So indeed will I, akita. And I'll also be watching (while weeping silently) the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall at 9.30 tonight. Of course WW1 and WW2 are both a long time ago now but those were our comparatively recent relatives who died then on our behalf.
We should not forget them, nor those killed in the many later smaller wars (most involving the stabilisation of former Colonial regimes in order to ensure a level playing field as they were granted independence). Nor of course should we forget those still serving - and dying - in Afghanistan on our behalf, despite the differing views about their presence there.
So pause at 11 tomorrow morning and thank God for those who gave their lives for us to be able to be lucky enough to live as we do today ...
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,we will remember them.
There are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you.
But there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.
I aint no abacus but you can count on me.
My great grandad served in at least one of the world wars. I'm not 100% sure if this is true, or just a family myth, but he lived to be quite old (early nineties) and supposedly he died during the 2 minute silence on 11th nov. He was sitting in his chair and closed his eyes to observe the silence and remember his friends who had fallen. When the silence was over his wife went over to him to wake him up (thinking he had dozed off) but he was dead.
That could all be a total lie told by my nan. But it's a nice story I think.
Well done, reappear, you're surely right. I watched the Festival on TV tonight and, as the Last Post was sounding, I looked to the framed photo we have of great-uncle Harley (together with his medals) and gave thanks for his sacrifice. How many today would give the same - though of course those still serving are at risk of doing so ...
Charles and Camilla are here at the mo and I was touched to see that he had hand-written a note giving thanks on the wreath he laid at the memorial. It was nice. And he was wearing his RNZAF uniform. That was also nice.
Even as the stone of the fruit must break
that its heart may stand in the sun,
so must you know pain.
There are only two ways in which one can live their life. One is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is.
I did a parade with the Beavers and in the church today. We had to lay the flags on the alter and may have made a bit of a hash of it but I think it went okay.
Since I visited the Somme memorial about 5/6 years ago, I've found myself thinking more in the two-minute silence - though I couldn't today because I was with children.
My Uncle used to serve in the RAF until this year and was in Iraq so it hits close to home sometimes.
We were just about to open the doors at work. We looked outside and most of the high street had come to a standstill, so when the church bells chimed we joined them. It was really quite eerie, but great to see so many people showing their respect and thanks. I still haven't figured out how to pin a poppy to me without it falling off within a few hours though, it's most irritating
Last edited by Leni : 12-11-2012 at 11:48 AM.
And the illusion of love is the only promise of defence, and even that will crumble.
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