Remembrance Day - 2008 (Merged)
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Let us remember
Personal Digital Imaging: Remembering Remembrance Day
O valiant hearts who to your glory came
Through dust of conflict and through battle flame;
Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,
Your memory hallowed in the land you loved.
Proudly you gathered, rank on rank, to war
As who had heard God’s message from afar;
All you had hoped for, all you had, you gave,
To save mankind—yourselves you scorned to save.
Splendid you passed, the great surrender made;
Into the light that nevermore shall fade;
Deep your contentment in that blest abode,
Who wait the last clear trumpet call of God.
Long years ago, as earth lay dark and still,
Rose a loud cry upon a lonely hill,
While in the frailty of our human clay,
Christ, our Redeemer, passed the self same way.
Still stands His Cross from that dread hour to this,
Like some bright star above the dark abyss;
Still, through the veil, the Victor’s pitying eyes
Look down to bless our lesser Calvaries.
These were His servants, in His steps they trod,
Following through death the martyred Son of God:
Victor, He rose; victorious too shall rise
They who have drunk His cup of sacrifice.
O risen Lord, O Shepherd of our dead,
Whose cross has bought them and Whose staff has led,
In glorious hope their proud and sorrowing land
Commits her children to Thy gracious hand.
O valiant hearts who to your glory came
Through dust of conflict and through battle flame;
Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,
Your memory hallowed in the land you loved.
Proudly you gathered, rank on rank, to war
As who had heard God’s message from afar;
All you had hoped for, all you had, you gave,
To save mankind—yourselves you scorned to save.
Splendid you passed, the great surrender made;
Into the light that nevermore shall fade;
Deep your contentment in that blest abode,
Who wait the last clear trumpet call of God.
Long years ago, as earth lay dark and still,
Rose a loud cry upon a lonely hill,
While in the frailty of our human clay,
Christ, our Redeemer, passed the self same way.
Still stands His Cross from that dread hour to this,
Like some bright star above the dark abyss;
Still, through the veil, the Victor’s pitying eyes
Look down to bless our lesser Calvaries.
These were His servants, in His steps they trod,
Following through death the martyred Son of God:
Victor, He rose; victorious too shall rise
They who have drunk His cup of sacrifice.
O risen Lord, O Shepherd of our dead,
Whose cross has bought them and Whose staff has led,
In glorious hope their proud and sorrowing land
Commits her children to Thy gracious hand.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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I have just come from my local village service at the war memorial where we gave rememberance to all who have lost their lives in conflict and those who still serve. i made a prize prat of self by not managing to be stoic and dignified but crying instead (not howling i hasten to add).
The one good thing is that the entire community is involved and we have beavers,cubs,scouts, rainbows,brownies,guides,girls and boys brigade all present. We have TA and ATC as well as legion members. so there a good mixture of every age there so that the memory and importance of the day continues, as it should.
......at the going down of the sun we will remember them.
RIP XV179 and all other brave souls.
The one good thing is that the entire community is involved and we have beavers,cubs,scouts, rainbows,brownies,guides,girls and boys brigade all present. We have TA and ATC as well as legion members. so there a good mixture of every age there so that the memory and importance of the day continues, as it should.
......at the going down of the sun we will remember them.
RIP XV179 and all other brave souls.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Chappie, I think as we get older, particularly when you wear uniform or have done in the past, it gets harder to be stoic when you think of those who have gone before. I know I find it very difficult to listen to certain hymns or read certain poems/epitaphs at this time of the year without a significant lump in my throat. I remember the Cenotaph march past a few years agon - camera close-up on a St Dunstan's representative as he approached the memorial - Smart 'eyes left', fixed the Ceotaph with a sightless gaze, marched past for the requisite 20+ paces and equally smart 'eyes front'. "Gulp".
There's stoic but it can be very hard.
VT
There's stoic but it can be very hard.
VT
Hits us all at some point in the proceedings VT, doesn't it? Having watched the wreath laying at our town's Remembrance by the great and the good, by the Service Associations etc, it was watching three very young scouts, boys and girls, paying their own respects that suddenly got to me. Thoughts as ever for all those we have lost so very recently as well as my own Dad in WW2.
"They shall grow not old..."
"They shall grow not old..."
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Once again our Service and Parade in Liverpool was a great and moving occasion. This year we had a "Giant Screen" at one end of the parade with a succesion of portraits of the Fallen showing though out the proceedings. I know it sounds tacky but it realy was very moving to see all those young, incredably young, faces staring out at us. The March Past was preceeded by a fly past by a C47 flying in awful conditions.
