|
|
|
|
|
yna6
|
Joined: 5/2/2004
Msg: 26 | |
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/10/2006 2:53:21 PM | Yeah...Shakespeare always did have a mouthful to say.....
not much to tell...dad was a tail gunner in a bomber, and darned lucky to get through it alive. Not a lot of them did from that position.
Remembering the dead for one day a year seems a small price...especially when we need remember those who are still with us. If someone has a chance to pick up the Legion magazine, do so...it is a worthwhile read. There is war art, articles of current events, stories from vets, current event articles on what is going on with the forces today, and most importantly, what is going on with verterans today. Not to mention the "Last Post"...listings of vets who have passed away. I've seen a few names in there of people I've known.
I also found how some of the older vets were being treated in "rest homes"...not a pretty thing. Can someone please tell me just what the hell "reconstituted toast" is that they are served with at breakfast that is so hard it breaks the dentures, and is basically unpaletable?
For many vets, it isn't the idea of trying to remember...it's that they can never forget.
Yet...many still feel we should pull ourselves out of world affairs...allow civilian populations to suffer horribly, rather than send troops out to stop it. Sure....we too can be guilty of atrocities too...but on a far less scale than that which has been inflicted. Yet the nay sayers will blow it out of proportion to the point where it becomes all consuming. They never think as to who fought for them to even have the right to speak freely. Yet these people are hypocrites of the lowest form, and haven't even the ability to see how they shame not only themselves, but the memories of those who fought for freedom. | |
|
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/10/2006 3:58:03 PM | | My Grandmother was a nurse with the AEF in the Great War. When I was a young boy -- 1954, 1955, back then -- I would go with her to the VA some times and she was the absolute bomb. Every man would stand when she would pass. And on Nov 11 she would wear her Victory medal and a poppy -- a woman with the medal of her own right. What a sight. She didn't stand in lines, she didn't open doors. A nurse. The men so appreciated her service there was just nothing too good for her. She rests in honored glory at the National Cemetary, Biloxi, Mississippi. I saw this thread and thought of her. Thanks Montreal Guy. | |
|
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/10/2006 4:06:59 PM | Both my grandfathers served in WW2. one was based here in canada, the other went over seas. My Grandfather was a ack ack (anti air craft) gunner on a 40mm bofer gun. I remember all the stories of the war he told me, he wanted me to know what really happened and what it was really like. He served in halifax as a training crew on the Borfer before going over.
On the ship going over seas they had borfer just like his, and he met the crew men that were to use them. None of them really knew how to work the gun well, they were all just drafted on placed in to the service. So my grandfather's unit took over the role of ack ack on that ship, while training the other crew so they would be better off in thier next crossing. My grandfather's unit was sent to holland just after it was freed.
The hororr of what he saw is beond anything i can ever dream of. The stories of the good times with his unit, the time when there was no fighting was what i want to remember most. to see how close these people could become, who came from all over canada and all walks of life is a price less memory. How they dought one of the crew to speak french, and another to speak english. All this in the middle of combat.
there is a song and video called a pittance of time , by Terry Kelly. Please look up the video to fully understand the words.
They fought and some died for their homeland
They fought and some died now it’s our land
Look at his little child, there’s no fear in her eyes
Could he not show respect for other dads who have died?
Take two minutes, would you mind?
It’s a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls who went over
In peace may they rest, may we never forget why they died.
It’s a pittance of time
God forgive me for wanting to strike him
Give me strength so as not to be like him
My heart pounds in my breast, fingers pressed to my lips
My throat wants to bawl out, my tongue barely resists
But two minutes I will bide
It’s a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls who went over
In peace may they rest, may we never forget why they died.
It’s a pittance of time
Read the letters and poems of the heroes at home
They have casualties, battles, and fears of their own
There’s a price to be paid if you go, if you stay
Peace is fought for and won in numerous ways
Take two minutes would you mind?
It’s a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls all over
May we never forget our young become vets
At the end of the line it’s a pittance of time
It takes courage to fight in your own war
It takes courage to fight someone else’s war
Our peacekeepers tell of their own living hell
They bring hope to foreign lands that the hatemongers can’t kill.
Take two minutes, would you mind?
It’s a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls who go over
In peacetime our best still don battle dress
And lay their lives on the line.
It’s a pittance of time
In Peace may they rest, lest we forget why they died.
