Joined: Jan 29, 2009
Posts: 4259
Location: Melbourne / Australia
Joined: Jan 15, 2009
Posts: 1169
Location: Connecticut, USA
"May the defence of the most high be above and beneath,around and and wihin us, in our going out and our coming in, in our rising up and our coming down, all the days and our nights, until the dawn when THe Sun of Righteouness shall arise with healing in our wings for the peoples of the world, through jesus christ our lord. Amen"
~The Airborne Prayer.
"And suddenly it came
Like a dark wind across the snow
Men trembled at the sound
...of Absolute Silence"
~Anonymous
Joined: Jan 29, 2009
Posts: 4259
Location: Melbourne / Australia
Joined: Feb 27, 2011
Posts: 258
Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Thanks for reminding us all of that Diggerbaz.
During World War I over 421,809 Australians served in the military with 331,781 serving overseas. Over 60,000 Australians lost their lives and 137,000 were wounded. As a percentage of forces committed, this equalled a casualty rate of almost 65 percent, one of the highest casualty rates amongst the British Empire forces. All from a total population at the time of 7 milliion....
Lest we forget.....
Joined: Jun 13, 2009
Posts: 31
Location: Ontario,Canada
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.
Lest We Forget
Joined: Jun 29, 2011
Posts: 250
Location: Albany, NewYork
Yes, WW1 was devastating . We NEED to remember those who fought and died. Also BTW, 11/11/1885 is George S. Patton's birthday....interesting no?
Joined: Mar 13, 2011
Posts: 2064
Location: Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
Remembrance Day
He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.
And tho' sometimes to his neighbours
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
Tho' a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state.
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young.
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Someone who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
The politician’s stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension - though small.
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier -
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end?
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honour
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
Joined: Oct 27, 2012
Posts: 1271
Location: Victoria, Australia