Thought I'd leave the personal stuff outside the main forum.

Two great-uncles who never came back;

F.O. Murray K. Sexton 207sqdn RCAF February 25, 1943 (S. of Munich, Germany)

Cpl Donald Reid 43rd Bttn Mb. Regiment October 8, 1916 (Near Vimy, France)

My grandfather Sgt William McCalder, (Lord Strathcona's Horse) who signed up at 15 (lied about his age), fought in Italy, and France, was wounded in action, and did something very courageous that I never learned of until after his death in 1995. He signed up along with his three brothers, one of which lost his legs, yet none of them ever complained about their scars, mental or physical, or made themselves out to be anything other than ordinary people who had done their duty. I think it's the way they went on with their lives like that, and never asked for anything more than that respect was paid to those who never came back that makes them heroes to me, even more than their actions on the battlefield.

Landing at Juno Beach

cv

I try to remember a lot of people living and RIP....

- my Dad who served for many years under difficult conditions

- one of my uncles, who was a WW2 commando (Carlson's Raiders)

- friends still in Iraq

- son of a co-worker KIA in Iraq

- many friends who are (were) Vietnam vets

- all of the older vets who are out supporting the poppy drive here in the UK (all I can do is look at them and imagine the things they must have gone through)

I think one never really thinks about death and sacrifice until one faces it and does it. The sacrifices and efforts of these millions of people make mine seem minute by comparison, and helped me to have a better life. For that I'm grateful and thankful.

My Grandfather, whose Christian name I wear with pride as my middle name.

R.I.P.

I think one never really thinks about death and sacrifice until one faces it and does it. The sacrifices and efforts of these millions of people make mine seem minute by comparison, and helped me to have a better life. For that I'm grateful and thankful.

couldn't have put it better myself.

Every family member who died, every friend who died - too many.

I will not forget.

All my (former) comrades-in-arms and fellow soldiers. Those who gave their lives so that others could be free.

"For those who have fought for it,

Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know"

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Great idea, cv~

Remembering my late father who spent 48 months as a prisioner of the Japanese.

Weighed a strapping 225 lbs. when he was captured and survived the Bataan Death March, and was down to 98 pounds upon surrender.

Always told me to never come home with a Japanese bride so I came home with a Thai!

Many beautiful posts guys, and a great thread Vic.

I will be remembering various folk whom, although mostly unrelated to me or my family, I have heard their stories and some stories from folk who did not make it out.

I will remembering those who lay in the Various Kanchanaburi cemetaries, where I have spent considerable time in person, and what they must have gone through.

I will be remembering epitaphs on some of those gravestone,

"You have died, that we may live in peace."

"Never again will a shadow fall upon you as you lie in peace in a faraway land. "

"But to have your hand to hold, your voice to hear. Never forgotten, far or near."

May all those who rest in peace do so knowing that their battle was won, their memory cherished.

Where would we be today had it not been for those sacrifices.

What would our generation do?

Many beautiful posts guys, and a great thread Vic.

I will be remembering various folk whom, although mostly unrelated to me or my family, I have heard their stories and some stories from folk who did not make it out.

I will remembering those who lay in the Various Kanchanaburi cemetaries, where I have spent considerable time in person, and what they must have gone through.

I will be remembering epitaphs on some of those gravestone,

"You have died, that we may live in peace."

"Never again will a shadow fall upon you as you lie in peace in a faraway land. "

"But to have your hand to hold, your voice to hear. Never forgotten, far or near."

May all those who rest in peace do so knowing that their battle was won, their memory cherished.

Where would we be today had it not been for those sacrifices.

What would our generation do?

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Respect.

At some time during the day tomorrow, the 11th of November, (right around 11:00 am ) please take a moment to think about the men and women who died to give you the freedoms you now enjoy.

Freedoms you (probably) wouldn't have now if not for the bravery and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the service of their countries.

Freedoms which are still unheard of in many parts of the world.

It's not to much to ask for is it, a moment of Remembrance in exchange for the freedoms and rights you now enjoy ?

I like to thank all the vets, especially SGM "Iceman"

he has been in every U.S. military action since 1984.

I don't want to use his real name as he is still active.

A true warrior.

PKG

I have gone back as far as I could on my family tree and found people who landed in America on the Mayflower and later in the 20th century. I have learned as much as I could and found that they were in almost every conflict this counrty has been in. 3 in the revolution and many (on both sides) of the Civil War, the Border Wars between Kansas and Missouri, WWI and II. My Great-Grandfather told his four sons not to admit they were Irish and never speak with an accent they were still picked on and yet when WWII came three joined up and the last stayed because he was a fireman.