Take a pittance of time
©2001 All rights reserved | |
|
dannol
|
Joined: 9/29/2006
Msg: 29 | |
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/10/2006 4:20:49 PM | Hey Monteal Guy
Thanks It means alot to me. Have severed overseas on 5 separte missions and I have 12 guys out of my unit right now serving in Afgahanistan and there biggest complaint they have right now is they don't think the Canadian public is supporting them and trust me when you are there you want to know that you ahve the public support for you. I talked to 900 Kids this morning about that very topic of why we are there. Thanks for your support | |
|
alyjoe
|
Joined: 8/30/2006
Msg: 30 | |
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/10/2006 5:02:56 PM | | My Dad is a retired Marine, fought in Vietnam, enough said. Those marines are tough, he is still alive and well at 86 almost 87. God Bless all the Military | |
|
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/11/2006 6:26:16 AM | | It's raining here and veterans will march in the rain to the Cenotaph. I hope many will be there to honour them. | |
|
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/11/2006 8:42:58 AM | Raining in Ottawa, but the ceremony is live on CBC, ...quite moving.
....The "Last Post" as I type, ....the eyes of the older vets, now two minutes of silence, ....humbling.
Ahhhh.... the pipes,
....the Hurricane and P-51 flyby...... even though the F-18s are cancelled due to weather, ...the planes from over a half a century ago fly.
....the children singing "In Flanders Fields" with the Forces Band, and the laying of wreaths...
And, the Veteran's Parade..... still so many old faces marching in the parade.
The weather didn't stop young and old from crowding the square.
And then, there's the "new" tradition....
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was placed in front of the Canadian National War Memorial in 2000.
ANCIENNE SÉPULTURE D'UN
SOLDAT CANADIEN INCONNU
MORT AU COURS DE LA
PREMIÈRE GUERRE MONDIALE.
IL A ÉTÉ EXHUMÉ
LE 25 MAI 2000
ET IL REPOSE MAINTENANT AU
MONUMENT COMMÉMORATIF
DE GUERRE DU CANADA
À OTTAWA
THE FORMER GRAVE OF AN
UNKNOWN CANADIAN SOLDIER
OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR.
HIS REMAINS WERE REMOVED
ON 25 MAY 2000 AND NOW
LIE INTERRED AT THE
NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL
IN OTTAWA CANADA.
The Tomb itself is also now an official part of the Remembrance Day ceremonies, and on the first Remembrance Day that featured the Tomb, a new Canadian tradition began spontaneously, and movingly, ....at the conclusion of the service when thousands of pilgrims placed their Poppies on the Tomb itself. A tradition was born that has continued since 2001.
http://homepage.mac.com/ewald/.Pictures/remembrance_ottawa3.jpg
Lest we forget. | |
|
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/11/2006 9:02:28 AM | Jeff323- The back story is posted on his website.I don't think I'm supposed to post the link here, but you can google him. You can also hear the song and view the video there.
"On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store’s PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.
Terry was impressed with the store’s leadership role in adopting the Legion’s “two minutes of silence” initiative. He felt that the store’s contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.
When eleven o’clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the “two minutes of silence” to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.
Terry’s anger towards the father for trying to engage the store’s clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, “A Pittance of Time”. Terry later recorded “A Pittance of Time” and included it on his full-length music CD, “The Power of the Dream”.
In the interest of creating a greater awareness of the sacrifices that have been made and are still being made on our behalf, “A Pittance of Time” has been adapted to the French language and titled “C’est si peu de temps”. Music videos for both audio tracks too were produced in support of the campaign and a musical/theatrical concert production, “Two Minutes of Silence – A Pittance of Time”, was written for the stage."
I went to my daughters' school remembrance day ceremony, and saw this video for the first time. I was reduced to tears.....
I don't have any stories about vets in my family because two of my great-grandfathers didn't come home.... and I'm probably a bit younger than most of the people here. My parents didn't see what your parents did. But I do have family and friends serving in the military, some in Afghanistan. My cousin was almost killed a couple of months ago, and it saddens me to know that every time there's a casualty, SOMEONE is mourning that person.
