We Must Never Forget ....

Today is Remembrance Day (or Armistice day), when the whole country comes together on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, because this is the exact time the First World War (or the Great War) ended, in 1918. At that time, the guns on the western front fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare.

These days, this anniversary is used to remember all the people that have died in wars since the First World War. This includes World War Two, The Falklands War, The Gulf War, conflicts in Bosnia, Rwanda and Kosova, and now, of course, the war that is going on right now in Afghanistan.

Millions of people are expected to observe the two minute silence at 11 a.m. today in honour of all those brave men and women who were killed during those conflicts, and the red poppy will be worn with pride.

Remembrance Sunday is always held on the 2nd Sunday of November, which is usually the nearest Sunday to the 11th November. Special Services are held at Churches and War Memorials all over Great Britain, and a national Service takes place at The Cenotaph in London. The Queen always lays the first wreath of poppies.




So my blog post today is in honour of all the fallen, and indeed all the servicemen and women who are still serving their countries in various parts of the world.  My own grandfather died in the First World War, and my husband's grandfather also died during that conflict.  Both grandmas were widowed in their mid twenties, and never married again.  Both were left with very young children to bring up on their own, along, of course, with thousands of other women. My dad was only five years old and, from then on, he became the 'man' of the house and looked after his younger sister all his life.  I've got a lovely black and white photo of my dad with his dad, but I can't put my hand on it just at the moment.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left 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."

Fourth stanza of 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon (1869 - 1943)