Intermission: Lest We Forget.
I honestly don’t care what your thoughts or opinions are of the topic of November 11th. I ask you, no, beg you, to please read this. I am a soldier now. One day, this will be me. This will be your friends, your family, your fellow country men.
We are giving our lives for you, and all we ask in return, is your respect.
~~~
November 11th. A day of remorse. A day of regret. A day of Remembrance.
This is not only a day that marks the end of World War 1. This is The day where we, as a nation, take just two minutes of our lives to remember. World War 1, World War 2, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and every conflict that Canada has been involved in.
On this day, we remember the lost. We remember what we gave, so that we could either continue our peaceful existence, or to try and give what we have to other countries.
Many people don't realise how much this day effects veterans. Many of the soldiers I know, have lost close friends in combat. Many of us, have relatives who have given their life to the uniform.
This is the one day that it is socially acceptable for a soldier to cry, and I beg you to cry with them. Because more often than not, they were there.
No one returns from conflict uninjured.
Remember the past, those who died.
Think about the present, those who have to live with injuries, mental and physical.
Look to the future, and ways we can help them.
Please, tomorrow, go thank a veteran. Don't ask them what they did, just go up to them, and thank them.
In Flanders fields the poppies grow
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, by LtCol John McCrae)
I've finally picked up the torch, and I will not let it fall.
~GoldenArbiter
~~~
I’ve never served in the military, nor fired a gun in anger. My only experience in firearms is shooting at paper targets at the local range.
I’ve had two family members who did instill an appreciation for their devotion to duty and their service, however. One was an uncle who served in the US Navy aboard several aircraft carriers during his enlistment. He was involved in action during the Lebanon conflict in the 1980s and finished his career aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which I was fortunate enough to visit and actually sail on three times.
The other was my grandfather. He joined the US Merchant Marine at the age of 16 and served in the Pacific during World War 2. When he was discharged at the age of 18 at the end of the war, he joined the brand new US Air Force and served for the next 27 years until his retirement as a chief master sergeant. I grew up in my grandfather’s house. From him, I learned a love of country, a devotion to duty, and an appreciation of his dignity, honor and personal integrity that has only grown over the years, especially since he passed away three years ago.
From both of these men, I have learned that the people who fight for us are just like us: they have their own likes and dislikes. They have their own faults and foibles. They all, however, stepped forward at some time in their lives and sacrificed comfort, safety and the closeness of their loved ones and stood between us and the darkness. This is something that has been too often marginalized or taken for granted.
For them, for all that came before, and for all of those now standing guard, I offer my sincere and heartfelt appreciation and thanks.
-D.M.
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Thanks to all the vets and to those still in service.
Indeed, as a vet myself I say thank YOU for your current service.
Now, as I'm American, I feel obligated to say the following. Canada is America's Top Hat.. making US classy by themselves being classy :D Thank you Canada.
I'm surprised that this was put in the story instead of only a blog post, but I like it anyway.
To any and all veterans who might read this, regardless of nationality, I thank you for your service. To put your life on the line for those you love and for people you don't even know, you are going beyond the definition of selflessness. Not only do you serve your country, you serve as an inspiration to those around you. People like you inspire me to better myself, and have inspired me to join the U.S. Navy when the time comes. There are many things I would like to say, but I can't put everything I want to say into words. You've all done so much, even if you don't realize it. I owe all of you a hug, if you'll allow it, and so much more. May God give you strength for whatever trials you encounter in life. This small statement doesn't do justice for what I really want to say, but I hope the meaning is understood all the same.
3471424 I put it in a blog as well.
However, I have a wider audience I can reach with this. Call it whatever you will, but I am sticking with my decision.
Also, you'll get way more than a hug when you join the Navy, if you get what I mean.
Not gone, merely marching far away
3471463 Agreed.
3471442
I never go anywhere unprepared...
scene.sg/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/vaseline11.jpg .
Just Kidding.
3471559 Vaseline. Your best friend. Seriously. By lots of it, and not for the obvious butt sex.
God bless those who are vets and in active duty, Thank you for keeping us safe. edmontonjournal.com/opinion/2523666.bin?size=620x400
3471565 It's good for the hands. It's also a very useful, multi-purpose lubricant. You know, for multiple purposes. Like fitting fitting a pipe inside another pipe. Not for butt sex.
3471720 And for keeping your helmet from chafing against your head...
3471723 Speaking of multi-purpose stuff, if you have something that you may need to polish, like a belt buckle, coat it with a thin layer of clear nail polish. It adds some extra durability and makes the job so much easier. If done right, it goes completely unnoticed. My grandfather figured out that trick when he was in the Marines.
As a veteran of the United States Navy, I thank you.
Thank you to all who have served protecting our great nation (US) and those who have protected our little brother to the north and our snobby but reliable uncle across the Atlantic.
Along with the many other European nations which shed blood for their respective nations.
I personally will not extend any sympathy to terrorists. There is no reason to for suicide bombers....
3471796 hmmm... What about for things like parade boots?
3471936 Thank you, for serving.
3472078
History, and who was fighting the good fight, is defined by whoever is fighting it. They believe in their fight, and will give anything to fight it.
Exitus Acta Probat. The ends, justify the means.
3472235
True, however being from the one side means not sympathizing with the enemy. They certainly won't for us.
3472276 Yah. But as the west, we are better than them.
3471407 Which is what makes it normal
.
At 11:00, I'll be reserving a couple minutes of silence for today. It might be in the middle of my classes, or while I'm with friends, but I'll be damned if I don't give recognition to those fine soldiers, especially if I want to join up later in life. Thanks for this awareness post, and I hope you have a great day today.
