The debt we owe

[DireStraitsFan]

This reminds of a song from the new Mark Knopfler album Get Lucky called Remembrance Day. If you can find a copy, it is well worth the listen. And since someone else posted some lyrics, I'll throw my lot in with his.

On your maypole green
See the winding Morris men
Angry Alfie Bill and Ken
Waving hankies sticks and books
All the earthen roofs

Standing at the crease
The batsman takes a look around
The boys are fielding on home ground
The steeple sharp against the blue
When I think of you

Sam and Andy
Jack and John
Charlie Martin
Jamie Ron
Harry Stephen
Will and Don
Matthew Michael

On and on

We will remember them
Remember them
Remember them

We will remember them
Remember them
Remember them

Time has slipped away
The summer sky to autumn yields
A haze of smoke across the fields
Let's sup and fight another round
And walk the stubbled ground

When November brings
The poppies on Remembrance Day
When the vicar comes to say
"May God bless them, every one."
Lest we forget our sons

We will remember them
Remember them
Remember them

We will remember them
Remember them
Remember them

We will remember them
Remember them
Remember them

We will remember them
Remember them
Remember them

Mark Knopfler
from Get Lucky 2009

[longhuntr74]

Amen.

[kiltedwolfman]

I'm quite sure everyone knows it, but here it is anyway.

" In Flanders fields the poppies blow
between the crosses row on
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 with 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."

Lt-Col. John McCrae

There are far too few people in this world now that fathom the meaning of these words, and it is up to those of us who do the teach them, lest those hard lessons be forgotten.

[Jock Scot]

To make this thread all the more poignant, the sad news of the loss of five more British soldiers has just hit the news.

"Lest we forget"

[Stratherrick]

Jock

Sad news indeed. I fear many more British soldiers will die before we pull out.

Slainte

Bruce

[dfmacliam]

I agree Jock, and to read... they were killed by a policeman.. saddens me even more...

[skauwt]

A Sough o' War

The corn was turnin', hairst was near,
But lang afore the scythes could start
A sough o' war gaed through the land
An' stirred it to its benmost heart.

Nae ours the blame, but when it came
We couldna pass the challenge by,
For credit o' our honest name

There could be but one reply.
An' buirdly men, fae strath an' glen
An' shepherds fae the bucht an' hill,
Will show them a', whate'er befa',
Auld Scotland counts for something still.
Half-mast the castle banner droops,
The Laird's lament was played yestreen,
An' mony a widowed cottar wife
Is greetin' at her shank aleen.

In Freedom's cause, for ane that fa's,
We'll gleen the glens a' send them three
To clip the reivin' eagle's claws,
An' drook his feathers i' the sea.
For gallant loons, in brochs an' toons,
Are leavin' shop an' yard an' mill,
A keen to show baith friend an' foe
Auld Scotland counts for something still.

The grim, grey fathers, bent wi' years,
Come stridin' through the muirland mist,
Wi' beardless lads scarce by wi' school
But eager as the lave to list.
We've fleshed o' yore the brave claymore
On mony a bloody field afar,
But ne'er did skirlin' pipes afore
Cry on sae urgently tae war.
Gin danger's there, we'll thole our share,
Gie's but the weapons, we've the will,
Ayont the main, to prove again
Auld Scotland counts for something still.


Charles Murray (1864-1941) was born and raised in Alford in north east Scotland. He published his first volume of poetry in 1893 but it was his second volume "Hamewith" (Homewards) published in 1900 for which he is most remembered. Charles Murray served in the Armed Forces during the Second Boer War and the First World War and in 1917 produced a volume of poetry entitled "The Sough o' War" (The Sigh of War).

[Drac]

This past year my Color Guard help setup the traveling Vietnam Wall with several other memorials -

The Traveling Wall


The Gold Dog Tag (for those who have died during the Gulf War, there are 9 total) -



Various 9/11 Memorials -



Also my Color Guards have done other ceremonies. One was the re-dedication of the WWI Monument in Kansas City. The were several Black Watch in full uniform there.



Jim