Rememberance Day / Veterans Day

[seizingbeauty]

Hi All,
I just wanted to take a minute to think of all those in the service past and present. In Canada, we celebrate Rememberance Day, today November 11th. I have family who had served and friends who are currently deployed. If not from the E, I had thought of enlisting myself.
I often think about how our world would be today if WWII had taken a different turn. My daughter came home from school the other day horrified that those suffering from E were often sent to the Camps. She was raised to respect the veterans but understood things in a whole new light after class that day.
My thanks to everyone who has served, is serving or will serve. To the families of those who do and to the sacrifice they make.
Here to a world where we can have open discussions without fear.

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 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


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[Shelley]

We had a brief vets lunch and learn at work.
Had a sloppy high school ROTC color guard, a Navy captain tell about his experiences, but that was about it.
Thanks for the poem.

[Nakamova]

I have enormous respect for those who have served or are serving. And I offer a special wish that those vets who have had traumatic brain injury get prompt and appropriate care.

[Rae1889]

Thanks SeizingBeauty! My grandpas were all in the war. (one Navy, One Army, And one Air Force) and My dad was in the military. He was 1 hour away from reaching the area of the Gulf War, before they declared it over and they could all go home.

I dont know what we would have done if we lost him.

Flander's Fields is a very touching poem.

[BuckeyeFan]

Thanks to Shelley and all vets!!!

There is nothing we can do to measure up to their sacrifices. Just being away from family for months at a time is such a burden on them. I had one Uncle who was goen from home for over 4 years during WWII.

I shake the hand of every vet I meet. They at least need to know we care.

I come from the generation right after Nam. My older brother missed the draft by just one year. His number was already drawn, but they didn't draft any more that year. To this day it breaks my heart to see how those vets were treated.

SPECIAL THANKS:

To my son-in-law who served just prior to the gulf war.
To my Dad who spent his time during the Korean War at White Sands Missle Base.
To my Father-in-law who was an MP in Tokyo, Japan during the Korean War.

[BuckeyeFan]

I often think about how our world would be today if WWII had taken a different turn. My daughter came home from school the other day horrified that those suffering from E were often sent to the Camps. She was raised to respect the veterans but understood things in a whole new light after class that day.

You don't know how much I wish that this was taught in our schools. My kids never heard this type of thing in school.

[seizingbeauty]

Buckeye,
The teacher showed them a video that was taken of the camps when the allied troops entered. I have to say that before seeing that she had always showed respect, but didn't understand the full ramifications of what had happened.
I received an email this afternoon from the school apologizing for graphic nature the materials used. I felt it was the right thing to do but the teacher has already been flooded with letters from angry parents. They were upset that their child was exposed to "such graphic material". The school might not be able to use the video again, which is truly dispicable. It is amazingly frustrating, these parents allow their children to watch violent movies, play video games that glorify the violence but when their child is presented with the true consequences of these actions they flip out. They shelter them from reality and all I can think is "lest we forget".

[BuckeyeFan]

Thanks from the youngest -



- to the oldest.

[BuckeyeFan]

Buckeye,
The teacher showed them a video that was taken of the camps when the allied troops entered. I have to say that before seeing that she had always showed respect, but didn't understand the full ramifications of what had happened.
I received an email this afternoon from the school apologizing for graphic nature the materials used. I felt it was the right thing to do but the teacher has already been flooded with letters from angry parents. They were upset that their child was exposed to "such graphic material". The school might not be able to use the video again, which is truly dispicable. It is amazingly frustrating, these parents allow their children to watch violent movies, play video games that glorify the violence but when their child is presented with the true consequences of these actions they flip out. They shelter them from reality and all I can think is "lest we forget".

On the news this morning, they were talking about how popular the video game Call To Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is this year. People were waiting in line to buy it, including children even though it is rated for only 17 and up. Those same parents were probably in those lines.

I am OK with the game - but don't turn around and hide the reality from them.

[epileric]

Seizingbeauty, You should definitely send an e-mail to the teacher & the principal stating your approval of the video. The teacher could probably use some positive re-enforcement & the principal should know that some people hold the opposite opinion of those who complained. Today would be the best day to convey that point.

[seizingbeauty]

I'm a gamer myself, can't play all of them but enjoy the ones I can. I've always paid attention to the game ratings when it comes to my daughter.
Its as you say

I am OK with the game - but don't turn around and hide the reality from them.

I wish the rest of the world agreed.

[RobinN]

Keep Pfc Neudorfer E.R. in your thoughts as he embarks on a new adventure in a couple of weeks.

[BuckeyeFan]

Always Robin, Always!

[seizingbeauty]

I will!
I hope that he comes home after his adventure, safe and sound, with stories to tell.

[TempusFugit]

Although one day late.... lest we forget



For The Fallen

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 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 uncounted;
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 of 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 that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.


(Laurence Binyon)

[Chris515]

A very moving poem TempusFugit. Thank you for posting it.

It brings a tear to my eye.

It is so important to remember and I'm glad we all are.

[TempusFugit]

It certainly is moving and is perhaps one poem that always strikes a chord with me.

*hugs*

[Meetz1064]

I liked the poem a lot, too, and I typically NOT a person who cares for poems....

And RobinN, I will be thinking of Eric, too!