[Deafdogsrule]

Remembrance Day is a holiday here in Canada (for those of you who aren't Canadian) This is a poem a friend of mine posted, I thought it was very moving. My Sister fought in Afghanistan and lost several friends during her tour and in other tours...

Never forget.



Why Wear a Poppy Poem by Don Crawford

“Please wear a Poppy”, the lady said and
held one forth, but I shook my head, Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on carefree feet,
His smile was full of joy and fun:
“Lady”, said he, “May I have one”?
When she pinned it on he turned to say,
“Why do we wear a poppy today”?

The lady smiled in her wistful way,
And answered, “This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is a symbol for
The gallant men who died in war,
And because they did, you and I are free,
That’s why we wear the poppy, you see”.

I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew,
And became a man – as you will, too.
But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night)
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire, and the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.

“Till at last, at last, the war was won –
And that’s why we wear a poppy, son.”
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, “Thanks lady, I’m glad to know,
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son – did he come back all right?”

A tear rolled down each faded cheek:
She shook her head but didn’t speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you’d have done the same:
For our thanks, in giving, is often delayed
Through our freedom was bought
And thousands paid.

And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all,
When asked to answer their country’s call.
That we at home in peace might live.

Then wear a poppy,

Remember

And give.

[cigwyllt]

Here in the UK it's Armistice Day - we have a silence at 11 a.m. - the shops close their tills, there is silence on the radio and the t.v. I live in a small town, not more than a village really. The weather today is awful, pouring with rain. People had gone into town to be there for 11 o'clock to observe the silence in public and one old man stepped out of the crowd, walked into the middle of the street and stopped the traffic until the silence was over. Such a powerful image.

Whatever our views on war, on poppies (there has been a back lash here in the UK following FIFA's ruling that they could not be worn on the England football team's strip for a game on Saturday) and whether you wear red to remember the military, white for all victims of war, blue for animals we should never forget the sacrifices that have been made in the name of peace.

This is one of my favourite poems from World War I - if you can call it a favourite - written by my favourite poet, G A Studdert Kennedy:

Let me forget – Let me forget,
I am weary of remembrance,
And my brow is ever wet,
With tears of my remembrance,
With the tears and bloody sweat, –
Let me forget.

If ye forget – If ye forget,
Then your children must remember,
And their brow be ever wet,
With the tears of their remembrance,
With the tears and bloody sweat, –
If ye forget.

G. A. Studdert Kenned

[lange]

We all share in the day.;Today is America's Veterans Day. I think you summed it up well, Cig; we should never forget the sacrifices that have been made in the name of peace. (and freedom)..My prayers & appreciation today go out to those who have served & serve today.