11/11 Salute

[lodilefty]

"There is no act more noble than to place one's self between your loved ones and war's desolation"

Apologies if I've misquoted somewhat.

I salute all who have served, are serving and will serve their nation and loved ones.

Thank you.

[tagwyn]

See: Jhon 15:13. The speaker is Jesus Christ. He knows.

[W.Barksdale]

My most sincere thanks to all the men and women in uniform! Here's a wonderful little poem that always helps me put things into perspective. Most have probably heard it before. In any case, I'd like to share it with the whole community.

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

[Jabberwock]

A King with half the East at heel is marched from lands of morning;
His fighters drink the rivers up, their shafts benight the air.
And he that stands will die for nought, and home there's no returning.
The Spartans on the sea-wet rock sat down and combed their hair.

A.E. Housman

[Franciscus]

A little late contribution:

"(...)
And still the dark stain spreads between
His shoulder blades.
A mute reminder of the poppy fields and graves.
And when the fight was over
We spent what they had made.
But in the bottom of our hearts
We felt the final cut."

Roger Waters
(Southampton Docks, Final cut album)