Remember their sacrifice

[DFW]

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

 

[DFW]

???

You'd have to be a citizen of a Commonwealth country or the U.S.

 

[rust]

You'd have to be a citizen of a Commonwealth country or the U.S.

Or China, where Magee was born and raised.

 

[DFW]

You'd have to be a citizen of a Commonwealth country or the U.S.

Or China, where Magee was born and raised.

No. That'd be September 3rd.

I doubt that Chinese school children are taught about Magee...

 

[barnest2]

It's a sad day when someone in the UK can get fired for trying to wear a poppy too work.

Surely remembrance is important?

 

[Nuclear Fridge Magnet]

It's a sad day when someone in the UK can get fired for trying to wear a poppy too work.

Surely remembrance is important?

It is - as long as it doesn't potentially offend people whose view of politics and the world do not agree with your own.

The political correctness brigade would do well to remember that appeasement doesn't work. A matter of historical record, actually.

[rant off]

 

[alex_greene]

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Cameron's a long way from home. All question of whether he ought to stay there aside (you kidding? They wouldn't want to ransom him after his displays of ignorance!) I do have to ask, in all seriousness, why this is in the Traveller forum.

We can, and will, remember them - but I think we should take this topic to the off topic forum.

 

[barnest2]

Hey, I dont go near any of the other forums, just the traveller one
So I'm quite happy this is here...

 

[Treebore]

Yeah, I spend 98% of my time in this forum. I would never see it in the other forums.

Its an important day to me, from my Grandfathers down to my wife and I, we all served. So I appreciate all those who remember.

 

[Elrick]

He raised his fist and grinned, I knew the signs:
Last one down sets up the pints.
And then they ran, those round, black holes.
A perfect line of perforations straight to them.
The forward jerks. The smiles transfixed.
That's when they went, I watched them go -
A twisting spiral, trailing smoke.

They're all gone now. It's in the past.
It doesn't fill my mind, except on days like this
And sometimes in the lonely nights.
I wonder why they went.
They must have gone for something...

Mustn't they?

 

[steelbrok]

Or of course the great classic lines...

They shall not grow old
As we who are left shall grow old
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn
At the going down of the Sun
And in the morning...

We will remember them

 

[alex_greene]

Extracted from Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Ulysses:-

'T is not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,--
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

And thence to Percy Bysshe Shelley, a reminder of the true price of war:-

OZYMANDIAS
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

I prefer to remember the dead in my own way.

 

[Treebore]

Technically today is for those of who serve or have served. We have another day for remembering those who died. Memorial Day, here in the US. Don't know how/when Canada, the UK, etc... do it.

But I also think about those who have died, like my Grand Fathers, who all fortunately had long lives after their wars.

 

[barnest2]

Today (well, yesterday, its 10 to 1 here in the UK) is remembrance day, where we remember those who died in defence of the nation and the commonwealth/empire, as well as those still serving...

 

[rinku]

Remembrance day (November 11th) in Australia and other Commonwealth countries is for remembering the sacrifices of those who served, not strictly equivalent to the US Veteran's Day on the same date.

We and the Kiwis also have Anzac Day on 25th April, which is more of a broad remembrance of those who served as well as died.

We did the thing yesterday, since we live in the future

 

[Jacqual]

To all those that have lost their lives serving countries defending the weak I salute you.

 

[Sturn]

Remembrance day (November 11th) in Australia and other Commonwealth countries is for remembering the sacrifices of those who served, not strictly equivalent to the US Veteran's Day on the same date.

I would actually say it is the same thing. Although Veterans Day has its roots in Armistice Day (that honored only the fallen of WW1), Veterans Day in the US now honors any who have served in the military.

If you look up the Wiki's on Remembrance Day and Veterans Day, they both have roots in Armistice Day. They both seem to have begun as the same thing. Names have since changed, leading to "Remembrance" and "Veterans". But, they are both still on November 11th (Vets Day changed for a bit, but changed back) and both have changed from honoring WW1 fallen to honoring all veterans.

 

[GamerDude]

Remembrance day (November 11th) in Australia and other Commonwealth countries is for remembering the sacrifices of those who served, not strictly equivalent to the US Veteran's Day on the same date.

Um.. depends on what you mean by "sacrifice".

Time away from family in foreign countries, crappy pay sometimes crappier food, your pay is for being on call-24/7 subject to military rules and law 24/7. Any violation of the rules can be severely punished up to and including courts martial (yes, you can for being over regulation weight or taking a gov't vehicle to the base Burger King).

20 years in the USAF (1981-2001), a year in Korea (year USSR shot down the airliner), Six months in the middle east for Desert Storm, another six months changing bases when family couldn't join immediately. Others I know endured many more long term separations from their family, service in combat zones etc.

Veteran's day recognizes the service and sacrifice of ALL those who served whether they did for one day or thirty years or died while in the service.

Memorial day honors those go gave "the full measure of sacrifice"... their lives.

Next time you see a vet or active duty member of the military.. stop, shake his or her hand, and say "Thank you for your service". You'll appreciate the smile that grows on their face.