Lest we forget...

**Goofball** · 11-10-2005, 17:41

Hello all. I'm posting this a day early, because I probably won't be online tomorrow. Tomorrow is Remembrance Day in Canada; a day to remember and honor those men and women who have fallen so that the rest of us may live in freedom. It is also my son's birthday. So tomorrow, before there are any gifts opened or cake eaten, my son and I will carry on our annual tradition of attending the ceremony at our local cenotaph on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and taking a bit of time out of our day to contemplate how good we have it, and what price others had to pay for us to have it so good.

Happy Remembrance Day all...

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
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.

**Taffy_is_a_Taff** · 11-10-2005, 17:45

do you guys wear poppies?

Strange as it is, I do miss Remembrance Day back home.

I lost 3 great-uncles in WW2.
Many of their siblings are still around to remember them.

I believe I also lost a couple of great-great-uncles in WW1. I doubt that any of their surviving nieces and nephews remember them

**Reverend Joe** · 11-10-2005, 17:47

For some godawful, stupid reason, we in the US have changed Armistice Day into Veteran's day, so a lot of people in the US aren't going to know what this day is all about.

Sorry for the rant... but I feel that the memory of the first world war is a terrible thing to water down.

**Crazed Rabbit** · 11-10-2005, 17:51

Thank you to all veterans. As they say, freedom isn't free.

Crazed Rabbit

P.S.: The US has fought in many wars were uncommon valor has been shown by our soldiers, and it was decided to not have a holiday for each war, I guess.

**Fragony** · 11-10-2005, 18:06

Perfect occasion to bring up my favorite poem! Written by an english soldier and it slaps you in the face.

Move him into the sun--
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields unsown.
Always it awoke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.

Think how it wakes the seeds--
Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs so dear-achieved, are sides
Full-nerved,--still warm,--too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?

Did I mention you guys rock? Many thanks!

**Reverend Joe** · 11-10-2005, 18:08

Originally Posted by Fragony

Move him into the sun--
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields unsown.
Always it awoke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.

Think how it wakes the seeds--
Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs so dear-achieved, are sides
Full-nerved,--still warm,--too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?

Sounds like a late Floyd song... something from "The Final Cut" or something. Really good.

**Fragony** · 11-10-2005, 18:15

Originally Posted by Zorba

Sounds like a late Floyd song... something from "The Final Cut" or something. Really good.

It is from Wilfred Owen, he died one week after he wrote this I believe. I can stare it it forever, especially this part,

Think how it(the sun) wakes the seeds--
Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs so dear-achieved, are sides
Full-nerved,--still warm,--too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?

The poem is called 'futility', especially this line 'was it for this the clay grew tall?' reflects the way he must have felt in that hell. Sitting there with your dead buddy, and just wondering 'why'??

pure genius.

**Taffy_is_a_Taff** · 11-10-2005, 18:09

Anybody seen the Oscar nominated film "Hedd Wyn"?

about this boy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedd_Wyn

**Goofball** · 11-10-2005, 18:38

Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit

P.S.: The US has fought in many wars were uncommon valor has been shown by our soldiers, and it was decided to not have a holiday for each war, I guess.

As it is here. Remembrance Day is the day we honor all of our fallen; it is not specific to WWI.

**Redleg** · 11-10-2005, 19:01

The "unofficial words" to Taps.

Words to Taps
(Note: there are no "official" words to Taps
below are the most popular.)

Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.

Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

Love, good night,
Must thou go,
When the day,
And the night
Need thee so?
All is well.
Speedeth all
To their rest.

Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day,
And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone,
Night is on.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
'Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.

The link plays the bugle call

http://www.wingtop3.org/taps.htm

When one honors the fallen warriors - Taps always has a special meaning in my soul.