Past Imperfect

Sunday, November 11, 2007

REMEMBRANCE DAY

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Two minutes silence - 'a pittance of time'.

23 comments:

craziequeen said...: As always, I have just watched the Cenotaph, admiring those old soldiers who march resolutely past to remember their friends and comrades.
And the youngsters who take part, making sure we never forget.

We also get Remembrance Day at work, being an MOD site, and a visitor this week commented he'd never seen so many uniforms in one place - army, navy and airforce.

For my two minutes silence I remember my grandmother who survived Belsen, my grandfather who walked the Siberian front, and my best friend who killed himself while on tour in Germany, amongst all my old army pals who are god knows where these days. I also think of the daily record of our lost men and women in conflicts still going on....

So many people to remember....

Michele sent me to say hi :-)

cq; 12:24 PM
Granny said...: Thank you.; 3:08 PM
Shari said...: My nephew just left the States Friday night for Iraq. The remembrance of those who have fought...let's not forget those who are fighting for our freedom, too. God bless the men and women who bravely put themselves in the line of fire.

Thank you.

Michele sent me to say hello. :); 3:33 PM
Unknown said...: I stood for the 2 minutes.; 3:58 PM
Anonymous said...: Time to reread Flanders' Fields.

Cheers, dear.; 4:03 PM
Casdok said...: Yes bless them all.; 4:26 PM
Anonymous said...: I remember.

I will never forget!; 4:37 PM
ribbiticus said...: go bless you for making this post. michele sent me to say hi! ;); 4:48 PM
Nikki - Notes of Life said...: May they rest in peace.; 7:37 PM
Pat said...: Kath: I know my dear.

Ribbiticus and nikki-ann: thank you.; 8:01 PM
Anonymous said...: I have a long military history in my family that I am also quite proud of. I am glad that we observe the "pittance of time" to honor them. It's not enough, but then nothing could ever be.

Michele sent me today.; 8:30 PM
Pat said...: Square1: you must be very proud.; 8:37 PM
Moon said...: In the province I live in...its one of the few in Canada that ppl work on this day...so when I moved here 20 odd yrs ago...it was different for me the first few yrs..as all , no matter where u worked...or what u did..Stopped what u did...for the minute of silence...since I had always lived in places where we had that day off, and watched the ceremonies on the tele...I think it was much more profound..to be in a factory...or salon...and have everything..machines..ppl...noises...just stop....while everyone stood...in complete silence...each and everytime, I found it so profound...and loud ...because to me the silence was defening in that it made u really think only of those who faught for us...the silence became for me, so emotional...deep...sad...proud...tearful...touching...and so much more thats hard to put into words.; 8:47 PM
OldLady Of The Hills said...: Indeed, Indeed.....It is a solemn day, but one which we all must remember always and honor those that gave so much to keep our world free. (Though it is NOT looking very good these days, in this country...Lord, Help Us...)

Monty suggested I "refresh" and that corrected what was happening here on my computer....Thank you for telling me you could see everything from your computer...That was very helpful, too!
Oh dear, the little problems we encounter that seem so HUGE at the moment...lol!; 9:15 PM
Eryl Shields said...: I spent a quiet couple of hours reading my crumbling copy of the Penguin Book of First Worls War Poetry. And then found myself seething because still we send our young men to war. The whole point of remembering, I thought, was to ensure we don't repeat the mistakes of the past.; 10:14 PM
Pat said...: Moon: yes that quiet time is precious and I am so glad that with all the changes for the worse Remembrance Day is all important here and there is a most moving ceremony in Whitehall. I think if anyone ever tried to stop it I would revolt.

Naomi: so glad all is well and thank you for reminding me of that old refresher trick which I was told about ages ago and had forgotten.

Eryl: I watched the programme on Wilfred Owens and then the Kipling play tonight and it's a mystery how it repeats and repeats the horrors all over again. Heartbreaking really.; 11:22 PM
kenju said...: Thanks, Pat. Two minutes is not anywhere near enough time for remembering! Michele says hi.; 11:49 PM
OldHorsetailSnake said...: You know those "a moment of silence" things they do at baseball and football games? I've never seen one go past 20 seconds.

Sad to say...; 12:20 AM
Pat said...: Judy: with the help of TV, radio and press most of yesterday was spent remembering.

Hoss: here, on the day the two minutes officially are rigorously held to. What people do in their own homes is up to them.; 5:42 AM
Sam, Problem-Child-Bride said...: I watched the queen lay the poppy wreath at the Cenotaph. It's always a moving occasion and I've been moved to tears by it before.

This year, like Eryl, I was more angry than anything at the stupidity of it all and about how old men are always sending youth off to die and trying to convince us they know what they're doing. They have no idea what they're doing.; 9:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Lest we forget
Three little words that mean so much; 9:40 PM
Pat said...: Sam:Blair and Bush - I wonder if it ever keeps them awake at nights.; 11:32 PM
Pat said...: Belle: I can't remember where it was first used.; 11:34 PM