Today across much of Europe and the British Commonwealth we recognize the fallen and survivors of war, in particular the First World War and World War 2. Whether or not your country recognizes Remembrance Day or Armistice Day, or neither I would ask you to stop what you are doing at 11am and take a moment of silence. We do this to remember the Armistice which closed the Great War, to remind us of the horrors of war, and to realize that peace (in this time or any other) is possible, thanks to the sacrifices of those who have done what they must in the name of what is right.

No moralizing or debating please. Just thoughts and remembrances please.

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.

I would like to take time to remember my grandfathers and great-uncle
who fought bravely in WWII. May God bless you wherever you are!

As someone who loves to read poetry, I would like to take a moment to
share with you a poem that was written by a brave soldier named Wilfred
Owen. He was 21 years old when WWI broke out in 1914. The shocking
violence of modern war inspired him to write profoundly.

Twice wounded in battle, Wilfred Owen was rapidly promoted and eventually
became a company commander. He was killed one week before the end of
the war; he was 25 years old.

I hope you'll take the time to read this poem that defines what WWI
was about:

Dulce Et Decorum Est

"It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country."

In the United States, today is Veteran's Day: a day to remember all who have served our country in the armed services.

A big tip of the hat to those who have risked and given the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that so many others take for granted.

God Bless all of those who have stood up for the country and volunteered their lives and livelihoods so that others may enjoy the benefits of society.

Here's a pretty good site on the subject:

Veterans' Day

I'm grateful that my oldest brother made it through Vietnam, also for my cousin who came back from Korea in one piece and alive. Sorry for the ones who did not.

Another uncle got shell-shocked in WWII, back when it wasn't acknowledged as a bona fide wound. May all those who gave him a hard time about it get what's coming to them. The movie Patton had a good scene about this thing, so I guess some had compassion. Not around my home town though.

Here's to all the living vets who need our actual support in the forms of better health care (including psych), job opportunities, educational routes . . . let's include the entire population in here too. Let's keep the United States worth defending.

I won't comment on those who profit from the blood of others. It ticks me off, and the day is just beginning.

Special prayers for those in danger right now. Special thanks for those who work to help out after natural disasters.

The Race to Remember

Only 10 British veterans of WW1 still survive, of the millions of volunteer (unlike WW2, there was no draft in the UK) servicemen & women who fought.

This remarkable generation gave of themselves willingly, and endured unimaginably horrible conditions, for what later turned out to be no great purpose.

Their sons and daughters were also called upon to fight in an even bloodier but more clear-cut global conflict only 21 years later. (The British Empire went to war against Germany in 1939).

The red poppies that grew on the freshly churned ground following the muddy, bloody battles of the Western Front in Flanders and Picardy became a symbol of Remembrance Day almost immediately. The poem, Flanders Fields, which UltimateJOe has already posted, crystallised this sense of mingled loss and gratitude, and in 1921, the first annual Poppy Appeal was launched. Arguably it was the first charity symbol sold - the fore-runner of the innumerable ribbons and wristbands that no self-respecting campaign is without today. Poppy Appeal website

In the UK at least, it is still by far the most enduring and widespread expression, raising money for the Royal British Legion (the unifying ex-service organisation), supporting veterans and their families from all British military campaigns, including Empire veterans from the days when there still was a British Empire.

Today, we remember not only the British and Commonwealth casualties of these and subsequent conflicts, but the allied and civilian casualties who also gave their lives, or had them taken, so that we might live in our relative peace today. And, since the end of the Cold War, the public has become increasingly aware of, and increasingly grateful for, the simply colossal military and civilian sacrifice of the armies and peoples of the former Soviet Union.

Thank you, all of you.

For those of us who abhor war, finding comforting words for days such as Veteran's Day isn't exactly easy. I have always enjoyed the poetry of W.H. Auden and the following (public domain) poem seems an appropriate homage to those who have died in history's countless wars and to those who remained home wondering:

Let History Be My Judge

We made all possible preparations,
Drew up a list of firms,
Constantly revised our calculations
And allotted the farms,

Issued all the orders expedient
In this kind of case:
Most, as was expect'd, were obedient,
Though there were murmurs, of course;

Chiefly against our exercising
Our old right to abuse:
Even some sort of attempt at rising,
But these were mere boys.

For never serious misgiving
Occurred to anyone,
Since there could be no question of living
If we did not win.

The generally accepted view teaches
That there was no excuse,
Though in the light of recent researches
Many would find the cause

In a not uncommon form of terror;
Others, still more astute,
Point to possibilities of error
At the very start.

As for ourselves there is left remaining
Our honour at least,
And a reasonable chance of retaining
Our faculties to the last.

War is hell. All men and women know, some to a greater detail than others, that it is a grizzly event that brings out both the best and worst in civilized man. There are those who oppose it in all forms and there are those who accept that it is a part of human nature to fight, often with needless consequences.

Yet there are but a solitary few that can resist feeling admiration, respect, and thankfullness when thinking of the soldier. The soldier, the brave man or woman who has heeded the call from their country, or the call from their heart. The man or woman who has undertaken a responsibility to protect the concept of liberty and honor, and to protect their fellow countrymen. A responsibility that few of us will ever fully understand the gravity of.

We see these men and women and stand in awe at their dedication. We respect their committment. We are inspired, even if only for mere moments in a lifetime, by their presence, to find a way to somehow match a fraction of their character in our own lives. We cheer in their moments of triumph and console them when they lose their comrades. We hope that they succeed just as much as we hope they return safely into the arms of loved ones.

They are family. They are friends. They are husbands and wives. They are fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. They are friends and neighbors. They are members of a section of society that take on exponentially more responibilities than the average person, and manage to do so without asking for any spotlight or any special rewards.

They are our men and women in service to our nation, and today we celebrate them. Today we must say our thanks and show our respect to those who have served in all wars. Those who have long since passed and those who are in the field. Those who have seen hell and have come back to warn us that, while it is an inevitable aspect of human nature, that war should never be eagerly sought. Those who have sacrificed their lives to protect ours. Those that are a walking, living reminder that everything, especially freedom, has a price.

To all of those here at AD who have served and are serving, we thank you. To those that made the ultimate sacrifice, we pray that they hear our thanks and that their loved ones that remain are proud of them.

Happy Veteran's Day

I guess the US doesn't even keep track of how many WWI vets are still alive, but the VA estimates only 30 to 50 survive. How sad is it that they don't even know how many there are?

I read this interesting article about why WWI doesn't maintain a real presence in the American psyche (as opposed to WWII).

Thanks to all who served in the "great one".

Edited to add: I stumbled across this site with some amazing color photographs from WWI and thought I'd share - WWI Photos

Hey DaffyGrl, thanks for that nice link. I mailed it to my dad, he is an expert in WWI, and travels every year to Northern-France to investigate the entire western front. It is unbelievable what exactly happened to the soldiers fighting in the trenches. Listening to stories and reading some historical articles clearly illustrates that this war must have been a living nightmare. (there are still parts of northern France which are prohobited to visit (some woods around Verdun for example), because there is still too much live-ammunition from WWI in the ground.)

Fortunately alot of realy good books have been published about the Great War. My dad's favourite books are the various "War diaries", especially the one written by Louis Barthas. I have read them also and it is truly amazing how people could ever survive this horrible war.

As long as people keep reading these personal journals the soldiers who fought in this war will hopefully never be forgotten.