Today is Remembrance Sunday. Here in the U.K. we remember British and commonwealth war dead, and we wear poppies as a mark of respect and gratitude.🥀
As World War Two is passing out of living memory, the media and historians have rushed to interview and record their experiences before they are lost. As they did with the last Tommies from world war 1.
Mostly now the men and women marching through London this morning are commemorating lost friends from the Korean War through to todays wars.
It’s also a reminder how much we owe to Commonwealth countries for freedom in Europe.
Everyone from frontline veterans to field nurses and civilian organisations are being remembered.
And while this is a British commonwealth event, there’s no shortage of American and Russian flags. The latter some find jarring, but it is to respect the Soviets soldiers and civilians who gave so much to defeat evil then, not what’s happening now.
There are war graves in my own family, I’ve visited all but one, as the Libyan border with Egypt is not a safe place to be. He is in our thoughts.
We stand on the shoulders of giants, lest we forget.
@Pretzel Don’t be put off by the commercialism. It’s a special opportunity to remember those we owe so much to.
South of where I am there’s a farm that was formerly a US airbase. Every year the farmer of the land ploughs the shape of a B17 Flying Fortress into his field to remember them.
Sadly I think most have forgotten in the worst of ways and misuse the memory of the World Wars, which cannot be separated. And beyond that tragedy there is a performative angle in which many who were not directly or indirectly impacted through family as per the World Wars do not really know the lessons of those wars on neither strategic nor moral level enough to inform them not to support and follow much of what is being done today.
Beyond that I won't be more specific as I don't feel it's appropriate, but whichever side you think you fall on I think we have a lot to learn from what happened back then. It is more relevant now than ever for all the worst reasons, unfortunately.
May Almighty God rest the souls of the war dead and war afflicted around the world. Amen.
@WintaTheAngle Interesting. Yes the service is held at the cenotaph at 11 on the 11th. Over the years we have got soft. It used to be outdoors no matter how cold but that changed as the WWII vets got older. We all had to go to the ceremony and I remember seeing vets from the Boer war, WWI, WWII but rarely anyone from the Korean War. Almost like no one wanted to remember that war. I remember it being 20 below or -30 and trying to play the Last Post on a very frozen trumpet. Not a fun experience. lol
@hippyjoe1955 Fortunately it’s still well attended here. Hats and gloves. Hot chocolate for the kids.
I was in the scouts for the marches. And putting wreaths on the local graves. One time it had snowed over night so I had 3 T-shirts on under my uniform. 😂
