In Remembrance...

[Vermilion]

...of all those who have died in conflict over the last century, and all those who have survived the conflicts, but lost friends, lovers and family.

And of all those still fighting for their country even now.

We remember.

 

[Just-Legal]

I need to find some pictures of the billboard campaign they've (the Royal British Legion) been doing this year - extremely powerful and moving images reminding us we have a lot to be thankful to them for.

((Edited for clarification))

 

[feeeriek]

 

[matriarch]

Just watched the Cenotaph ceremony.

As always, extremely moving.

Remembering their loss that we may live.

 

[Just-Legal]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/10/24/npoppy320.jpg

This is the one I've seen the most... Makes me cry every time.

 

[matriarch]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/10/30/npoppy130.jpg

 

[Just-Legal]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/graphics/2007/10/30/npoppy130.jpg

Where did you find that and does it have the others.

And damnit I'm crying again.

 

[matriarch]

Where did you find that and does it have the others.

And damnit I'm crying again.

Found it here

There don't seem to be any others, and I can't find the Appeal posters anywhere on the net.....I may be looking in the wrong place.

 

[impressive]

 

[cheerful_deviant]

 

[rgraham666]

Rest in peace, my friends.

This is the day I always listen to one of my favourite songs.

 

[maggot420]

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.

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

 

[Chantilyvamp]

 

[jomar]

 

[lloyd_5]

 

[Guest]

 

[Vermilion]

Worse still, those who didn't die heroes or return home to live a normal life, but those who came home in pieces to be forgotten...

Disabled, by Wilfred Owen

He sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark,
And shivered in his ghastly suit of grey,
Legless, sewn short at elbow. Through the park
Voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn,
Voices of play and pleasure after day,
Till gathering sleep had mothered them from him.
* * *

About this time Town used to swing so gay
When glow-lamps budded in the light blue trees,
And girls glanced lovelier as the air grew dim, -
In the old times, before he threw away his knees.
Now he will never feel again how slim
Girls' waists are, or how warm their subtle hands;
All of them touch him like some queer disease.
* * *

There was an artist silly for his face,
For it was younger than his youth, last year.
Now, he is old; his back will never brace;
He's lost his colour very far from here,
Poured it down shell-holes till the veins ran dry,
And half his lifetime lapsed in the hot race
And leap of purple spurted from his thigh.
* * *

One time he liked a blood-smear down his leg,
After the matches, carried shoulder-high.
It was after football, when he'd drunk a peg,
He thought he'd better join. - He wonders why.
Someone had said he'd look a god in kilts,
That's why; and may be, too, to please his Meg;
Aye, that was it, to please the giddy jilts
He asked to join. He didn't have to beg;
Smiling they wrote his lie; aged nineteen years.
Germans he scarcely thought of; all their guilt,
And Austria's, did not move him. And no fears
Of Fear came yet. He thought of jewelled hilts
For daggers in plaid socks; of smart salutes;
And care of arms; and leave; and pay arrears;
Esprit de corps; and hints for young recruits.
And soon, he was drafted out with drums and cheers.
* * *

Some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer Goal.
Only a solemn man who brought him fruits
Thanked him; and then inquired about his soul.
* * *

Now, he will spend a few sick years in institutes,
And do what things the rules consider wise,
And take whatever pity they may dole.
To-night he noticed how the women's eyes
Passed from him to the strong men that were whole.
How cold and late it is! Why don't they come
And put him into bed? Why don't they come?

 

[dysphemist]

 

[neonlyte]

For our king and our country, and the promise of glory
We came from Kingston and Brighton to fight on the front lines
Just lads from the farms and boys from the cities
Not meant to be soldiers, we lay in the trenches
We'd face the fighting with a smile ... or so we said
If only we had known what danger lay ahead

The sky turned to grey as we went into battle
On the fields of Europe young men were fallin'
I'll be back for you someday - it won't be long
If I can just hold on `til the bloody war is over

The guns will be silent - on Remembrance Day
There'll be no more fighting - on Remembrance Day

By October of `18 Cambrai had fallen
Soon the war would be over and we'd be returning
Don't forget me while I'm gone far away
Well, it won't be long `til I'm back there in your arms again

The guns will be silent - on Remembrance Day
There'll be no more fighting - on Remembrance Day

One day soon I don't know when
You know we'll all be free and the bells of peace will ring again
The time will come for you and me
We'll be going home when this bloody war has ended

The guns will be silent - on Remembrance Day
We'll all say a prayer - on Remembrance Day

... on Remembrance Day ...
... say a little prayer ...
... on Remembrance Day ...

Well, the guns will be silent
There'll be no more fighting
We'll lay down our weapons
On Remembrance Day

... on Remembrance Day ...

(Bryan Adams, "Into the Fire", A&M 1987)

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Google is in the spirit - the "o"s have doughboy/Tommy helmets on.

(It's OK I think - not at all distrespectful.)

 

[Vermilion]

Holy fuck. Is anybody watching My Boy Jack?

it makes me feel sick to even think of it; the horror of the trenches and going over the top. I am literally speechless to express myself.

 

[oggbashan]

My thoughts of World War I are concentrated on personal things:

My eldest aunt lost her fiancee at Passchendale. She remained single for the rest of her 90 years.

One of my father's friends attended the school I went to in Australia. All five of his brothers were killed at Gallipoli or on the Western Front and are commemorated on our school's Roll of Honour. On other boards those five names appear for sporting and academic achievements. The youngest brother isn't mentioned. As he put it "They took the best of my family and left the stupid runt behind". It wasn't true. He worked hard to support his parents after his brothers were killed. The reason his name didn't appear for sporting or academic achievement was that he was working nights to keep the family fed. He served his country in World War 2 and became a senior civil servant.

My friend's father was unloading an ammunition train behind the Western Front when he heard incoming shells. He threw himself under a railway wagon full of explosive while his mates ran for a trench. The wagon exploded above him. He survived but was profoundly deaf. His mates were never found and joined the masses who have no known grave.

Og

 

[TE999]

To all the fallen--friend and foe--no matter the ideology or the cause--you answered the call and made the ultimate sacrifice for what you thought was right.

Recquiescat im pace each and every one of you.

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

An old truth renewed.

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

This man died for your freedom.

http://www.williamsstudiogallery.com/DC15_11TombOfTheUnknownSoldier.jpg

Do those living deserve less? Respect them all year long, not just the one day set aside for them. Save your spit for those who really deserve it.