Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
United States

Journal Ethelred Unraed's Journal: Veterans' Day / Remembrance Day [UPDATED] 14

Journal by Ethelred Unraed
Thanks to all those who served or who are serving now, including, but not limited to, the following:

Em Emalb (even if he isn't "here" anymore)
Red Warrior
Aridhol
BouncingBean (thanks to Aridhol for the reminder)
My grandfather (buried in Arlington)
My father (during Korea)
My uncle (during WWII)
My brother (101st Airborne)
My godfathers (both of them, one in Germany, the other Stateside; the latter is also in Arlington)
My great uncle (D-Day to the Elbe)
My cousin (Vietnam)
And in particular all the thousands who died on Flanders' fields, in whose memory this day was first dedicated. That they shall not have died in vain.*

IN FLANDERS FIELDS (John McCrae)

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.

REPLY (John Mitchell)

Oh! sleep in peace where poppies grow;
The torch your falling hands let go
Was caught by us, again held high,
A beacon light in Flanders sky
That dims the stars to those below.
You are our dead, you held the foe,
And ere the poppies cease to blow,
We'll prove our faith in you who lie
In Flanders Fields.

Oh! rest in peace, we quickly go
To you who bravely died, and know
In other fields was heard the cry,
For freedom's cause, of you who lie,
So still asleep where poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.

As in rumbling sound, to and fro,
The lightning flashes, sky aglow,
The mighty hosts appear, and high
Above the din of battle cry,
Scarce heard amidst the guns below,
Are fearless hearts who fight the foe,
And guard the place where poppies grow.
Oh! sleep in peace, all you who lie
In Flanders Fields.

And still the poppies gently blow,
Between the crosses, row on row.
The larks, still bravely soaring high,
Are singing now their lullaby
To you who sleep where poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

* - Actually, that line is from the Gettysburg Address, predating Veterans' Day by a while, but hey, it's appropriate anyway. Deal.

This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Veterans' Day / Remembrance Day [UPDATED] More

Veterans' Day / Remembrance Day [UPDATED]

Comments Filter:
  • That you actually know this day was for World War I. We didn't have it off, because Lux was really neutral in WWI.

    I am born as a kid of Flanders.... I didn't know the song... MP3?

    I have thanked a while ago [slashdot.org] what some countries did for us. Despite those countries claim we have forgotten because we don't support every stupid war that comes around the corner.

    We haven't forgotten. WWI is far away for us all... They still made a difference.

    • I am born as a kid of Flanders.... I didn't know the song... MP3?

      It's not actually a song - it is a poem. ;-) (Though I wouldn't discount the fact that someone might have set it to music at some stage...)

      We have Remembrance Day services here every year (though I couldn't find any of the poppy sellers this year, so I couldn't wear a poppy as a sign of respect 8-/ ) and when I was in primary school we were taught a lot about the World Wars in history. Unfortunately there seems to have been a lack of such t
      • I found that there wasn't much education about the wars in school here, beyond "This is Remembrance Day. Soldiers fought so you could be free. Day off school, see you Monday".

        However, being in a military family and in Cadets, I learned more about it. Being in Cadets, I marched in the Remembrance Day parade every year; this year was the first time in 15 years that I did not attend the Remembrance Day services, as I was working (and didn't want to ask for my last day off when I was quitting with almost n

        • We have a minute's silence at 11am. (On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - when the armistace treaty was officially came into effect.) It is not a public holiday here - we have ANZAC Day (25th April) for that - but most businesses observe the minute's silence at 11am.
          • We have a minute's silence at 11am. (On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - when the armistace treaty was officially came into effect.) It is not a public holiday here - we have ANZAC Day (25th April) for that - but most businesses observe the minute's silence at 11am.

            Ya -- I meant to post this at 11 am CET, but got tied up with a phone call. You'll notice that I made up for it by posting at 11 pm CET. ;-)

            Cheers,

            Ethelred

        • Odd we were taught about WWI and WWII in school, about 1 month of time together. Wasn't too bad for highschool teaching. Mind you I learned about the wars on my own time. -Leon
  • I have yet to serve a single day at the time you posted this.

    This time tomorrow, however, I will have served exactly a single day of military service (even if it's all administrative).

    And don't forget BouncingBean on your list of Slashdot service members (I know he's on your friends & fans lists, 'cause I just checked :P )

    • I have yet to serve a single day at the time you posted this.

      True, but you're about to, which is just as important.

      In fact, it's rather symbolic to thank someone just entering service, as opposed to veterans or the honored dead.

      And don't forget BouncingBean on your list of Slashdot service members (I know he's on your friends & fans lists, 'cause I just checked :P )

      Blast and hellfire...I was trying to remember his nick, and went digging through my old /my/amigos links to find him, to no avail.

  • ..is where I live. They played the Last Post yesterday in Ieper, with lot's of english veterans, but this is the first time no one from WWI '14-'18 could make it to pay tribute to their fellow brothers in arms. The battle of Ieper was one of the largest and most bloody operations of that war, where the Germans used mustard gas for the first time.

    In Flanders, military service has been voluntary since 1992, the year that I was supposed to go serve. I can't say that I think I miss something, but if it wor
  • Now y'all are making me blush.

    "He's just this guy, ya know?"

  • My brother [slashdot.org]. He signed up while still in high school (Delayed enlistment program.)...He's still in training.
  • Made sure I had my flag flying that day. Just bummed I didn't have a Marine Corp flag to fly on last Wednesday (Devil Dogs' Anniversary). I've never seen a bullet fired in anger while in uniform, so I don't really feel I deserve much thanks. However, it's been an honor to serve 8 years active and 2 (almost) in the Air National Guard. We'll see how much longer till they kick me out for being fat :) (half kidding)

Slashdot Top Deals

Mausoleum: The final and funniest folly of the rich. -- Ambrose Bierce

Close