Time to Remember

[rj2para (Bisto)]

My Father was in the services at the end of the 2nd World War and I know other forum members have served, or may even still be in the forces.

I do not do much for the legion but they have done a great deal for my father and his mates. This is my annual flag wave.

www.poppy.org.uk/remembrance/flanders%27-field-of-poppies

"
11 November 1918 signalled the end of The Great War; the Armistice between the Allies and Germany came into effect. Since 1921, the nation has come together to remember the sacrifices that hundreds of thousands of British and Commonwealth Service men and women made not just during the Great War, but World War II and all subsequent wars and conflicts including Iraq and Afghanistan
"

[McF]

Well said RJ
excuse me while I pull my soapbox out for a few minutes:

93 years ago: At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the guns fell silent on the Western Front, to bring to an end the First World War. Our nation and commonwealth has recalled that moment through our Armistice and Remembrance events down the decades, decades during which the men and women of our armed services have continued to pay the ultimate sacrifice.
Today we should remember all lives sacrificed in the service of our Country, and those traumatised and injured in conflict. May we have such a devotion to justice and freedom that the heroism of all who fought, and still fight, may continue to be remembered in a nation of service and in a world of peace.

We will be stood outside (whatever the weather) on Friday and these are words I borrowed for the service.

Whatever an individuals beliefs and motivations, we must remember that the soldier (Sailor Marine or Airman) is doing his duty when he puts his neck on the line.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us the freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us the freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the peace camp organiser
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Soldier, who serves beneath the Flag
whose coffin is draped by the Flag
who allows the protester to burn the Flag
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given his blood
his body
his life
The Soldier, who has given these freedoms.

In Afghanistan we have lost 384 since 2001
and in Iraq we lost 179 during 2003-2009

563 families have lost a loved one and many more are coping with their sons and daughters after life changing injuries

but imagine what it must have been like during 1914-1918, loved ones marched away for an unknown period of time; 760,000 never came back, many more came back with physical and mental wounds. the best part of a whole generation was affected in a major way.

In 1939-1945 more marched off to an uncertain time; this time "only" 388,000 did not return but again a large number were physically and mentally wounded

It is these people and their families that we have to thank for the freedoms we all enjoy today.

Buy your poppy and wear it with pride to support your local remembrance service.

Not all Forum members are from the UK and therefore we also need to recognise that other nations are experiencing their own losses and in the past probably suffered a lot more than we Brits.
Mainland UK was never occupied whereas Western Europe including Holland was under the Nazi Jackboot for most of the Second World War.

[De Graaf van Salland]

Our own remembrance day is May the 4th. The next day (may 5th) we celebrate our own end to the second WW (liberation day).

Not being an englishmen, I keep forgetting the date of your remembrance day (sorry !).
But I get plenty of reminders when I see nearly every person on UK television wearing a poppy.

Normally we watch the national (dutch) remembrance ceremony on TV. But last May we went to the local ceremony, because one of my daughters is a girl-scout and she had to stand watch at one of the monuments.
We took part is a silent march passing all the monuments in our local town. Only then did I discover that so many people of my own town were shot because of underground work or resistance against the Germans or hiding Jewish people.

I've never been in the forces myself, but I have big respect for those who are.

GvS