Armistice Sunday

[olive branch]

Do they have Armistice Sunday in the U.S.? Last year in Cardiff on November 8th there was a pause between songs and when we fell to silence Leonard spoke these words

......Friends...............It's Armistice Sunday tomorrow............
.......................I wish they could all come home.

[LisaLCFan]

In the US, Nov. 11 is the special day, and it is called Veteran's Day (up here in Canada, we call Nov. 11 "Remembrance Day," although it used to be called "Armistice Day.") I think the whole Armistice thing (going back to WWI and the end of the war, for those who might not know) is bigger in Commonwealth countries than in the U.S., and Leonard certainly knows about it. Perhaps he will make reference to it this week. I'll be wearing my poppy in Las Vegas! (Canadians and British people, and perhaps others, know what that means!) "Lest We Forget."

[ladydi]

Hi Lisa,

As an ex-pat Canadian, I remember very well the remembrance on November 11th. Yes, it is different in the United States. If you can pick up an extra poppy in Canada for me, I would love it....and, of course, I will give you something to take back to Canada to give as a donation.

It's so wonderful that those who gave their lives in the Great War (WWI) are still remembered for their incredible sacrifice. My uncle landed on D-Day 2 (WWII) with the Canadian Signal Corps in northern Normandy. He would never talk about it. "Lest we forget".

See you soon,
Diana

[LisaLCFan]

Diana, yes, of course, I would be happy to get a poppy for you. Please be sure to find me at the dinner on the 11th (it looks like there will be quite a crowd!).

For all of you who might not know, the reason we wear poppies is mainly because of this poem, written by a Canadian soldier in WWI. When I was a kid in school, somebody always recited it over the intercom on Nov. 11 (I dont' know if they still do). Since poetry is a big part of why we are all here, here is the Remembrance Day poem for everyone to reflect upon.

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

[mwaldman]

In the US, the American Legion distributes red poppies at the end of May in association with Memorial Day. Memorial Day in the States serves the same function as Remembrance Day. One of the earliest memories I have as child is dropping some coins into a collection canister and getting a red poppy.

Mike

[remote1]

I think the whole Armistice thing (going back to WWI and the end of the war, for those who might not know) is bigger in Commonwealth countries than in the U.S.

And of course in France and Belgium where it is a bank holiday, entirely devoted to commemorations.

[olive branch]

In the U.K Armistice Day is also November 11th but the Sunday before that date has countrywide, services of remembrance at war memorials, probably because it is not a working day for most people and Armistice Day is not a Bank Holiday. In Cardiff last year Leonard's reference was to the Armistice Sunday. Coincidently, after his words Dino Soldo shouted in approval with his arm raised in the air.

[Paula]

For The Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)






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.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)