I'll always feel the love, and for that I'm grateful.

 

I hope that it doesn't bother you.......

Thank you.