The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month

[luckydog71]

To every person who laid their life on the line and went to war to defend my freedoms, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you for giving up years of your life to ensure that I could enjoy mine.

Thank you for sacrificing some of your goals and dreams so I could realize mine.

Thank you for your bravery. Thank you for your courage. Thank for your service to your country.

It is not possible for me to ever repay you for what you did for me.

Most of you I will never see and many of you died before I was even born.

What I can do is wear my poppy and in my own small way say thank you.

What I can do is ensure the generation behind me, does not forget what you have given the world.

Lest we forget.


Thank you, Dad.

 

[Marvin]

What I can do is wear my poppy and in my own small way say thank you.

Yes, well said luckydog71.

Just curious, when did Americans start wearing a poppy on Vetrans Day? I thought that wearing a poppy was a British Commonwealth tradition.

 

[Gentleman First]

Thanks to all those who served to protect our country...and especially those who died doing so....I never got to know my Grandfather as he was killed in WW II serving overseas.

Rest in Peace !

 

[Swguy]

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.

<hr>

Quoted from: The Royal Canadian Legion - Poppy & Remembrance

HISTORY OF THE POPPY


Why was the poppy chosen as the symbol of remembrance for Canada's war dead?
The poppy, an international symbol for those who died in war, also had international origins.

A writer first made the connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, remarking that fields that were barren before battle exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.

Prior to the First World War few poppies grew in Flanders. During the tremendous bombardments of that war the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing 'popaver rhoeas' to thrive. When the war ended the lime was quickly absorbed, and the poppy began to disappear again.

Lieut-Col. John McCrae, the Canadian doctor who wrote the poem IN FLANDERS FIELDS, made the same connection 100 years later, during the First World War, and the scarlet poppy quickly became the symbol for soldiers who died in battle.

Three years later an American, Moina Michael, was working in a New York City YMCA canteen when she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died on the battlefield. During a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. On her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. In November 1921, the first poppies were distributed in Canada.

Thanks to the millions of Canadians who wear the flowers each November, the little red plant has never died. And neither have Canadian's memories for 117,000 of their countrymen who died in battle.

<hr>

Simply saying "thank you" seems so insufficient when compared to what those heroes gave up for us.

We must make sure that all of us, our children and theirs and so on, know and never forget what sacrifices were made, and why, so that, hopefully, young men and women will not have to make such sacrifices again.



SWG

 

[luckydog71]

......Just curious, when did Americans start wearing a poppy on Vetrans Day? I thought that wearing a poppy was a British Commonwealth tradition.

I see just a few poppies here. But once every year it is one of the ways I get to say thanks, to a very large group of people and very specifically to my dad.

I get my poppies in Canada. I usually buy a large quantity. I will start wearing mine tomorrow and I will be asked many times why. It gives me a chance to say why and I give a poppy to those I think would wear it.

I have never served in the Armed Forces (I did not need to I grew up in Canada) but it really bothers me the way we treat our vets.

Here, Veterans Day is a day for stores to hold big sales. The sales are not as big as the Memorial Day sales, you know the day we honor those who died.

What a crock, can't we take one day and stop for 1 minute.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. It does not belong in this thread.

 

[Marvin]

I hear ya. I was just wondering because I do not see any U.S. public figures wearing a poppy, whereas I see them being worn by Canadians and the British.

I think Vetrans Day for Americans is low key compared to Memorial Day in May. I guess it is too close to your Thanksgiving. I generally attend Memorial Day services here in Canada in May also.

I also feel that as our vetrans are slowing passing on due to age, we as a society in general should make the effort to fully comprehend what they did for us.

If you ever get a chance to go to a Legion hall after Remembrance Day ceremonies and sit with WWII or even WWI vetrans, you will hear some amazing stories, which are all real life experiences.

Remember to observe two minutes of silence at 11:00 a.m. on Friday - it is the least we can do.

 

[BC visitor]

If you ever get a chance to go to a Legion hall after Remembrance Day ceremonies and sit with WWII or even WWI vetrans, you will hear some amazing stories, which are all real life experiences.

The same is true in the US. We have parades, moments of silence and camaraderie afterwards also.

I also feel that as our vetrans are slowing passing on due to age, we as a society in general should make the effort to fully comprehend what they did for us.

As a combat veteran from one of the "recent" wars, it is important to remember that not all veterans are from the WWI or WWII era. Every generation seems to be called on to make some sort of sacrifice. Even if the purpose of the war was unpopular, it is important to honor the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen & Marines who heeded the call of their country.

 

[FuZzYknUckLeS]

Wouldn't it be sweet ...

...if thousands of people actually showed up at Victory Square on Friday?
Go thank the ones that are still alive in person. Beats the hell out of 2 minutes of silence.

Remembrance Day Ceremony
November 11th at Victory Square - Major representation by civic officials with music at 11 am at Cambie and Hastings Streets.

 

[Marvin]

As a combat veteran from one of the "recent" wars, it is important to remember that not all veterans are from the WWI or WWII era. Every generation seems to be called on to make some sort of sacrifice. Even if the purpose of the war was unpopular, it is important to honor the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen & Marines who heeded the call of their country.

Don't get me wrong, I respect ALL vetrans, it is just that the WWI and WWII vetran numbers get vastly fewer and fewer each year ... soon there will be none left.

...if thousands of people actually showed up at Victory Square on Friday?
Go thank the ones that are still alive in person. Beats the hell out of 2 minutes of silence.

Remembrance Day Ceremony
November 11th at Victory Square - Major representation by civic officials with music at 11 am at Cambie and Hastings Streets.

I will be there, as always!

 

[dirtydan]

Your lead post is very nice LD, very nice.

 

[luckydog71]

Just wanted to bump this to the top for Nov 11

 

[DDawGG]

Great thread LD

This year I introduced my 2 young sons to the local Cenothaph and experienced the proceedings in person. The next generation must know the sacrifices made so that we can enjoy our freedom.

Thank you Dad

 

[TheRater]

Don't get me wrong, I respect ALL vetrans, it is just that the WWI and WWII vetran numbers get vastly fewer and fewer each year ... soon there will be none left.



I will be there, as always!

There are exactly 3 living WW1 veterans left.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/11/10/veteran-funeral.html

- TR