Post by grenademan on Nov 11, 2009 15:06:47 GMT -5
Fellow members,
On this day, November 11th, I would like to offer my respects to all,
past and present who serve their country. I offer to, my prayers for
those who have paid the ultimate price, and my humble condolences to
their families.
Today, here in the U.K., it is Armistice Day. Traditionally, at 11:00,
we observe two minutes silence to remember those who have given their
lives in service of their country, from the Great War to the present
day.
Most towns & cities of any size also hold more formal parades and
ceremonies on the nearest Sunday to November 11th, with the war memorial
being the focus of events. This is Remembrance Sunday.
The practice of not only being silent, but stopping what one was doing
at 11:00 on Armistice day itself was very strong between the world wars
and in the years immediately after WW2. However, in the 60's, 70's &
early 80's, the practice seemed to dwindle as people forgot, and new
generations didn't appreciate the significance.
As the years go by, the number of veterans from the two world wars,
parading to honour their fallen comrades grows less. This year will be
the first year, since 1918, that there will be no Great War veterans on
parade. The last one, Harry Patch, passed away last year. It was an
honour, then, to parade for him.
The Great War is now history. The living link has at last been broken.
So it will be with all conflicts, in time and this is where remembrance
becomes important.
In the last ten years or so, things have been looking up. Respect for
the armed forces has been growing by the year and at the moment the
young men & women who protect us, and serve Her Majesty, are largely
held in very high regard.
Our casualties continue as do yours. We were appalled to hear of the
tragic events at Ft. Hood, but heartened by the tales of actions taken
beyond the call, to help comrades in distress. We hear too, of your
ongoing losses in theatre with increasing sadness.
As our troops paraded at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan last Sunday
morning, by the time they were dismissed to their duties, another
British soldier had fallen.
Of all the things that stand out to me in our formal Armistice parades,
it is some of the words that are so poignant & so timeless:
"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."
I got to wondering where those words came from. It seems they are just a
small part of a poem entitled 'The Fallen' which seems to say so much.
While it was written about Englishmen, a few changed words and it could
just as easily refer to those who serve any other country. The full text of the
poem is as follows:
For The Fallen
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of 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 our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
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.
They mingle not with laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
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 that shall 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.
Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)
You may also be interested to learn of a developing 'modern' tradition
of remembrance over here.
All British dead from Iraq & now Afghanistan, are flown by C17 into
Royal Air Force Station Lyneham.
From the aircraft to the hearse, they are borne by their comrades, and
then driven through the local town of Wootton-Bassett, before going on
to their families and usually a private funeral.
The people of Wootton-Bassett took it upon themselves to line the
street, bow their heads and offer their respects as the first of our
boys passed through, some years ago. Now, after so long, and so many,
they line the street several deep. The whole town turns out, time after
time after time. Veterans, in their faded berets, wearing medals and
regimental blazers, lower standards & salute. Youngsters throw flowers.
The local war memorial is permanently surrounded by wreaths of red
poppies.... a whole town has taken up such a solemn duty. Awesome.
Regardless of the weather, rain or shine, people steadfastly form up
along the main street every time they see a C17 pass over in a landing
pattern...
Every life lost & every body broken is one too many. One day, it will
stop. But in the meantime, let's support those in uniform in every way
we can. Let's ensure they get the best we can give. Let's ensure our
politicians, those who direct our forces, never forget that in our
democracies, we untimately decide their future.
And... let's try to appreciate everything we so easily take for granted.
Our freedom was won at a terrible price. It is beyond value.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this.
Tim
Preston, England
Links you may like to explore for more on this subject from a British
perspective:
www.telegraph.co.uk/.../Woott...-solemn-ritual
-that-is-all-too-familiar.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wootton_Bassett
www.raf.mod.uk/raflyneham/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Lyneham
www.ww1cemeteries.com/british...aph_london.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day
www.helpforheroes.org.uk/
On this day, November 11th, I would like to offer my respects to all,
past and present who serve their country. I offer to, my prayers for
those who have paid the ultimate price, and my humble condolences to
their families.
Today, here in the U.K., it is Armistice Day. Traditionally, at 11:00,
we observe two minutes silence to remember those who have given their
lives in service of their country, from the Great War to the present
day.
Most towns & cities of any size also hold more formal parades and
ceremonies on the nearest Sunday to November 11th, with the war memorial
being the focus of events. This is Remembrance Sunday.
The practice of not only being silent, but stopping what one was doing
at 11:00 on Armistice day itself was very strong between the world wars
and in the years immediately after WW2. However, in the 60's, 70's &
early 80's, the practice seemed to dwindle as people forgot, and new
generations didn't appreciate the significance.
As the years go by, the number of veterans from the two world wars,
parading to honour their fallen comrades grows less. This year will be
the first year, since 1918, that there will be no Great War veterans on
parade. The last one, Harry Patch, passed away last year. It was an
honour, then, to parade for him.
The Great War is now history. The living link has at last been broken.
So it will be with all conflicts, in time and this is where remembrance
becomes important.
In the last ten years or so, things have been looking up. Respect for
the armed forces has been growing by the year and at the moment the
young men & women who protect us, and serve Her Majesty, are largely
held in very high regard.
Our casualties continue as do yours. We were appalled to hear of the
tragic events at Ft. Hood, but heartened by the tales of actions taken
beyond the call, to help comrades in distress. We hear too, of your
ongoing losses in theatre with increasing sadness.
As our troops paraded at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan last Sunday
morning, by the time they were dismissed to their duties, another
British soldier had fallen.
Of all the things that stand out to me in our formal Armistice parades,
it is some of the words that are so poignant & so timeless:
"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."
I got to wondering where those words came from. It seems they are just a
small part of a poem entitled 'The Fallen' which seems to say so much.
While it was written about Englishmen, a few changed words and it could
just as easily refer to those who serve any other country. The full text of the
poem is as follows:
For The Fallen
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of 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 our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
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.
They mingle not with laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
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 that shall 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.
Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)
You may also be interested to learn of a developing 'modern' tradition
of remembrance over here.
All British dead from Iraq & now Afghanistan, are flown by C17 into
Royal Air Force Station Lyneham.
From the aircraft to the hearse, they are borne by their comrades, and
then driven through the local town of Wootton-Bassett, before going on
to their families and usually a private funeral.
The people of Wootton-Bassett took it upon themselves to line the
street, bow their heads and offer their respects as the first of our
boys passed through, some years ago. Now, after so long, and so many,
they line the street several deep. The whole town turns out, time after
time after time. Veterans, in their faded berets, wearing medals and
regimental blazers, lower standards & salute. Youngsters throw flowers.
The local war memorial is permanently surrounded by wreaths of red
poppies.... a whole town has taken up such a solemn duty. Awesome.
Regardless of the weather, rain or shine, people steadfastly form up
along the main street every time they see a C17 pass over in a landing
pattern...
Every life lost & every body broken is one too many. One day, it will
stop. But in the meantime, let's support those in uniform in every way
we can. Let's ensure they get the best we can give. Let's ensure our
politicians, those who direct our forces, never forget that in our
democracies, we untimately decide their future.
And... let's try to appreciate everything we so easily take for granted.
Our freedom was won at a terrible price. It is beyond value.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this.
Tim
Preston, England
Links you may like to explore for more on this subject from a British
perspective:
www.telegraph.co.uk/.../Woott...-solemn-ritual
-that-is-all-too-familiar.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wootton_Bassett
www.raf.mod.uk/raflyneham/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Lyneham
www.ww1cemeteries.com/british...aph_london.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day
www.helpforheroes.org.uk/