Lest we Forget...
Nov 11th, 2007, 01:59 AM
#1
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Lest we Forget...
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them
Nov 11th, 2007, 02:10 AM
#3
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Yes.
Remembrance Sunday falls on Armistice Day this year and we have just had the two minutes silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month
I have an elderly aunt whose husband was born posthumously after his father was killed in WW1.
My aunt was married exactly three months before her young husband was killed in WWII.
Her mother-in-law lost her husband and only son to that madness.
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is a music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncountered:
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end they remain.
Remembrance Sunday falls on Armistice Day this year and we have just had the two minutes silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month
I have an elderly aunt whose husband was born posthumously after his father was killed in WW1.
My aunt was married exactly three months before her young husband was killed in WWII.
Her mother-in-law lost her husband and only son to that madness.
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is a music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncountered:
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end they remain.
Nov 11th, 2007, 03:43 AM
#5
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I am more reminded of this when in Europe than back home in the US, as every French city, town, and village - no matter how small - has a memorial to its war dead. They are all carefully tended and honored, in my experience. And not infrequently, we also see signs of thanks to those who liberated their country in WW II.
Nov 11th, 2007, 04:42 AM
#6
In Flanders Fields
John McCrae
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
John McCrae
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
Nov 11th, 2007, 07:15 AM
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I was saddend by no 'poppy sellers' in our area this year. I like to buy every member of my staff a poppy and explain to them the meaning of this very special day.
History taught in our schools today has swung to the Boer War and the history of the African nations which is fine but should not exclude world history especially World Wars.
I am sure wreaths were laid at our local cenotaph but I love the little paper poppies which are offered for sale.(sorry donation really).
History taught in our schools today has swung to the Boer War and the history of the African nations which is fine but should not exclude world history especially World Wars.
I am sure wreaths were laid at our local cenotaph but I love the little paper poppies which are offered for sale.(sorry donation really).
Nov 11th, 2007, 07:48 AM
#10
I absolutely agree - we owe a tremendous amount to those who lost their lives in wartime - but have we learnt anything at all? There are still wars and still families losing husbands and sons and fathers. The wars go on and death goes on, it makes me so sad. War seems so futile, what a terrible waste.
Nov 11th, 2007, 07:52 AM
#11
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