Lest We Forget

[SuperTimo]

lest we forget.


its hard to forget after my 3rd parade through my town. and then standing at attention throughout the planting of the reefs and the collecting of the standards. and the last post and the revaille, and then marching round town to the chruch service

but its worth it to commenarate those who gave their lives for a greater cause, and is nothing comapred to the harsh conditions they had to endure.

[Chuffy]

I've always liked Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen. It is in my mind a much more stark and visceral reminder.

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of disappointed shells that dropped behind.

GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And floundering like a man in fire or lime.--
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.

[Rico11b]

Happy V-day to all my fellow Brothers in arms around the world serving proudly! Today is your day Bros!

While you may not have had a chance to enjoy your day, just know that I took time to think of you and speak a prayer.


"Keep your head low, your powder dry, and try NOT to be a hero"



Airborne!!!

[DeadboyUSMC]

Remember all, Veteran's Day is not simply for the United States. It's also known as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, and other names. Whatever country you live in, buy a serviceman/woman a round at the bar/ pub, and thank him/her for their service to YOU.

To all of you deployed, I thank you. Having been to the desert myself, I know what **** you're dealing with. Keep your head in the game, focus on the mission, and like my buddy Rico said; keep your head low.

Look out for one another out there, kick some *** and come back and play some games with us when you get home.

[OkitaMakoto]

Another thread merged, guys please try to just make one thread on the same topic

[cfschris]

My hats off to our men and women overseas, I love you guys. Hope to be joining you as an Officer in 6 years!!

I made this sig for a bud of mine who just got out of the Corps 2 years ago. But anyone else who wants to use it in honor of Veterans day, feel free.

[Proff3ssorXman]

Lest we forget.

Thank You

[.:iGi:.NinjaJedi]

Kinda puts things into perspective with regards to moden day "news" when you think what was happening 90 years ago...

We will remember them.

[GR34]

Here in Canada we have One man left from WWI but he was never on the front lines he was to you he was shipped to the trenches a few days before it ended its sad really the extream loss of life for what? Human Greed? Stupid if u ask me but not as stupid as lining up shoulder to shoulder then taking turns shooting at each other

[Scot]

Bob I meant American's veterans day

[Rudd]

I thought since this poem follows the same theme as others here, and that it's regarding remembrance for both living and dead during Christmas, it was appropriate to post it here.

This was being sent around the travel medicine community via a serving army nurse, but originates from an Australian soldier serving overseas.

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE,

MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.



I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY,

WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO,

IN THIS HOME, DID LIVE.



I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,

A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,

NOT EVEN A TREE.



NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,

JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES,

OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.



WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT,

CAME THROUGH MY MIND.



FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,

ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.



THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,

SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR,

IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.



THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,

THE ROOM IN DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED,

AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER.



WAS THIS THE HERO,

OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,

THE FLOOR FOR A BED?



I REALIZED THE FAMILIES,

THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS,

WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.



SOON ROUND THE WORLD,

THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE,

A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.



THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM,

EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,

LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.



I COULDN'T HELP WONDER,

HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE,

IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.



THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT,

A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES,

AND STARTED TO CRY.



THE SOLDIER AWAKENED,

AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

"SANTA DON'T CRY,

THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;



I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,

I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD,

MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."



THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,

I CONTINUED TO WEEP.



I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,

SO SILENT AND STILL,

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED,

FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.



I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE,

ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR,

SO WILLING TO FIGHT.



THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."



ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,

AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,

A ND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

This part was in teh e-mail sent to me

This poem was written by an Australian Peacekeeping soldier stationed overseas. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable


PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to all of the service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

[TAW_Cutthroat]

I might have seen this one before, but I'm not sure.

It's quite a moving poem. It makes you think of the soldiers overseas who have to fight over the festive season.

I'll be sure to post this around.