Kitchen Garden Forum

No need for you to add any words if you don't want to, just a simple act of remembrance by posting your user name will suffice.

These are my words, written just a few years back in a very simplistic manner. I was not a member of the services, but I certainly appreciate those who are/were

The Last Post Home

I'm proud to wear my uniform
And serve my country well
I may have been conscripted
But I'll fight to give them hell

I'm proud to wear my uniform
I've joined of my own free will
I don't want to go to war
But I hope I fit the bill

I'm proud to wear my uniform
They are sending me out to fight
Not sure if I’ll survive this
Pray for me I might

I was proud to wear my uniform
You may not like what I have done
But would you be reading this
If our enemies had won

I was proud to wear my uniform
To protect my fellow creatures
But how do you think I feel
When you cringe at my deformed features

I was proud to wear my uniform
I've worn it to sing Hymns
So can some god please tell me
Why do they mock my missing limbs

I was proud to wear my uniform
I think I looked 'Right Smart'
Show my picture to my children
I loved them.... with all my heart

I'm proud to wear this uniform
But to me this really matters
Don't bury me in this one
Its burnt and all in tatters

I was proud to wear my uniform
They're flying us home real soon
I heard the padre whispering
The hearses arrive at noon

I was proud to wear my uniform
And soon I will be back
Probably not in uniform
But draped in Union Jack

I'm proud to have worn my uniform
And fought the evil foe
So please, don't forget me
Now it’s time for me to go

I'm proud to wear this uniform
As they take me to the Altar
Just remember me, always
Your loving Son or Daughter

********************

They were proud to wear their uniform
To protect mankind and nation
And how do some repay them
By defacing their memorials, Such acts of desecration

They were proud to wear their uniform
And whilst some see fit to condemn
There are those of us who care enough
We Will Remember Them

********************************************
Wear your Poppy with the same Pride as they wore their uniform, We owe them that.
*********************************************

Written By MJC (Copyright)

Just perfect.

We will remember.

Barney

“Let those who come after see to it that their names are not forgotten”

John

Dave

Totally appropriate. Thank you.

We attended our village ceremony at the war memoriial on the village green this morning. There was a parade down the High Street with banners and band. About 700 people turned out and over 60 wreaths laid by various village organiations. So nice to see all sectors of the community and all the generations represented. It was one of those occasions when you felt proud and humble to be part of a much bigger community that calls itself "British" and values all those things which make up our heritage. Very moving to see tiny primary school children going up to lay their own wreaths as their school's representives. You wonder if this is one of those memories that will remain with them when they are adults and hopefully still "remembering" when another generation are still carrying on the tradition.

A day when I remember and mourn all who have lost their lives in all wars and on whatever side. And I read my Wilfred Owen.

Futility
by Wilfred Owen

Move him into the sun -
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields unsown.
Always it woke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.
Think how it wakes the seeds, -
Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides,
Full-nerved - still warm - too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
- O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?

But have we learnt?

Pa - With friends and family in the forces, having lost members of both to war and hate, and being privileged to have known a survivor of WW2, your words really struck a cord, and pulled on my heart strings. So I've put your poem on an image I made long ago, and here it is (sorry if the fonts too hard to read, I can redo the font if you like ) I also have a higher resolution version if you'd like

I was not intending to reply to posts on this thread as it has a specific purpose of remembrance rather than as a discussion.
However, I cannot let Dan's post go without a thank you for his efforts.
These things take time and I appreciate you taking up your time to work on it

Yesterday I watched the service from the Cenotaph on television in the morning, as I have done for many years.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month I shall once again be at a former naval dockyard town laying a wreath at a naval memorial in remembrance of my fathers brother (my would have been Uncle after whom I was given my middle name) who has no known resting place as he was lost overboard somewhere in the freezing cold north sea in February 1944.

His name, along with thousands of others lost at sea, is listed on the memorial.