Also, I am very happy to report that poppy sales are considerably up, once again, in the area. There is a feeling around here that this is down to people feeling more in touch with the military today than has been the case over the past 20 years or so.
Also, I am very happy to report that poppy sales are considerably up, once again, in the area. There is a feeling around here that this is down to people feeling more in touch with the military today than has been the case over the past 20 years or so.
from The Independent, Saturday 8 November 2008
Remember the living, too
......Remembrance Sunday remains among the best-observed and most respected dates in the national calendar. With increased British military involvement in Afghanistan and the continuing – and far more contentious – engagement in Iraq, this country again has thousands of servicemen and women on active duty overseas. And with combat, inevitably, come casualties. As the numbers of the fallen in more recent wars has mounted, so the Royal British Legion has reported rising sales of poppies: it has supplied a record 40 million for sale this year, and 750,000 miniature crosses. A glimpse of the streets of our towns and cities suggests that wearing a poppy is at least as widespread as it ever was.
In this modest respect, the so-called military covenant between the armed forces and civilian Britain would seem to be in good shape. Yet the treatment accorded to the new generation of veterans and their families falls far short of what they should expect. Even if the most glaring equipment failures in the field have been largely remedied, housing for many military families remains execrable, and promises of improvement have mostly remained just promises. But it is the response to the injured – both immediate and longer term – where the inadequacies are seen at their starkest.
The nature of modern warfare and recent medical advances mean that many more injured soldiers survive. Yet all too often they must wait their turn with the civilian population; the very particular circumstances of their injuries may be disregarded; mental health provision remains a poor relation. The answer may be separate, specialised units, rather than the completely separate hospitals of the past, but returning servicemen and women deserve much better than they are getting. A government that sees fighting foreign wars as a national duty must appreciate that the cost extends far beyond the battlefield.
Leading article: Remember the living, too - Leading Articles, Opinion - The Independent
airsound
Remember the living, too
......Remembrance Sunday remains among the best-observed and most respected dates in the national calendar. With increased British military involvement in Afghanistan and the continuing – and far more contentious – engagement in Iraq, this country again has thousands of servicemen and women on active duty overseas. And with combat, inevitably, come casualties. As the numbers of the fallen in more recent wars has mounted, so the Royal British Legion has reported rising sales of poppies: it has supplied a record 40 million for sale this year, and 750,000 miniature crosses. A glimpse of the streets of our towns and cities suggests that wearing a poppy is at least as widespread as it ever was.
In this modest respect, the so-called military covenant between the armed forces and civilian Britain would seem to be in good shape. Yet the treatment accorded to the new generation of veterans and their families falls far short of what they should expect. Even if the most glaring equipment failures in the field have been largely remedied, housing for many military families remains execrable, and promises of improvement have mostly remained just promises. But it is the response to the injured – both immediate and longer term – where the inadequacies are seen at their starkest.
The nature of modern warfare and recent medical advances mean that many more injured soldiers survive. Yet all too often they must wait their turn with the civilian population; the very particular circumstances of their injuries may be disregarded; mental health provision remains a poor relation. The answer may be separate, specialised units, rather than the completely separate hospitals of the past, but returning servicemen and women deserve much better than they are getting. A government that sees fighting foreign wars as a national duty must appreciate that the cost extends far beyond the battlefield.
Leading article: Remember the living, too - Leading Articles, Opinion - The Independent
airsound
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Yesterday I was collecting for the RBL... in the rain. Probably got around £50 in the two hours I was there. All ages, all backgrounds. Hardly anyone walked by without contributing, many without taking a poppy at all.
Today, I was with my local RBL at the church service followed by a short ceremony at the village war memorial. About 30 of us - ex-service, service and civilian members - marched behind the standard, stood in the drizzle and you could have heard a pin drop as the traffic was stopped on the main road during the silence.
It was awesome. It's not a large village but the respect was enormous. I was very moved indeed.
Today, I was with my local RBL at the church service followed by a short ceremony at the village war memorial. About 30 of us - ex-service, service and civilian members - marched behind the standard, stood in the drizzle and you could have heard a pin drop as the traffic was stopped on the main road during the silence.
It was awesome. It's not a large village but the respect was enormous. I was very moved indeed.
