topic Re: Rememberance Day in Community Chat

Rememberance Day

SunValley — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 22:41:24 GMT

This is what WWI looked like for both sides—fighting and living in a toxic soup of mud, human waste, and garbage from having to live for months in trenches. More died from disease than bullets. Many nations lost so many of their young men that spinster aunts abounded because too few marriageable men came home.

Today I would like to honor my Great Uncle, a teenage immigrant who within a few years of living in the US served in his new country’s army in WWI. While fighting in France he was gassed with the chemical warfare concoction Mustard Gas. He came home ill in body and soul, suffering what we now call PTSD. I honor him and all who have sacrificed so much. We may now call it Veterans Day, but Rememberance Day was the original and most meaningful to me. Please join me in taking a moment to reflect on our blessings, the legacy of those who serve.

Re: Rememberance Day

I am still oxox — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 21:27:57 GMT

As I understand it Remembrance day is not a US holiday but one in the U. S .Armistice Day in was the original name of Veterans Day in the US

Remembrance Day (sometimes known informally as Poppy Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Following a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919,[1] the day is also marked by war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month", in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. ("At the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 am.) The First World War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.[2]

Re: Rememberance Day

Oznell — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 21:29:05 GMT

What a beautiful tribute to your great-uncle and the others, @SunValley. This 100th anniversary of the Armistice has, one hopes, raised awareness of the great sacrifice you reference, and lives lost and changed forever, by "the Great War".

"In Flanders Feilds, the poppies blow..."

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/flanders-fields

Re: Rememberance Day

nevergivesup — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 22:01:25 GMT

Thank you @SunValley for your honest and heartfelt tribute to your great uncle. Too often war is romanticized with trite cliches and fake patriotic phrases. The reality of war is hell, the devastation is widespread and complete for all sides and the young men and women who courageously step up to serve, deserve sober and informed leaders who understand the awesome ramifications of their decisions.

My beloved father was a medic in WW2 and received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for heroism at the battle of Saipan. He was ahead of his time and had a deep understanding and compassion for the human condition. He shared some stories at the end of his life which moved me so much. I remember him at age 93 sitting in his recliner with tears in his eyes saying, “ You know, those young Japanese kids screamed in agony as they lay dying in the mud and cried out for their mothers just like our boys did. They weren’t responsible for their Emperor’s actions. Most of them were from rural mountainous areas and didn’t even know why they were there. I was wounded by them but I never hated them. They were just like us, scared, exhausted and wondering if the nightmare would ever end.”

Re: Rememberance Day

dooBdoo — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 22:32:46 GMT

Thank you, @SunValley and @nevergivesup, for your profound and poignant tributes.❤️

Re: Rememberance Day

suzyQ3 — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 23:28:43 GMT

WW1, whose beginning was a result of entangled alliances, was the war to end all wars. The naivety in that description was more than matched by the idealism of soldiers going bravely into battle. How could they know the horrors that waited them? Thank goodness that the heinous effects of chemical weapons led to a ban on its employment, although its usage still occurs.

It's a tragic but less known story than WWII, but its lessons should be remembered by all. There are several outstandin WW1 novels that give more than a glimpse into what the soldiers and others endured.

On Veterans' Day I will think of them along with all the veterans of all the wars.

Re: Rememberance Day

SunValley — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 00:00:37 GMT

@nevergivesup wrote:
Thank you @SunValley for your honest and heartfelt tribute to your great uncle. Too often war is romanticized with trite cliches and fake patriotic phrases. The reality of war is hell, the devastation is widespread and complete for all sides and the young men and women who courageously step up to serve, deserve sober and informed leaders who understand the awesome ramifications of their decisions.

My beloved father was a medic in WW2 and received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for heroism at the battle of Saipan. He was ahead of his time and had a deep understanding and compassion for the human condition. He shared some stories at the end of his life which moved me so much. I remember him at age 93 sitting in his recliner with tears in his eyes saying, “ You know, those young Japanese kids screamed in agony as they lay dying in the mud and cried out for their mothers just like our boys did. They weren’t responsible for their Emperor’s actions. Most of them were from rural mountainous areas and didn’t even know why they were there. I was wounded by them but I never hated them. They were just like us, scared, exhausted and wondering if the nightmare would ever end.”

@nevergivesup One of my mother’s brothers was shot by the Japanese. He never harbored any ill will against them either. He had the same experience as your father—a lot of young men who were mystified about why they were there. To see so much horror and be able to come home and be good husbands and fathers and build the infrastructure of this nation is a tribute to their resilience and decency.

Re: Rememberance Day

CLEM — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 00:21:57 GMT

I know there was a movie made, but has anybody ever read "All Quiet on the Western Front".? This is such a great book based on WWI. And I wish all leaders of all nations would read it. It's as relevant now as it was then.

Re: Rememberance Day

Ruby Laine — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 01:16:36 GMT

@CLEM wrote:
I know there was a movie made, but has anybody ever read "All Quiet on the Western Front".? This is such a great book based on WWI. And I wish all leaders of all nations would read it. It's as relevant now as it was then.

That was required reading when I was in high school. It’s not a lengthy read, but it is a very important story.

Re: Rememberance Day

PamfromCT — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 01:26:17 GMT

When I volunteered on a skilled nursing unit, I met and got to know the stories of many of the residents. One man was extremely quiet and not talkative at all, but always struck me as a gentle soul. One day I happened to be there when his daughter was visiting, and I was invited to join the visit. His daughter told me her dad served in WWII and was there on D-Day. I thanked him for his service and said it must have been a terrible experience. Being a man of few words, his only response was “There were a lot of bodies in the water.” I will never forget.

Re: Rememberance Day

BirkiLady — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 02:31:08 GMT

Both grandfathers served in WWI, my dad served in WWII and my late husband served during the Viet Nam conflict. None of them spoke much of their experiences. War is simply too horrible to bring back with them. All were proud of have served, but even more thrilled to come home to loved ones.

My dad had kept a journal (with photos of his locations). He was a pilot in the Army Air Corp in Europe. His journal had frightening accounts of his experiences, as well as funny memories of Army life abroad. Think my mom was the only person he had shared the journal with. After his death, mom kept the journal for my sister and I to read upon her death. Powerful reading.

Re: Rememberance Day

meallen616 — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 10:13:32 GMT

Re: Rememberance Day

Booksamillion — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 16:48:53 GMT

I am in a family of veterans. They never forget.