Lest We Forget · 9:53am Nov 11th, 2012
Remembrance Sunday
On a cold November Sunday morn, an old man sits a while
Looking though old photographs, he can’t help but smile
They’re all there, all the boys, with hair cut short and neat
Uniforms of khaki, strong black boots upon their feet.
They met as strangers but soon became like brothers to the end
Smiling at the camera, there could be no truer friends.
They all took the Queen’s shilling, went off to fight the hun,
Soon learnt the pain of loss once the fighting had begun.
So many never made it home, lost on foreign shores
Many more were injured and would be the same no more.
The old man’s eyes mist with tears as he remembers every face
Each of his fallen brothers and the killing which took place
He proudly dons his beret, his blazer and his tie
For today he will remember the ones who fell and died.
On his chest there is a poppy, a blaze of scarlet on the blue
He steps out into the cold, he has a duty he must do
Once at the cenotaph he stands amongst the ranks
Of those who marched to war and those who manned the tanks,
He bows his head in reverence, as the last post begins to play
And he wonders what will happen at the ending of his days
Will anyone remember? Will anybody care?
About the lads so far from home whose life was ended there?
I wish that I could tell him, that he should fear not
For this soldier and his brothers will NEVER be forgot
We owe a debt of gratitude that we can never pay
And this country WILL remember them, on each Remembrance day.
~Maria Cassee
Amen to that.
Tl;dr
Peace to all those killed; British, Canadian, American, German , Taliban...
No one deserves to have their lives cut short by war.
Why are they selling poppies, Mummy?
Selling poppies in town today.
The poppies, child, are flowers of love
For the men who marched away.
But why have they chosen a poppy, Mummy?
Why not a beautiful rose?
Because, my child, men fought and died
In the fields where poppies grow.
But why are the poppies so red, Mummy?
Why are the poppies so red?
Red is the colour of blood, my child
The blood that the soldiers shed.
The heart of the poppy is black, Mummy,
Why does it have to be black?
Because black is the colour of grief, my child,
For the men who never came back.
But why, Mummy, are you crying so?
Your tears are giving you pain.
My tears are my fears for you, my child
For the world is forgetting again.
-Anonymous
It's always a bit strange when this day comes around, one of the people who is most important to me shares it as their birthday; it makes for a kind of sad dichtomy.
I suppose my thoughts for Rememberance are here:
"'You know, it has often crossed my mind that those men deserve a proper memorial of some sort."
"Oh yes? In one of the main squares, perhaps?"
"Yes, that would be a good idea."
"Perhaps a tableau in bronze? All seven of them raising the flag, perhaps?"
"Bronze, yes."
"Really? And some sort of inspiring slogan?"
"Yes, indeed. Something like, perhaps, 'They Did The Job They Had To Do'?"
"No. How dare you? How dare you! At this time! In this place! They did the job they didn't have to do, and they died doing it, and you can't give them anything. Do you understand? They fought for those who'd been abandoned, they fought for one another, and they were betrayed. Men like them always are. What good would a statue be? It'd just inspire new fools to believe they're going to be heroes. They wouldn't want that. Just let them be. For ever."
I've always been a bit confused when they say to wear the poppy with pride. What is there to be proud of? We're not remembering them to be proud.
We had a veterans' day parade last Sunday, but the actual holiday is today. You have reminded me to pray for all fallen soldiers who have died fighting for what they believe in, not just the Americans. My condolences from across the pond and may they rest in peace alongside all else who have fought for god, country, and people.
When to the gates of heaven he does reach,
To Saint Peter he will tell,
'One more soldier reporting sir,
I've served my time in hell'.
- PFC James A. Donahue, attributed.
That was beautiful man.
Today is the day to remember all of those who risked their lives to defend their country. These brave men and women are the true heroes among us.
They handed their lives away today
To fight for nothing else
A medal here, a ribbon there
Their lives put on a shelf
Some of these days I wish its end
Would come faster then before
So we'd lay down our weapons
And fight never more
But things like that don't happen
They'll be off to fight again
A brutal cycle ever swimming
Sheep sent into the lion's den
Even after the bombs drop
Consuming this world in nuclear fire
We'll fan the flames of war again
And they'll blaze ever higher
The point I'm trying to make here is that war will never change
Thinking otherwise is pointless;
Worthless, stupid and deranged
But their lives may be gone,
Their soul off far away
But I'll be damned if I forget
About them on this Remembrance day
I'm not a complete monster, you know.
493905
We wear it in acknowledgement, more so. Though they did die, they did it so that others wouldn't have to fight a war for their own lives.
To quote Warhammer, "One dies a horrible death, so that a million can die peaceful ones."
We acknowledge their efforts to create a peaceful world, and the fact that we're all still here, complaining about how our breakfast was slightly under cooked, or how our power went out for two hours, leaving us bored, serves to mark their success. Their continued success.
The poppy is us remembering those who died for us. It is not our pride we wear them for, but theirs.
495643
This community continues to fascinate me.
Thank you.
495683
I try, good sir.
Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day; Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving.
That's some chilling lines writ here.