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I Will Wear a Poppy On Remembrance Day

I dedicate this poem to my Great Grandad who served with honour in the killing fields of World War One, My Grandad who stormed the beaches at Normandy, My Uncle who was in the RAF and my Great Uncle who made the ultimate sacrifice in Italy in 1943 at Salerno. I will be remembering them all today.

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 condemn.
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.

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samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

you have great ancestry, although I can't ever condone war, service for one's a country is honorable. I served for 2 years in the US Navy.

HeyLookItsGemma · 31-35, F

I did 3.5 years in the Merchant Marine. I guess we're both sea dogs lol

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

I was a physician in the Navy during the Viet Nam era. I was one of the lucky ones, I was in Iceland! I helped protect your homeland!

HeyLookItsGemma · 31-35, F

Ok.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

There probably aren't very many female merchant marines. what was that experience like?

HeyLookItsGemma · 31-35, F

You're right. There aren't. There were only 4 in my entire Academy. It was okay, just very hard work and very lonely. Small crews and lack of any sort of means of outside communication or shore leave for the officers make things hard

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

any difficulty with privacy? sexual advances?

HeyLookItsGemma · 31-35, F

No. Officers get respect and we also had private wardrooms

HeyLookItsGemma · 31-35, F

Of course there were advances but they're not animals

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

Any worth your involvement?

HeyLookItsGemma · 31-35, F

Well I had a partner at the time so no. There weren't

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

male or female partner? how did he/she experience your being away?

HeyLookItsGemma · 31-35, F

Female. She didn't like it so much but then again nobody in their right mind would enjoy their partner being away on 6 month trips.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

I was fortunate, my wife was able to be with me! The 2 of you still a "thing?"