Signing off
Flames
3472215 I don't know. As far as I know it only works on metal, plastic, and other hard substances. I think you'd be better off without it, but I've never tried it on boots before so I could be wrong.
11th of the November is the date for the Dutch halloween :P. No one's talking about WW1 here. But then again, we never participated in WW1, so yeah...
3472985 Thank you. Be sure to spread the word as well.
3473524 Just because it started on WW1, doesn't mean that you can't thank your military for their service.
3473640
We do that on the 4th and 5th of may. We remember all victims and vets of the World Wars and every armed conflict/peace mission since.
Here ye here ye.
I mean, seriously how much effort do you need to show a minute of silence? How much effort is necessary in order to go to a Rememberance day ceremonies? I mean compared to signing up and fighting for our country, attending one ceremony on one day is no hassle at all.
3473696 Shoulda clarified that then. But oh well, the sentiment is the same.
Why those dates, if you don't mind me asking?
3473788 Very true. Some people just like to live in a hole, thinking us all 'baby killers' and the like, without putting in the effort to realise that we give our lives so they can have the freedom to call us that.
It's an issue of respect, in my opinion.
3475310 Well when a person disrespects the uniform in some extreme way (mind you i'm not a member of the military so I'm not sure if I can use the term) then its alright. But what about all the others who served their countries faithfully (many whose psychological wounds end up untreated)? That's just unfair. And I don't understand how some people see that Remembrance Day glorifies war... I mean... come on... if the soldiers didn't fight for you, you'd be the one killing because nobody else was brave enough to step forward.
Yeah I'm a military history freak and those so called 'pacifists' piss me off. We observe Remembrance Day lest we forget the horrors of war, so we have further motivation to preserve peace.
3475598 Judging by that statement about 'glorifying war', you're also Canadian, and want to throat punch those white poppy wearing fuck heads?
3475721 Yep, Canadian, proud of it. Our country's armed forces really kicked arse in both wars.
I'm not so entirely aware of the controversy about the White Poppy so I'm not sure how to comment upon the matter. But I do want to slap some sense into Holocaust deniers and people who shirk away from the militaristic aspects of Remembrance Day... I mean seriously... the parade and the red poppy are tradition and part of the ceremony, its not about glorifying war... its about paying respect to the regiments and men and women who fought. I don't remember a single Remembrance Day parade/song being NOT solemn... (not that I've been to all as I've only begun attending the memorials in the past 3 years or so) but still!.
All I ask is that you return. Safe journey, and remember what you feel today. It is much too easy to forget.
-Salute-
~Terolie
3475310
Well, we never really had a date for such things. So when the Canadians and British officially liberated the country on the 5th of May 1945, we declared that day 'Freedom day' on which we celebrate people who fought/fight for our freedom and that of others. The 4th of May remembers the last day of the war in the country so that date was picked to memorize people who have fallen in armed conflicts.
3478759 Seems legit. Well, carry on then.
3475754 Apparently cities everywhere totally shit the bed this Remembrance Day. Pembroke (near where I grew up) forgot to give two minutes of silence...
3480990 O_O
That's just sad...
3481506 A disgrace is what it is...
"That war is such a terrible thing, is good- lest we grow too fond of it." Paraphrased that quite a bit, but the meaning is conveyed, I hope. So many brave men and women have given their lives in the name of the greater good, for their own country and others. No matter what your personal beliefs are on the military or other aspects, we should always take the time to acknowledge, remember, and respect the lost, and the sacrifice they gave for us all.
3483401 100% agreed.
I'm Flemish; this is all really close to me, especially with the big efforts made here in Belgium for 2014 to properly remember the moment the Great War started a century before.
To all the brave men and women who gave their lives, to all those caught up and swept away in the atrocities of war, and to all those still struggling out there...
I salute you.
3488743 You and your edits... We should hire you as an editor or some such...
Salute, My Friend.
3489305
Hey, any story I follow, I'll gladly do it for. I mean, I end up doing it anyway
3506956 well, contact me on skype, and I'll talk to Dave about it. Do you and Google docs get along well?
3507362
GDocs is the handiest way of giving remarks.
Do note that most of my free time is while commuting, so I download drafts as pdf, read it and make a notes list for it on the train to work, and then mark my remarks in the doc later.
Dunno your Skype, but mine's just "Nyerguds". Do note I'm on GMT+1 time zone, though, and usually only online between 18-23 my time... might be handier to just communicate through PMs
Good poem choice, is that about WWI or WWII, i think i have heard it before. It made my hair standup on end!
3538883 In Flanders Fields?
It was written by LtCol John McCrae during WW1.
3539645 Okay, thank you, that's what I thought I just wanted to be sure.
3540316 No problem.
It is always good to remember the fallen, even if they are your enemy. As both have suffered through the horrors of war and died on service of their respective nations or organizations they must be remembered as what they were, soldiers. Men and women who had fought and died for something they believed in. Never forget the fallen and never forget their sacrifice.
3560675 Cheers to that.
3572101 Hey, I'll just let you know that clearly you have no idea what's going on with the characters right now. Combat changes you. You're priorities are different.
And on top of that, near the beginning of the story, it is set out that Midnight and Fluttershy already knew each other. Who says they've never gone on a date before?
Also, thank you for the praise.
3740906 IT will be continued. Just having logistical problems atm. Dave is on holidays, and I'm also on holidays, so my schedule is made of fail tardedness. God willing, I'll have another chapter out before I get posted to my next base for more training (Feb19)