Remembrance

[p1p]

Chiangmai's annual Remembrance event takes place tomorrow, Thursday 11th November, starting at 10.45am at the Foreign Cemetery.

All are welcome to this non-denominational service to pay respects to all who have died in any warfare.

The event has grown year by year and is now supported by members of Seri Thai and large numbers of the American expat community.

After a short address, a minute's silence is observed and a bugler from Gawila Barracks sounds The Last Post.

The pleasant practice has grown up of then walking round the corner to Chiengmai Gymkhana Club for refreshments.

Whether or not you'd like to attend, please pass the word around.

[IamMaiC]

Chiangmai's annual Remembrance event takes place tomorrow, Thursday 11th November, starting at 10.45am at the Foreign Cemetery.

All are welcome to this non-denominational service to pay respects to all who have died in any warfare.

The event has grown year by year and is now supported by members of Seri Thai and large numbers of the American expat community.

After a short address, a minute's silence is observed and a bugler from Gawila Barracks sounds The Last Post.

The pleasant practice has grown up of then walking round the corner to Chiengmai Gymkhana Club for refreshments.

Whether or not you'd like to attend, please pass the word around.

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Is this a Thailand Annual Event?? Or are the paying respects for Veteran's Day Which is on the same date in the states.

[p1p]

Is this a Thailand Annual Event??  Or are the paying respects for Veteran's Day Which is on the same date in the states.   

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IamMaiC,

Sorry to disappoint you, but 11th November is not a date decreed by the USA's Veteran's Day.

At 5am on 11 November 1918, three German government representatives accepted the armistice terms presented to them by an allied commander, General Foch of the French Army. The demands of the armistice included the withdrawal of German forces to the east bank of the Rhine within 30 days; immediate cessation of warfare; and surrender of the German fleet and all heavy guns with no further negotiations until the signing of the peace treaty.

Since that time, Remembrance Day has remained and been reverently observed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of each year by all parties involved in the War To End All Wars.

In Flanders' Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

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 from 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.

- John McCrae

Reply to Flanders' Fields

Oh! sleep in peace where poppies grow;

The torch your falling hands let go

Was caught by us, again held high,

A beacon light in Flanders sky

That dims the stars to those below.

You are our dead, you held the foe,

And ere the poppies cease to blow,

We'll prove our faith in you who lie

In Flanders Fields.

Oh! rest in peace, we quickly go

To you who bravely died, and know

In other fields was heard the cry,

For freedom's cause, of you who lie,

So still asleep where poppies grow,

In Flanders Fields.

As in rumbling sound, to and fro,

The lightning flashes, sky aglow,

The mighty hosts appear, and high

Above the din of battle cry,

Scarce heard amidst the guns below,

Are fearless hearts who fight the foe,

And guard the place where poppies grow.

Oh! sleep in peace, all you who lie

In Flanders Fields.

And still the poppies gently blow,

Between the crosses, row on row.

The larks, still bravely soaring high,

Are singing now their lullaby

To you who sleep where poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

- John Mitchell

PLEASE WEAR A POPPY

"Please wear a poppy," the lady said

And held one forth, but I shook my head.

Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,

And her face was old and lined with care;

But beneath the scars the years had made

There remained a smile that refused to fade.

A boy came whistling down the street,

Bouncing along on care-free feet.

His smile was full of joy and fun,

"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"

When she's pinned in on he turned to say,

"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in her wistful way

And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,

And the poppy there is the symbol for

The gallant men who died in war.

And because they did, you and I are free -

That's why we wear a poppy, you see.

"I had a boy about your size,

With golden hair and big blue eyes.

He loved to play and jump and shout,

Free as a bird he would race about.

As the years went by he learned and grew

and became a man - as you will, too.

"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,

But he'd seemed with us such a little while

When war broke out and he went away.

I still remember his face that day

When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,

I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.

"But the war went on and he had to stay,

And all I could do was wait and pray.

His letters told of the awful fight,

(I can see it still in my dreams at night),

With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,

And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.

"Till at last, at last, the war was won-

And that's why we wear a poppy son."

The small boy turned as if to go,

Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.

That sure did sound like an awful fight,

But your son - did he come back all right?"

A tear rolled down each faded check;

She shook her head, but didn't speak.

I slunk away in a sort of shame,

And if you were me you'd have done the same;

For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,

Thought our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!

And so when we see a poppy worn,

Let us reflect on the burden borne,

By those who gave their very all

When asked to answer their country's call

That we at home in peace might live.

Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!

by Don Crawford

[Kan Win]

Thank you p1p

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=20290

Kan Win

[JimGant]

Is this a Thailand Annual Event?? Or are the paying respects for Veteran's Day Which is on the same date in the states.

Veterans' Day in the States used to be known as Armistice Day, until after WW II, when the name was changed to honor all war veterans. We tried to "Mondayize" this holiday -- and actually did (from '68 to '78). But like Dec 25 and July 4, three-day weekends were trumped by the date's significance.

P1P, thanks for posting those poems. Nothing like poetry to put things in persective.

("In Flanders' Fields" was written by a Canadian doctor. The following site is very enlightening. Why Poppies?)

[Ajarn]

Is this a Thailand Annual Event?? Or are the paying respects for Veteran's Day Which is on the same date in the states.

Veterans' Day in the States used to be known as Armistice Day, until after WW II, when the name was changed to honor all war veterans.

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Same in Canada, where it changed Armistice Day to become Remembrance Day

Same with Australia, too...

[chuchok]

.

[p1p]

Not that it is any skin off my nose, but Scotch refers to the drink (much best when presented by a single distillery, unadulterated by grain alcohol other than from malted barley! A single Malt, Mmmmmmmm) The word Scot, plural Scots refers to the people, much as Gentleman/men refers to the people and Gents to the convenience.

[Kan Win]

But are Scottish people pommies?

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I suppose no self respecting pom would want to be associated with it, and it isn't as though the place is crawling with scotch persons, though that one drinks a heap of scotch (well whisky anyway) I have heard.

Anyway, enough.

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Hope you Kan READ

As p1p mentioned:-

but Scotch refers to the drink

And NOT to a person from Scotland.

Sorry, no o' fence, I'll just take the gate...

Kan Win

P.S. Me. Polish