Armistice Day

[e-pipeman]

Well, it's Armistice day in England. On Sunday night my 84-year-old mum gave me her Dad's medals from the First War. Ernie was a donkey-basher and went through all of it -'14 to '18 - and they then wanted to send him to the Russian Front. He was invalided out before that happened - "caught a blighty one". Phrases like that seem strange to the point of absurdity now - but the fact is that those men bought us the leisure that we enjoy today. I'm happy that we still have the good grace to remember their enormous sacrifice at least once a year, and am very conscious of the fact that they would have wanted us to enjoy ourselves. They gave their lives so that we could. I am quite sure that, if they saw the way that wars were often pursued for pointless political reasons around the world today, they would be saddened that we had not learned any better - and heartened that brave men are still prepared to answer the call of their country. This is an off-topic thread in the right part of the forum for such thoughts. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be alive that these men gave us.

 

[Kate]

The war to end all wars ...

all that suffering and it happened again and again and again and again ... we never learn.

 

[e-pipeman]

I think the problem is that, although many writers, historians and "ordinary folk" often have learned - politicians seem incapable of doing so.

 

[sixstring]

My Dad is 89, in "assisted living" (what a joke) and served in the USAF, and the Army in WWII. Sadly he's got bad dementia and does not remember any of it. But I remember his horrible tales from fighting in Germany

He was on the boat to serve in the Pacific theater when Japan surrendered...
That was a party barge on the way home.

He's near the end of his life now, and I still appreciate the sacrifices.

Sorry - did not mean to bring anyone down.

 

[Kate]

I think the problem is that, although many writers, historians and "ordinary folk" often have learned - politicians seem incapable of doing so.

We're all responsible in our own ways, some of us vote for them, some of us fight for them, some of us pay them and some of us are them.

I just wish we could evolve into a civilised species before complete disaster. I feel more for innocent people and animals caught up in other's destructive habits.

If only the bravery of those who took a stand in the past could stop the same issues causing problems in the future it would be more understandable. They must be turning in their graves.

 

[e-pipeman]

My Dad is 89, in "assisted living" (what a joke) and served in the USAF, and the Army in WWII. Sadly he's got bad dementia and does not remember any of it. But I remember his horrible tales from fighting in Germany

He was on the boat to serve in the Pacific theater when Japan surrendered...
That was a party barge on the way home.

He's near the end of his life now, and I still appreciate the sacrifices.

Sorry - did not mean to bring anyone down.

You are not bringing anyone down. We should all be proud of those who have fought for us - and we should also be questioning why anyone else should have to do this again.

 

[e-pipeman]

We're all responsible in our own ways, some of us vote for them, some of us fight for them, some of us pay them and some of us are them.

I just wish we could evolve into a civilised species before complete disaster. I feel more for innocent people and animals caught up in other's destructive habits.

If only the bravery of those who took a stand in the past could stop the same issues causing problems in the future it would be more understandable. They must be turning in their graves.

Well, past the age of 16 no-one is innocent. We are all involved in the political process, but our individual voices shouting "No!" on important occasions are often drowned out by the cacophony of political expediency.

 

[sixstring]

We should all be proud of those who have fought for us - and we should also be questioning why anyone else should have to do this again.

Amen.

And thanks for that.

 

[Soot]

In Flanders Fields

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.

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

 

[e-pipeman]

Thank you.