The debt we owe

[dfmacliam]

on this Rememberance Day, I remember those who fallen... and with WWI, the Marine Infantry unit, I served in, served in France with distinction.. 6th Marine Regiment along with the 5th Marines fought at Belleau Woods,Soissons, and Champagne and earned the right to wear a French Fourragere, which I, and all members of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments, proudly wore.. Those men who gave their lives will not be forgotten, as well as all those who gave their lives, while fighting for freedom.

The following words are from the song "Green Fields of France"

Well, how do you do, Private William McBride,
Do you mind if I sit down here by your graveside?
And rest for awhile in the warm summer sun,
I've been walking all day, and I'm nearly done.
And I see by your gravestone you were only 19
When you joined the glorious fallen in 1916,
Well, I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean
Or, Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?

Did they Beat the drum slowly, did the play the pipes lowly?
Did the rifles fir o'er you as they lowered you down?
Did the bugles sound The Last Post in chorus?
Did the pipes play the Flowers of the Forest?

And did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind
In some loyal heart is your memory enshrined?
And, though you died back in 1916,
To that loyal heart are you forever 19?
Or are you a stranger without even a name,
Forever enshrined behind some glass pane,
In an old photograph, torn and tattered and stained,
And fading to yellow in a brown leather frame?

The sun's shining down on these green fields of France;
The warm wind blows gently, and the red poppies dance.
The trenches have vanished long under the plow;
No gas and no barbed wire, no guns firing now.
But here in this graveyard that's still No Man's Land
The countless white crosses in mute witness stand
To man's blind indifference to his fellow man.
And a whole generation who were butchered and damned.

I choose to leave out the last verse, because I felt it would not be appropriate...

[Highlander31]

Well said peacekeeper83.

[Sir William]

To all kilted regiments and, indeed, all men and women of our armed services worldwide who have fallen or have been wounded, we salute you at this time of remembrance.

Slainte

Bruce

Well spoken.

I remember when everyone used to wear a poppy on Veteran's Day here in the States, though you can still get them in the UK and Canada. Sadly, I don't recall seeing any in the States for some years now. For the last two years I've had to visit the local British military liaison office to get a poppy to wear, which I then wear until it falls apart.

[kiltedwolfman]

I get misty whenever I hear the Green Fields of France and I know that while I stand post at the cenotaph on the 11th I'll be remembering all my brothers in arms in every branch that have either made the sacrifice or still stand willing to do so.

[SteveB]

Here in the U.S. most American Legion posts distribute the poppy on November 11, our Veteran's Day.

[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

[Geoff Withnell]

"All gave some, some gave all"

To my comrades in the good fight, past, present and future, regardless of country, branch of service, or other details - I salute you!

[longhuntr74]

Amen.

[Jock Scot]

"All gave some, some gave all"

To my comrades in the good fight, past, present and future, regardless of country, branch of service, or other details - I salute you!

Geoff have you any idea where that quote came from? I have not seen it for a long time and it is so appropriate.

[Geoff Withnell]

Geoff have you any idea where that quote came from? I have not seen it for a long time and it is so appropriate.

I got it from the Billy Ray Cyrus country song, but I believe it is older than that.

Geoff Withnell