Friday 11 November 2016

On Armistice Day

Hello, thank you for dropping in, you are very welcome here.  This was intended to be a Five On Friday post but there is no link-up this week, so please bear with me.  Actually, that may be a blessing in disguise as I am not sharing five things today anyway!

There were several things I considered sharing with you this week, but then I realised that today is Armistice Day and that I couldn't write about anything else.  Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday in November, has been marked in my diary for more than forty years: as a child, I was a keen Brownie Guide, Girl Guide and then Ranger Guide which meant attendance at church parade and the wearing of a paper poppy.  Armistice Day itself didn't seem as important as it does now, certainly we never observed a national silence at 11am as has become fashionable, although not compulsory, over the last twenty years or so.  Perhaps it was the Falklands War in 1982 which changed the general attitude, or the Gulf War in 1990/1?  As I have become older it has seemed increasingly important to remember the fallen and the terrible toll that war takes.

I haven't always worn a poppy.  There is a current dispute with FIFA over whether or not the England and Scotland football players should wear poppies on their shirts during their match this evening as FIFA says that the poppy is a political symbol and it doesn't allow political symbols.  I do think that it is used as a political symbol sometimes, which is what stopped me wearing it for a few years, but a friend of mine, a wise ex-serviceman who has been involved in the theatre of war, put me straight and told me, "We wear a poppy to remember the fallen.  That's it."  I have worn a poppy ever since; I don't think it's glorious to die in war, "fighting for one's country", I think that war is bloody and cruel, but I choose to honour the fallen.
 
I mused over five things for this post.  My first thought was five war poems; my second thought was to show you photographs of five members of our family who served in the armed forces during wartime (and, thankfully, all came home); my third thought was to show you five artefacts we own associated with twentieth century wars.  All of those ideas seemed rather trite and undignified when faced with the reality that we mark this day because so many people have died due to humankind's inhumanity to humankind.  So instead, I ask you to take five minutes today to focus on that thought, to remember the fallen and to thank them for their sacrifice, whether voluntary or not; and if you can't take five, please take two, perhaps at 11 o'clock.
 
On Sunday, I shall, as usual, be at the cenotaph in our parish at 11am, wearing a poppy and my grandmother's regimental brooch.  The Best Beloved will join me, and may even wear his father's medals.  We will remember them.
Image result for remembrance day free downloadable poppy image
 
I shall be back here on Sunday with a very special post, the story of a young man who was unknown for decades but who has been recently discovered.  See you then.
 

Love, Mrs Tiggywinkle x
 

22 comments:

  1. A very thought provoking post. Everyone needs to take five minutes in quiet contemplation. Hopefully a more peaceful world will evolve. B xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Barbara. I entirely agree with you: a more peaceful world is my hope, too. x

      Delete
  2. A very dignified post.

    For personal reasons (connected to the Falklands Conflict) I don't support the British Legion. I wear a white poppy when I can find one. It puts me in line for a lot of insults from people who don't understand, but I see no point in wars unless they bring peace. Somehow it always seems that the people who choose wars aren't the ones who die in them.

    I will observe the two minute silence in memory of those who fell, but I won't wear the red poppy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I absolutely understand and the vilification of those who choose not to wear a poppy appals me. If people "laid down their lives so that we might be free", as we are so often told, surely that freedom should include freedom of choice over whether or not to wear a red poppy? I hope you can find a white one this year. x

      Delete
  3. The poppy is such an excellent symbol for Remembrance isn't it. I'm off to see my Mum to join in a service with her this morning. Have a good weekend. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the poppy is perfect for Remembrance. x

      Delete
  4. Wearing a poppy in remembrance of those who did not come home to their loved ones is so important to me. I agree that none of us is too busy to spare a few minutes to remember their sacrifice. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings and the wisdom of one who has served.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a lovely thoughtful post. I used to worry that the poppy was becoming too political but like you have come round to wearing one again as way of remembering those who have died, nothing else.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Here we've always observed a minute of silence as far as I can remember, and have always worn a poppy in remembrance. It's the least I can do for those who sacrificed their lives.
    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Armistice Day is not a public holiday here Wendy and our commemorations are focussed on Remembrance Sunday. Tomorrow there will be a huge parade in London, where the ceremonies will be led by the Queen, and smaller parades all over the country. Our two minutes of silence will be observed at 11am. Hope you are enjoying the weekend. x

      Delete
  7. A lovely tribute to those that fought and didn't return. I will certainly take five to remember.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That poem has always touched my heart.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It strikes just the right tone, doesn't it? I think it's perfect. It will be read at our ceremonies all over the country tomorrow. x

      Delete
  9. Poppies, and the reading of In Flanders Fields, wreaths at the cenotaph, and a moment of silence at 11 am today, the 11th hour or the 11th month, are the ways we commemorate those who have fallen. Your post is a thoughtful tribute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Lorrie. We shall do all that tomorrow, Remembrance Sunday, which has been the centre of our commemorations for as long as I can remember, rather than Armistice Day itself. x

      Delete
  10. You have written a beautiful post to commemorate this special day. Thank you for sharing your special words with us. Pat xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have never worn a poppy till this year. I've always felt that because I'm not from this country, it's not my tradition, plus I don't have any family members who have served or died in war. Then my husband reminded me of his granddad who served in the Second World War. I haven't met him but I've been told he's a lovely man and I'm part of his family now, so we are wearing poppies to remember him as well as those who fell serving their country. I'll keep my poppy and wear it every year from now on. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well done Marion. I think the way we regard it is that we should all remember, whether or not our families were touched by war. It's lovely to see you back! x

      Delete