Lest We Forget

Some will speak out against conducting business this Day of Remembrance. Some will protest war and promote peace as well. They have every right to do this. Many very good people fought and died or were severely injured, for their right to do that. One must remember that these brave men and women did not go out to war for the purpose of fighting and defeating the enemy. Nor did they go out to destroy the enemy’s properties and or ways of life. They went to win the rights for our freedoms that we enjoy today. Those freedoms also give people the right to disagree. They fought, suffered and died for peace.

I have heard where an individual will attend a Remembrance Day Ceremony, and vowed to turn his back when a local politician steps up to lay a wreath at the local cenotaph. Our heroes fought for that right as well. I wonder if the individual understands his actions, although I agree with his sentiments, may be taken as a show of disrespect to the fallen itself. I hope he re-considers that action but he has that right to do so, thanks to our heroes, injured, maimed and dead.

Peace is not an easy thing to maintain. We have to work at it. We ALL have to give it our all to protect the peace, rights and freedoms we enjoy. It would be a world of utopia if this could be accomplished without the use of force. But there are elements out there who threaten our freedoms, our rights and our peace and enjoyment of life itself. This is when we have our superior people in our military who step up to the plate and sacrifice not only themselves, but their loved ones, to protect us.

Through the great wars, many have died. They did make a difference for me and my loved ones. It was a great difference and I am forever grateful. What they did, will not be forgotten.

Regardless of what you do on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, take a pittance of time and reflect on those who served.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3IutxvltBM

Lest We Forget.



In loving memory of my parents

William George Simpson
Veteran
Royal Canadian Navy WWII
Passed away June 30, 1994


Beryl Isabelle Simpson (Gault)
Veteran
Canadian Women’s Army Corps
Passed away January 1, 2008

 

In our day-to-day drama and complaining about first world problems it's too easy to forget about how our soldiers, nurses, policemen, etc... all work to create a free society where the biggest problem we have is which beer to get.

Thank you all for the service!

 

God bless to all the men and women that serve. :usa2: Thanks for your service and your sacrifice.

 

Thank You
....to my dad who fought in the Pacific for the liberation of the Philipines in WWII. 166th AAA Batalion Battery B

.....And my Son-in Law who served with the Illinois National Guard in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom

.....And my Daughter who spent a year of her life without her husband so he could keep us all Safe and Free.

.....And my Volunteer Sister, even though she is suffering with brain cancer never fails to meet the WWII Honer Flights that land at Midway Airport.

MY HEROES!

Thank You Randy! We all need to stop and think on this Veterans Day!

 

In Australia it is "Lest We Forget".

 

Wow! Just goes to show how two seemingly simple letters, when positioned wrong, can change the whole meaning of an important message. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I have sent a message to the moderators for a "title change" We cannot do that ourselves it appears. We can only change the body of the message.

Randy

 

Thanks for the edit Reg. That original title was kinda embarrassing to say the least.

 

Sorry Randy I was not trying to take the p***, I wasn't too sure whether there was a cultural difference there or whatever. It certainly makes more sense to me now.

After all the Aussies and Canadians went to such famous events on the Western Front as the great Somme BBQ, the various dinner dances at Yrpes and the legendary 100 day picnic.
Both nations paid a very high price for WW1.

Details ex Wikipedia;
During World War I over 421,809 Australians served in the military with 331,781 serving overseas.[204] Over 60,000 Australians lost their lives and 137,000 were wounded.[204][Note 6] As a percentage of forces committed, this equalled a casualty rate of almost 65 percent, one of the highest casualty rates amongst the British Empire forces.[204] The financial cost of the war to the Australian government was £188,480,000.

Canada's total casualties stood at the end of the war at 67,000 killed and 173,000 wounded, out of an expeditionary force of 620,000 people mobilized (39% of mobilized were casualties).

 

No worries mate. I am glad you pointed that out because there was a substantial differemce im the meanings

 

Well written Randy!

I will be at the war memorial in Ottawa on Monday for the ceremonies with my father in-law who is a vet. Many of my uncles fought and perished or bore the scars to prove their bravery. I won't forget and I hope my children do the same but I FEAR THAT THEY WILL FORGET.

Time seems to be doing a very effective job of diminishing the significance of the wars that have shaped our world today. I face great resistance when I select a television program or documentary that studies these important events in history. Today, it seems like another episode of "The Cake Boss" is more important to some than the lessons learned from our past. Yet these lessons are as relevant today as they ever were and all we have to do is have a look at the middle east or even the recent goings on in Quebec to see history repeat itself.

 

Let's also not forget that a large portion of our homeless population and panhandlers out there are vets. It is a complicated problem and they are not simply "bums" to be looked down upon. Even though there are so many programs and help available to vets to keep this from happening, they are not forced to accept help. Next time you see a homeless person, maybe don't offer money- but buying an extra whopper jr will help.

http://aattp.org/watch-shocking-time-lapse-transformation-homeless-veteran-video/

 

Bump to honour this day. There may be a Canadian theme to the OP but this is for all the Allied Countries who suffered.

 

I just got off work. I will be helping give haircuts and food to veterans, and trying to get those that are homeless to accept services today. It sounds like a do-gooder thing, but it is actually quite fun, lots of give and take and good ol' ribbing among men and women that served, get our "grinds" on hawaiian style. It is raining like a bitch today, so it will be a dry moment for those folks as well. Should be great fun. Will sleep when I get home LOL

 

Lettuce not forget the vegetarians who also served.

 

Man the ceremony was pretty amazing this morning at the tomb of the unknown soldier here in Ottawa. Just above freezing with light snow in the air, 21 gun salute, F-18 flybys etc etc. Oh and of course a large group of our eldest vets as well as those currently serving. Then we had the choirs singing and the Pipers blasting away on their bag pipes.

I was proud to be there amongst them, even if my toes eventually froze.

 

We used to have a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC. I guess it pissed off somebody enough to change the name to The Tomb of the Unknown.

Probably the same bunch that keeps asking who is buried in Grant's Tomb.

 

I usually post up a new thread every Remembrance Day however thought I would just bump this one up for this year.

Here in Canada, Remembrance Day is a big affair as it should be. I believe in Australia and the UK, it is also big. Veterans Day is remembered in the USA.

I haven't gone out to a ceremony for Remembrance Day for many years. I think that last one I attended and marched in Red Serge was sometime in the very early eighties. Both my parents, now long gone, were veterans of WWII and were heavily involved the the Royal Canadian Legion, an association of veterans who are the driving force behind our national, provincial and municipal services here in Canada. But I do Remember. I do watch the national services on Parliament Hill every year. I spend my time honouring those who sacrificed, quietly at home, reflecting on the world events that cause the creation of this special day. I also reflect back on times spent with my parents at home, camping and at the Legion.

May they rest in peace knowing I have not Forgotten.

Lest We Forget

 

Thanks to all who served in WW II. My father flew C-46 transports over the "hump" into China delivering supplies. But he never made it back home. :blue:

 

Lest we forget- actually says it all. As soon as I saw the title-I knew what it was about. Maybe the message might truly be- Can't we all get along. to many people died due to poor leadership and continue too.

 

Thanks to all that have served, and who have family extended families serving now.