As most of you know, remembrance day (US Veterans Day) holds special importance to me, and thus I cannot let the day pass without stopping to remember and thank those who made our nations what they are today.
Knowing how the scope of remembrance is lost on many these days, I’ll start with lest we forget.
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[b][u]LEST WE FORGET[/u][/b]
What do we forget when we remember
What are the stories left untold
What do we think each November
As we march down that glory road
As we march down that gory road
One hundred million
Don?t come home from war
Another eight hundred million
Who lived to bear its scar
Who lived to bear its scar
Lest we forget
What they were dying for
Lest we forget
What they were killing for
Lest we forget
What the hell it was for
What do we forget when we remember?
-Owen Griffiths
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My Dearest Mary, a series of letters from a US soldier to his love at home during 1918 while he was off to support the war in Europe.
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~rstaley/wwlettr1.htm
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A Bio followed by a series of letters home from a Canadian soldier during WWI.
http://www.shiawasseehistory.com/cox.html
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And of course Flanders Fields:
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.
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My their god bless all the brave men and women who so unselfishly offer their lives to protect our freedoms.
To those who fought, not so much that THEIR world would be better but with visions of a brighter future for future generations, my deepest gratitude to goes to your valiant efforts that have allowed me to become who I choose to be today.
No words could ever suitably represent my gratitude when compared to the magnitude of your courage and devotion.
Rest in peace, may your brave efforts never be forgotten.