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I guess that this may be a little deep for this forum, and I debated posting it, but, well, I obviously came to a decision.

Remembrance Day has always been very meaningful to me. I grew up in the 70s in England with an older father so while most of my school friends had grandparents that served, I had a father who lived World War II as little more than a boy - the war ended before his 21st birthday, but in that time he flew 18 night missions over Europe, countless low level sorties over the jungles of Burma, bailed out of a crippled Lancaster and was in a Dakota that crashed leaving him temporarily blind.

He never talked much about it and I know little of the details, he has medals but they are tucked away out of sight. He was a strong and proud man, but every year watching the poppies fall from the roof of the Albert Hall he openly wept and there is no doubt in my mind that he was thinking of the many friends who didn't make it through.

There have been many conflicts since then, and unfortunately there will doubtless be many more in the future, but more than ever this year I am becoming conscious that we are saying goodbye to the generation of WWII veterans. My poppy seller wasn't there this year, replaced by another, and I have noticed a generally reduced number of poppy sellers here in Toronto. Perhaps more sadly I have noticed that wearing a poppy is becoming more and more unusual.

Tomorrow is the 92nd anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I - the reason that November 11th was chosen as Remembrance Day (or Veterans Day in the US). If you live somewhere that poppies are sold and you haven't yet bought one, please consider it, if you can thank a current or retired military member, please do so.

Wars are made by countries and Governments, but the price is paid by everyday people.

Amen.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
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.

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“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

Beautifully put, Roff; it has reminded me to send a little note to my friend in the army tomorrow. Thank you.

Well said.

To the those who have paid the ultimate price, to those that have served, and to those that serve today.


Salute.

~Brian

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Breitling Super Avenger
Fortis Flieger Chronograph
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Yes, very well said indeed.

/salute

enjoyed your story, and yes I have also been thinking lately that the WWII generation is coming to its end. The miniseries called The Pacific really reminded me.

USAF (86-92)

I guess I should know how you feel Roff since our lives have some resemblances: I grew up in the 70's too but in Greece and my father also lived World War II as little more than a boy.

Actually, he was engaged as the war was ending (last six months or so) but then he had to fight the Civil War for five years by the side of the British who helped the Greek people avoid the Iron Curtain and we will never be grateful enough to them for that. He was often at the front line and as one of the very few Greek officers who spoke English at the time he earned some medals trying to connect the Greek with the English command at the front, often trying to pass a message all by himself.

He does not speak about it either but I do remember one story he cared to share with me: How he got the Luger pistol he managed to retain after the war: it was near the war end and as one of the German commanders of the northern forts in Macedonia surrendered to him he told my father: I guess I have to part with this for now, so take good care of it, it served me well.

Given our millennial history, Greece chose just two of its most important dates for celebration:

If we do not celebrate the armistice day per se, we do so the day the prime minister of the time said NO to the Italians and the Axis when asked if he would surrender and that was October 28, 1940.

The other being of course March 25, 1821, when we kicked the butt of the Turks who were occupying our country for 400 years (even though Constantinople is still in their hands).

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