it's that time of year again when we remember those who fought for our country and gave their lives for us over the years.

i'm starting this thread as a memorial to those brave people.  if you want to be critical of the war etc start your own thread...

i wish i could abuse my mod status and make this a sticky on the main page..

PLEASE WEAR A POPPY

"Please wear a poppy," the lady said

And held one forth, but I shook my head.

Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,

And her face was old and lined with care;

But beneath the scars the years had made

There remained a smile that refused to fade.

A boy came whistling down the street,

Bouncing along on care-free feet.

His smile was full of joy and fun,

"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"

When she's pinned in on he turned to say,

"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in her wistful way

And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,

And the poppy there is the symbol for

The gallant men who died in war.

And because they did, you and I are free -

That's why we wear a poppy, you see.

"I had a boy about your size,

With golden hair and big blue eyes.

He loved to play and jump and shout,

Free as a bird he would race about.

As the years went by he learned and grew

and became a man - as you will, too.

"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,

But he'd seemed with us such a little while

When war broke out and he went away.

I still remember his face that day

When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,

I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.

"But the war went on and he had to stay,

And all I could do was wait and pray.

His letters told of the awful fight,

(I can see it still in my dreams at night),

With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,

And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.

"Till at last, at last, the war was won -

And that's why we wear a poppy son."

The small boy turned as if to go,

Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.

That sure did sound like an awful fight,

But your son - did he come back all right?"

A tear rolled down each faded check;

She shook her head, but didn't speak.

I slunk away in a sort of shame,

And if you were me you'd have done the same;

For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,

Thought our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!

And so when we see a poppy worn,

Let us reflect on the burden borne,

By those who gave their very all

When asked to answer their country's call

That we at home in peace might live.

Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give

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,

Scarces 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 by row.

The larks, still bravely soaring high,

Are singing now their lullaby

To you who sleep where poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

The soldiers poem

It is the soldier, not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,

who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the soldier,

who salutes the flag,

who serves under the flag,

and whose coffin is draped by the flag,

who allows the protester to burn the flag.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

We will remember them, we will remember them.

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

(it is sweet and right to die for your country)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3081828687336610128

:clapping03:

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

(it is sweet and right to die for your country)

A lot of our guys have died in Iraq and Afghanistan thanks to G.W Bush's America and our former PM, Tony Blair...

PLEASE.... Let's not forget them...

Two places my mind will travel this weekend

[img width=500 height=353]http://www.cwgc.org/CWGCImgs/St.%20Manvieu%20War%20Cem.JPG

St Manvieu War Cemetery in Normandy where my uncle is buried

[img width=500 height=336]

Gaza War Cemetery where my great uncle is buried

Should it not have been for them we would not be here!

These days there are not many true heroes.....but they were truly heroes !!! their memory is monumented in every town and village throughout the land !! :notworthy02: :notworthy02:

Clubs South of the Border yesterday held silences as a mark of respect this weekend, as did the Hearts today for their own very poignant reason.

Is it left to the discretion of each club North of the border whether to hold a minutes silence.. ?

Hearts have always been very strong on Remembrance Day, indeed it's something of a club tradition. It goes back to 1916 when on ther first day of the Battle of the Somme a lot of Hearts players died as members of the 16th battalion of the Royal scots (known as "McCrae's Own"). On that day, when there were 57,000 British casualties, 19000 of them fatal, this was one of the units selected to go "over the top" and three quarters of them became casualties. There's a book and a TV documentary about iti.

David... I can empathis with what you've said. I was in the military cemetary at Ranville above Sword Beach and Pegasus Bridge in Normandy a few years ago abnd it was a very moving experience.

Earl Haig was a warmonger and today would have been charged with war crimes!

The soldiers who gave their lives in any war need to be remembered.

NO sacrifice is greater that to give your life for your country!

I will always remember them.

neksor

Earl Haig was a warmonger and today would have been charged with war crimes!

neksor

What does that make Tony Blair..?