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Our little village in rural New South Wales, holds the Remembrance Day service on Tuesday 11th November at 1100 hrs. There's a simple War Memorial with names that date from mid 19th Century African colonial wars, the Boer War, the two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf Wars. Nothing fancy or ornate, no Captains and Kings, just ordinary folk like me who remember some very extraordinary mates.
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For the Ozmates out there, on the 11/11th at 8.30, the ABC is showing a documentary on Sir John Monash, the man who (I think it was Benjamin Disraeli who said) would have shortened the Great War by a year if he'd been put in charge of British forces in 1917.
Ask 99% of Australians (and 99.9% of Brits) under the age of 45 (and possibly a lot older) and I dare say you'd be hard pressed to find one who'd even heard of the man. If he'd been a Yank, Hollywood would have turned out a dozen movies about him and every school kid would know his life history. Not the way we (both Brits and Ozmates) seem to treat our great leaders.
Might be one worth taping and putting aside for the young'uns on some rainy afternoon.
Ask 99% of Australians (and 99.9% of Brits) under the age of 45 (and possibly a lot older) and I dare say you'd be hard pressed to find one who'd even heard of the man. If he'd been a Yank, Hollywood would have turned out a dozen movies about him and every school kid would know his life history. Not the way we (both Brits and Ozmates) seem to treat our great leaders.
Might be one worth taping and putting aside for the young'uns on some rainy afternoon.
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i forgot to say earlier that on 15th november ( i think on BBC2) at 9pm start there is a film that is being shown on rememberance. this film covers each and every individual who have lost their life in either iraq or afghanistan either by name or by interview of loved ones left behind or the colleagues left to continue. It will be a shock to all when you count up the names and hopefully make people realise the true cost of these wars. if you can make it then watch it. let us not forget.
you are all such an inspiration. may you be protected ...
keep the faith.
you are all such an inspiration. may you be protected ...
keep the faith.
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21:05 -00:10 The Fallen
Families of those who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq talk openly about their loved ones
BBC - BBC Two Programmes - The Fallen
Families of those who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq talk openly about their loved ones
BBC - BBC Two Programmes - The Fallen
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Grrrrrr
Had a 'phone chat last night with OC Domestic who was in a shopping centre yesterday at 1100 (I'm away on HM's business )- two things made her seethe - the mid twenty year old girl in the coffee shop who she heard asking why there was going to be a 2 mins silence and the second one was the ignorant git who talked loudly at his girlfriend all through the silence, this in spite of the Tannoy asking all to observe it. She almost dropped her coffee in his lap ! At least the GF looked embarrassed though. Good thing I wasn't there I'd propbably have got arrested afterwards !!!
Ho Hum.
Ho Hum.
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Lest we forget...
This was sent to me by a chum in Hong Kong. Thought I'd share it..hope the link works, I'm not much good at this computer stuff.
http://9c.webmail.aol.com/39598/aim/...s=TKeng6mb.wmv
http://9c.webmail.aol.com/39598/aim/...s=TKeng6mb.wmv
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The 11th November is a Public Holiday in:
Belgium - Canada - France - Poland and the USA.
The 25th April (Anzac Day) is a Public Holiday in Australia and New Zealand.
The UK does not have a single Public Holiday to honour its Armed Forces.
Belgium - Canada - France - Poland and the USA.
The 25th April (Anzac Day) is a Public Holiday in Australia and New Zealand.
The UK does not have a single Public Holiday to honour its Armed Forces.
Red On, Green On
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Another very good ceremony in Wallingford yesterday, very well done by all concerned. The SWO was very much in charge, and it ran smoothly, and to the second. The Puma and Merlin flypast was bang on time at the end of the two minute silence. While I'm sure that communities with no Service presence run ceremonies that are just as moving, there is extra spine-tingle/tear factor when serving lads and lasses are on parade in front of you.
The only slight surprise was that the police officer laying the wreath took off his hat rather than saluted.
The only slight surprise was that the police officer laying the wreath took off his hat rather than saluted.
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Since Friday I have been in Austria on business and staying with friends over that period. They have two daughters, ten and eight years old, who asked why I was wearing a poppy and why they were not to disturb me at 11.00 on Sunday morning. They understood about remembering the fallen, after all their parents also had relatives who died during the two World Wars, albeit on the "other" side. I must have explained badly as at first they thought I meant that Remembrance Day is only for the dead of the two World Wars. It was only when their father explained further and I said that 16.000 British service personnel had been killed since WWII and that the killing was still going on in Afghanistan and Iraq that they were shocked. Both of them asked why does it still happen. Neither I nor their parents had any answer.