So, I remember then because their lives were nothing like mine. It wasn't just war that made life hard, just trying to survive was enough, yet they pulled through and after a time I am now here a father, a spouse, like them. This is what I remember, they fought, bled, loved and lived to the last breathe. So, shall I.

And we also remember Yitzhak Rabin

And we also remember Yitzhak Rabin

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And 'Yes' I will never forget.

We 'Poles' suffered too much in our history already, over 1,000 years or so, but we are still there for all and shall remember all that have fallen to give us LIFE.

Amen.................................................................

On a personal note, ‘keep safe and sound’ all of you, Please.

Yours truly,

Kan Win

Respect.

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Thanks Thomas.

good point thomas. We seem to have a human need for commemorating things all over the place... things we should never forget. Now I think about it, that was definitly an advantage of living in Kanchanburi, where my one of my favorite places was the ChungKai Cemetary near the Mae Nam Kwae Noi, and I would often of an evening sit on the banks of the river or walk around the lawns of gravestones, trying to imagine what it was all for, how it must have been. Never to return, but never to forget, also.

On my blog I've been adding stories I wrote several years ago, and the next one I put up *which I'll do now* references my first visit to that cemetary back in 2002, and the emotions I felt at that time.

good point thomas. We seem to have a human need for commemorating things all over the place... things we should never forget. Now I think about it, that was definitly an advantage of living in Kanchanburi, where my one of my favorite places was the ChungKai Cemetary near the Mae Nam Kwae Noi, and I would often of an evening sit on the banks of the river or walk around the lawns of gravestones, trying to imagine what it was all for, how it must have been. Never to return, but never to forget, also.

On my blog I've been adding stories I wrote several years ago, and the next one I put up *which I'll do now* references my first visit to that cemetary back in 2002, and the emotions I felt at that time.

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Do you still write?

Yeah i have more recent stories too... They are on another laptop, and these old ones I´ve been pasting from my old email account (ie: easier to access, cut/paste) One of these days i`ll transfer my more recent stories.

That's cool, it's good to do something creative. I've got many novels just sitting in my head waiting for me to write them.

That time of year again. Aside from the veterans of the world wars, Korea, and peacekeepers, I'll be thinking of the 44 we lost so far in Afghanistan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-KJuLzZILg

Now I think about it, that was definitly an advantage of living in Kanchanburi, where my one of my favorite places was the ChungKai Cemetery

I visited there a few years ago, not an experience I am ever likely to forget. My Dad was stationed in Burma during WWII and went Missing in Action for about ten days after his camp was bombed, luckily he managed to survive and eventually stumbled out of the jungle into another British camp.

I remember thinking that if he made one wrong turn he could have become another statistic.

Another point that struck me, and I'm sure that many people in the West don't realise it either, is how many of Asian origin suffered constructing that railway..... they deserve to be remembered too.

That time of year again. Aside from the veterans of the world wars, Korea, and peacekeepers, I'll be thinking of the 44 we lost so far in Afghanistan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-KJuLzZILg

Also tomorrow when a minutes silence reigns, spare a thought for the fallen heroes,denied by their govt,s and abandoned in foreign lands, their families and loved ones neglected. Lest We forget Nignoy

It meant something different back in the day...

I did my two minutes for the members of my family who are out there somewhere, buried somewhere.

The most closest is my grandfather (paternal) who left behind his wife and two sons (my father was 12 and my uncle 10). And she became one of the women who was a war widow and brought her sons up to be great people. She dedicated her life to her kids and died when she was 90 without having ever found another husband or "partner" she just lived for my dad and uncle and their families.

My father died three years ago and he was 72 and loved his "Mammy" until then. Because she was a strong, loving, cuddling woman who had gone through hel_l.

What i am trying to say is that there were alot of men who died during those wars but don't forget the families - widows, mothers, kids that were left behind, as well.

Just listening to the ballad, 'Willie McBride' or ' the Green fields of France', one of the lines,' a warm summer breeze, made the red poppies dance'.

Quite apt for today.

The poppies grew best in well turned earth, the violent upheaval of a million shells was a perfect place for this poppy.

because of the madness of the previous years, soldiers were greeted at the the second battle of Ypres with a sea of red poppies.

I have tried to remember this quote from a previous time so I hope I got the place correct.

RIP

Moss

A song that has just followed, Willie McBride', is 'Walzing Matilda', one for you Anzacs, written by Eric Bogle, about another mis-guided adventure! to take the Dardenelles at Gallipolli.

Lest we Forget

Moss

England expects every man will do his duty

- Admiral Lord Nelson

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 with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

The Waltzing Matilda.

Those of you that haven't and those that have, listen.

We will never, never forget them. RIP

redrus