'November 11th, Remembrance Day.
Let's give them the recognition they deserve.

A Pittance of Time. [song/music video]
[link]

Have you a family member or friend who died in war? Have you a family member or friend who went to war, and came back again? Do you know someone fighting for your country as we speak?
They'll be in more thoughts than just your own, today.


Photos of Today

None of these belong to me.
I saw these two pictures, and I had to share them. These are from recent days, as you can tell.

[link]
[link]

Poems & Quotations

Here are some classic war poems I'm sure many of us know. There are some others that may not be as well known, that I have found and want to share with you all. In short, I've picked some of my favourites and some well-knowns. I'd love to share them all, but I won't.

In Flanders Fields

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 Flander's 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, tho poppies grow
In Flander's fields
-Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918),Canadian Army.


The Final Inspection

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
-Author Unknown

Why Wear a Poppy

"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 care-free feet.

His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"
When she'd 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 a 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.

He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day.

When he smiled at me and said, 'Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mum, please don't cry.'
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, if oft delayed,
Though 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!
-Don Crawford

And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.
-Joseph Drake

They fell, but o'er their glorious grave
Floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.
-Francis Marion Crawford

Cover them over with beautiful flowers,
Deck them with garlands, those brothers of ours,
Lying so silent by night and by day
Sleeping the years of their manhood away.
Give them the meed they have won in the past;
Give them the honors their future forcast;
Give them the chaplets they won in the strife;
Give them the laurels they lost with their life.
-Will Carleton

The dead soldier's silence sings our national anthem.
-Aaron Kilbourn

They saw their injured country's woe;
The flaming town, the wasted field;
Then rushed to meet the insulting foe;
They took the spear, - but left the shield.
-Philip Freneau

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. -William Penn

"Dead upon the field of glory,"
Hero fit for song and story.
-John Randolph Thompason


You

Will you be remembering those who have died for your country, and other peoples' countries today?
Will you wear a poppy today? [if you have them]
Will you stop to think about how lucky, and fortunate we all are?


Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal

Lest We Forget


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I’m wearing my poppy today. I’ve gone through so many already, seeing as they escape from my sweaters/shirt/backpack.

I’ll be thinking of my grandfather, especially. He made it through WWII. He never managed to tell me many things about the war though, and he never will. He died..a few years ago. I never had the chance to ask him about these things. My mother told me he would have loved to tell me his stories, as he was proud of his involvement with our country. He would have told me so many stories..shared his memories. It hurts to know I’ll never know any of it. Even typing this has brought tears to my eyes… RIP, granddad. I’m wearing my poppy especially for you.