11/11/11

[The Year Of The Fox]

Where will you be today at 11am? Does your firm/uni class or whatever observe the silence?

I'm supposed to be at college today, but don't know whether the tutor/the whole college will enforce it, so ill stay at home til then.

,

He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you soldier,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and

said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't,

Because those of us who carry guns,

Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,

And at times my talk was tough,

And sometimes I've been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny

That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime

When the bills got just too steep,

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear,

And sometimes, God forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place

Among the people here,

They never wanted me around,

Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand,

I've never expected, or had much,

But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was a silence all around the throne,

Where the saints had often trod,

As the soldier waited quietly,

For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you soldier,

You've borne your burdens well,

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell

LEST WE FORGET

[MikeyT]

I shall be at home at 11am and will be observing the silence with respect. It's not much to ask.

"Two minutes silence is all they demand

Two minutes from our year

Two minutes to honour them for their stand

That kept our freedom dear".

Never Forget.

[Zingari]

Nothing sums up my feelings better than Eric Bogle's song " No Man's Land" ( Green Fields of France)

I can't hear it without choking up

[jonthefox]

I'll probably do it in my own way. ie , just be silent at 11am.

[Fox92]

I'll be at home, but I always respect the silence. Massive respect.

REAL HEROES

[Brainy]

I'll be at home. Sleeping though.

[Zingari]

I'll be at home. Sleeping though.

try not to snore around 11 a.m.

[The Year Of The Fox]

I'll be at home. Sleeping though.

Well done you

[Reynard Bleu]

In my 2 minutes I'll pop back to Musa Qala, Sangin and Lashkar Gar and remember for a while, and then think of my Dad in Normandy, Belgium and Holland.

[Alexikokopops]

I was watching the South Africa vs. Australia test match. There was a massive cheer because it was 11:11 in South Africa, and the whole crowd is now standing on 1 leg for one minute

Anyway, back to what this thread is about, I think by the looks of it I'm going to be spending it in a walk in centre in Soho. Our work is doing the silence but I don't think I'll be back there by the time it happens.

[The Year Of The Fox]

In my 2 minutes I'll pop back to Musa Qala, Sangin and Lashkar Gar and remember for a while, and then think of my Dad in Normandy, Belgium and Holland.

Which regiment were you in? And your dad?

[boring_jester]

Down My Submarine .

To all the submariners "still on patrol". we will remember

[Trav Le Bleu]

Down My Submarine .

To all the submariners "still on patrol". we will remember

Silent running?

[marbelladave]

I watched some of the Channel 5 program about the 'Bomber Boys' last night.

Not much though, it was facile, inaccurate and condescending, even the words of the veterans seemed to be twisted to fit the program. It did however make me think about my father, more so than usual, even at this time of the year.

My father finished the war as a sergeant instructor, having completed his tour late in 1944. Many of his missions were in the infamous 'Battle of Berlin' during the winter of 1943/44.

The losses during this period averaged nearly 6% in terms of aircraft lost but it was higher in terms of personel as many aircraft returned to base with dead or wounded on board. This loss rate made the survival of a 'tour' of 30 missions statistically impossible but my father came through without a scratch.

He rarely spoke to me about his experiences but I can remember him talking to his father, my grandfather when I was very young and supposed to be sleeping. Mostly he just talked about the friends he lost all those years ago.

My grandfather understood, many of his friends were lost in the trenches in front of Ypres.

[Rincewind]

I shall be at my IT course. Dont know what they are doing at 11. Unless I finish my mock amd dont have any more tests I may be walking back home if my proper test cant be set.

[Jon the Hat]

I'll be at work, and they ring the fire alarm a few seconds before 11, and again 2 mins later.

I will as always think back to when I was a teenager and visited the American War cemeteries in Normandy. Four and half miles of perfectly aligned and maintained crosses. One of the most moving experiences of my life, because it really brought home the sheer scale of the almost unimaginable numbers of normal folk who lost their lives.

[Reynard Bleu]

Which regiment were you in? And your dad?

Me? I'm just an old Tom. My Dad was with the 1st Leicesters in Normandy, landing well after D-Day but then involved in the bloody fighting around Caen and then in most of the fighting through the low countries to the Rhine. He survived the bullets that hit him but he died of te wounds he suffered 25 years later.

[TravellingFox]

Lest We Forget. The very least we can do for real heroes past and present.

[Darkon84]

I'll be at work, and they ring the fire alarm a few seconds before 11, and again 2 mins later.

I will as always think back to when I was a teenager and visited the American War cemeteries in Normandy. Four and half miles of perfectly aligned and maintained crosses. One of the most moving experiences of my life, because it really brought home the sheer scale of the almost unimaginable numbers of normal folk who lost their lives.

Same here, I remember doing a week long battlefields trip through northern France and Belgium, the Somme etc for my History GCSE. I will NEVER forget the endless rows of crosses, walking the trenches, etc. Such an emotional and moving experience. I would recommed it to everyone, not as a holiday destination, obviously, but I beleive everyone should see those places to fully realise what an incredible effort our guys put in and see the true scale of events.

At work, proudly wearing my poppy and will be taking the silnce

Never Forgotten

[The Year Of The Fox]

Me? I'm just an old Tom. My Dad was with the 1st Leicesters in Normandy, landing well after D-Day but then involved in the bloody fighting around Caen and then in most of the fighting through the low countries to the Rhine. He survived the bullets that hit him but he died of te wounds he suffered 25 years later.

What's an old Tom?

What Division were the Leicesters in?

Don't know if anyone watched This Morning just now, but the dignity of those two vets was heartbreaking.

The only way we will ever repay them is to ensure we do everything we can to live our lives like they do theirs. Dignity, respect, unselfishness, and unassuming. I would hate myself if a vet looked at me and shook their head wondering, 'why did I bother?'

[I am Rod Hull]

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[stix]

Well done you

You are gonna get it off walkers when he wakes up if that was meant to be as sarky as it sounded.

Ever thought that he may work nights?

[Darkon84]

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[21st Century Fox]

Does anyone else find it strange that today we remember those that have fallen in conflict yet we'll walk outside and they'll be billboards for entertainment like Call of Duty and Battlefield 3 everywhere? Its a weird social juxtaposition we have.

[The Year Of The Fox]

You are gonna get it off walkers when he wakes up if that was meant to be as sarky as it sounded.

Ever thought that he may work nights?

Why try and be antagonistic about it then?