[Biggirl]

Remember those who gave their ALL and many THANK-YOUS.

[omega4412]

If ye break faith with us who die

Break faith as in Population to surge will ‘change the face of England forever'?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3434494/posts

[SkyDancer]

July will be the 100th. anniversary of the Somme, the epic battle where in one day over 90,000 killed/wounded.

[jmacusa]

My late grandfather, Allied Expeditionary Forces. St. Miheal, Meuse-Argonne, 1918.

[Chgogal]

Thank you for the post. I remember my father telling me how his parents and grandparents heard the battles raging in Flanders. They lived in the very southern part of the Netherlands. My grandfather on my mother's side survived as a soldier in both WW1 and WW2. His son, my uncle died in WW2. War is so tragic, painful and yet necessary........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6BlOkpdkg8

[NEWwoman]

Thank you for the post. I tweeted the link.

[SES1066]

There are many who, with good heart but some confusion, fail to differentiate between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.

The USofA Memorial Day grew out of the Decoration Day tradition that got started in 1866-68 to honor the US Civil War dead. While this was done around this time by both Union and Confederate veteran organizations and supporters, it was, as these soldiers succumbed to age, gradually morphed into its current name of Memorial Day and codified as a Federal Holiday in 1967. The next year, its official celebration was moved to the last Monday in May to make a holiday weekend.

So MEMORIAL Day is the day to HONOR our Fallen. At the very least, we need to set aside some time to mentally thank them for their sacrifice!

Veteran’s Day grew out of the end of World War One (WW1) and the 11th Day of the 11th Month, Armistice Day. Because of its antecedent, this is far more than just a single country holiday as it is celebrated by the British Commonwealth, France and Belgium as a day to honor their military dead. In the USofA, it is the day to honor all of our military, living and dead. Many places around the country still have parades with the Veterans and active duty participating.

FYI: In the British Commonwealth, there is also “Remembrance Sunday” which is the nearest Sunday to November 11th and on both days it is the tradition to wear a red poppy flower!

[NorthMountain]

Rudyard Kipling
“Hymn Before Action”
1896

The earth is full of anger,
The seas are dark with wrath,
The Nations in their harness
Go up against our path:
Ere yet we loose the legions —
Ere yet we draw the blade,
Jehovah of the Thunders,
Lord God of Battles, aid!

High lust and froward bearing,
Proud heart, rebellious brow —
Deaf ear and soul uncaring,
We seek Thy mercy now!
The sinner that forswore Thee,
The fool that passed Thee by,
Our times are known before Thee —
Lord, grant us strength to die!

For those who kneel beside us
At altars not Thine own,
Who lack the lights that guide us,
Lord, let their faith atone!
If wrong we did to call them,
By honour bound they came;
Let not Thy Wrath befall them,
But deal to us the blame.

From panic, pride, and terror
Revenge that knows no rein —
Light haste and lawless error,
Protect us yet again,
Cloke Thou our undeserving,
Make firm the shuddering breath,
In silence and unswerving
To taste Thy lesser death.

Ah, Mary pierced with sorrow,
Remember, reach and save
The soul that comes to-morrow
Before the God that gave!
Since each was born of woman,
For each at utter need —
True comrade and true foeman —
Madonna, intercede!

E’en now their vanguard gathers,
E’en now we face the fray —
As Thou didst help our fathers,
Help Thou our host to-day.
Fulfilled of signs and wonders,
In life, in death made clear —
Jehovah of the Thunders,
Lord God of Battles, hear!