It just goes to show that no matter the how or why, it's possible to not like the war...but still support and feel for the soldiers. | |
|
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/11/2006 9:20:49 AM | Think there may have been a bandwidth problem earlier but anyone wishing to take a look at my WW1 poetry film can now do so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrjSt0OLvrA
11am and silence reigned this morning. A lone bugler sounded the last post and I had the privilege to order the firing of the minute gun - which our local radio station broadcast. That golden peace came at a high price. One we are still paying for. I'm glad that British society seems to be embracing the 11th November once again and not just Remembrance Sunday, which became an excuse not to have to stop on a workday. Earlier this year I was on the Somme as part of a 90th anniversary pilgramage by 60 uniformed historical interpreteters. On the 1st July at 7.20am, we formed up near the Hawthorne Ridge mine crater and waited for the half hour to strike. I don't think there was a dry eye as we all thought back to our forefathers. We spent a week marching the old front line and the amount of local support we received was overwhelming. On our return we learned that the BBC, who had covered the week's march had been unundated with email about the Great War - long forgotten memories were shared and sacrifices recalled.
People do remember. | |
|
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/11/2006 9:24:28 AM |
I don't have any stories about vets in my family because two of my great-grandfathers didn't come home.... and I'm probably a bit younger than most of the people here. My parents didn't see what your parents did. But I do have family and friends serving in the military, some in Afghanistan. My cousin was almost killed a couple of months ago, and it saddens me to know that every time there's a casualty, SOMEONE is mourning that person.
BRANDIW - I had the honour, on that trip to the Somme, to place a wreath at the Newfoundlanders memorial. An incredibly moving moment. | |
|
Lybbie
|
Joined: 8/16/2006
Msg: 36 | |
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/11/2006 2:26:57 PM | | I was just a few rows back from the War memorial to at the service in Ottawa. It was something to see. There were a group of teens standing not far from us, complaining about the rain and the cold, my 11 year old son turned to them and politly said " It's not as bad being here in the cold for a few minutes, all my grandpas and my dad and mom were at war, they were cold." On a normal day I would have scolded him for being cheeky, but today, my little man had a point. I simply put my arm around him, he understands what war does and can do. The service was something to remember. | |
|
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/11/2006 4:51:08 PM | For an 11 year old kid to make note of something like that is touching. He's going to grow up appreciating all that's been done for him to be able to stand up and tell it like it is to others.
When I was in Korea (1991-1992), I found christmas a bit lonely being half way across the world without family and friends from home. I'd go to the mail room to see if anybody sent a christmas card, or care package. The mail clerk was getting letters from people looking for pen pals. I told him give me a few of those. I wrote to a woman in New York, and a little kid from I forget where. It made being so far away from family a bit more bearable.
I still have the letters from that christmas period that I responded to.
I also set and think about the summer days when you think "WOW is it hot today". I think about all the men & women in Iraq, that are there not by choice, but by duty, and think of the 100+ degree temps they deal with daily. With that thought in mind, it tends to get a little cooler when it's 80 some degrees outside here. | |
|
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/11/2006 9:56:06 PM | | Rob00765 Pretty sure I caught your story Friday night on the history channel. You were with your cousin? It was a great and very interesting show. Quite informative. Thanks, Richard | |
|
Sigi
|
Joined: 5/26/2005
Msg: 39 | |
| A thread for November 11th
Posted: 11/13/2006 4:15:41 PM | A bit off topic. No Remembrance Day here....November 11th is known as Sint Maarten's Day.
On the island Sint Maarten, where I live;
History:
According to legend, Christopher Columbus sighted Soualiga (original name) on the 11th of November in the year 1493, the holy day of St. Martin of Tours, and he named the island after him - hence the name St. Maarten. The 11th of November is celebrated to this day, as St. Martin/St. Maarten's Day.
Celebration:
Queen Beatrix visited the Dutch part of the island a couple of days ago, but normally music festivals, and ceremonies together with the French part of the island.
And in the Netherlands it is celebrated differently;
History:
On 11 November 401 died the bishop of the French city Tours, Saint Martinus. Sint Martinus was famed for his great love for the poor, the children and the people in need. Saint Martinus earned his fame with the beggar affair. 11 November, the day he died, is the day when ten thousands of children every year again, sing about him when they walk with their Chinese-lanterns by the houses and ask for an apple or pear.
Celebration:
On most places Sint-Maarten is celebrated like this: When the sun goes down, and it becomes dark, children walk with their lanterns by the houses and by singing a song they try to gather as much candy as they can..
Hey OP....I know you would be interested in this as well!
 Sigi | |
|
|
|
Home
login 
