Today at the Cenotaph

Nanatoone

Served not deserved sorry for any typos. Out walking the dog in hideous wind and reading and writing on the go.

Am really impressed you can dog walk in this weather and still
Make sense in your comments, typos or not.😁

I always watch it through tears and feel privileged to be British.

My dad was a ground mechanic during the war and his brother, my uncle, was a rear gunner. They both survived fortunately and my dad lived until age 94. My uncle died younger with Alzheimer’s. I was in the WRAF in the 70s and married to a flight sergeant so I am always proud to watch the cenotaph ceremony. The music is marvellous and always brings a tear to my eye, we do these solemn occasions so well in my opinion.

Always so patriotic. Watching the march past the Cenotaph and listening to our amazing military bands always fills me with pride.
My dad was missing believed killed. He was eventually rescued from a Japanese POW camp. A wonderful, gentle man, he never spoke of it, but he was quite a wreck for most of his life. So sad.

Well obviously no one noticed the sculpture to the Women of WW11. How very strange.

British military music is excellent, but far from unique. America is very good at it, and Russia’s various ‘Red Army’ ensembles are world-class.

So heartwarming to see this thread. Like most of you we will never forget. My father was in the army having joined up at the beinning of the war. He was in Africa and Italy where he was engaged in the battle of Monte Cassino. My mother, like all parents had to face the bombing alone and had lodgers brought to their doors because so many were bombed out. I salute the veterans and the women left hehind bringing their children up alone. What a wonderful ceremony it was yesterday.

Served not deserved sorry for any typos. Out walking the dog in hideous wind and reading and writing on the go.

My father, my mother, myself and my husband all served and am proud of the people we served with and have deserved before and in the future. Remembrance is to remind ourselves of the horror or war. It is not a celebration and means a lot to many of us who served. My deepest sympathy goes to those who served and suffered, whatever the war. I really felt proud to see the young army cadets marching and playing music on Saturday , so much hope for the future.

I realise this is a bit late as I was under the weather yesterday.
I do not think anyone can dispute the gratitude or pride most of our countryfolk feel for veterans.
The people causing upset on this occasion were far right extremists who attend for their own nasty agenda.

Fuelled by Suella Braverman. In no way Patriotic.

“Even US marching bands (who are not necessarily serving men and women) are not in the same class”
Unless, RosiesMaw you count The ‘President’s Own’ US Marine Corp Band, who are so good they knock your socks off, whether playing Souza or Holst or Respighi. I’m a huge fan of our military bands and nothing beats the feeling of marching behind your own regimental band.

Yes I did see it Grandtante and I found them frankly a little ridiculous .
I have also heard military bands at remembrance occasions in France and they do not come close. Frequently shrill, “tinny”, not particularly tuneful. German “oompah” bands likewise are quite different.
No I am not being parochial - even US marching bands (who are not necessarily serving men and women) are not in the same class.

I too find the service, and the local parades, deeply moving. I so wish this country did more to support the armed forces when they retire, or are forced to leave because of health problems or injury. No ex military people should be sleeping on the streets. My dear Father wouldn't send for his WW2 medals - he was too traumatised, I now realise, and wanted to try to forget, although in his last months of life so much came back to him, and he told us - and then was angry with himself for doing so. I sent for his medals some years ago. Bless you, Dad, and all those who bravely protect us all.

We've been to concerts by military bands and the music they play is not always military style:

An excerpt from a concert in St Michael's Cave, Gibraltar:

www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Df73rGW6pTe8&ved=2ahUKEwiT75qKlMGCAxXSVUEAHdmlBpkQtwJ6BAgVEAE&usg=AOvVaw33mJP9yxbdtIUR-l6-HL-F

There are Military Schools of music and, if not already qualified to degree level in music, musicians can train to a very high standard after joining these colleges, including to degree level through Forces schemes.

Their principal rôle is as musicians although they could be called on to perform other duties if the need arose.

In Denmark, where we still have national service, military musicians are professional musicians who apply when appearing before the medical board to be allowed to serve in the various military bands.

I agree Britian has some very fine military bands, but you are being a little parochial you know.

Anyone who saw the last Bastille day celebrations from Paris cannot possibly have forgotten the bands or the singing of L'Hymne de la Résistance or La Marseillaise by soldiers.

As my Father was one of the lucky ones rescued at Dunkirk then posted as 'missing presumed dead' when he was one of Monty's Desert Rats, later found in a hospital, I always watch the Parade and shed a few tears and feel blessed that he did come home at the end if WW2. There is so much pride in the bearing of the 'old Warriors' on parade and I just love watching them. As my late Husband was in the Fleet Air Arm, I also enjoy seeing the Royal Navy contingent.

Agree with RosiesMaw about military music and the musicians; there is nothing quite like it. Always makes me emotional to hear it.
And agree with Musicgirl about the musicians; many of them have been through one of the Royal Academies/Colleges of Music and have music and performance degrees. The competition to join a band is extremely fierce, and there is a gruelling performance audition. They are professional musicians in the full sense of the word. And also serving members of the armed forces who can be called upon to fight.
I have been fortunate to have seen many of the top bands due to working, or being posted abroad, to military settings. Have seen the bands in concert performances and on military and ceremonial duty.

I do not ‘enjoy’ it as such but it is a time when I privately remember, with gratitude the bravery and self sacrifice of our armed forces both past and present. My thoughts always go to my dear paternal grandfather who fought in the trenches in the Battle of the Somme in WW1 and my maternal grandfather (did not know him that well, unfortunately) who joined the RN at 17 and was present at the Battle of Jutland, in a rescue ship, picking up and giving aid to injured men They survived and didn’t have the easiest of lives after those horrific experiences, I am sure, as PTSD was not really recognised then. So many others, so much gallantry. We should be humbly grateful to them all.

My grandad died at war my dad was in military I was born in it. I also spent 22yrs married to military man. My oldest son did 16yrs did 7 tours of Afghan and Iraq and my daughter inlaw 5 tours we all wear our poppies with pride but what I find the biggest shame is when my son and daughter inlaw came back from war ppl would walk up to them shaking their hands and proudly now they told don’t wear your medals etc incase of stirring up trouble. What is happening to this country

Indeed, RosiesMaw - church bell ringing too. Would be a real loss to lose these things.

Many military bands consist highly trained musicians; often graduates from the conservatoires. I agree that they are marvellous, though.

I was so emotional as everyone walked past the Cenotaph, It seemed to last for so long and still they kept coming. I was quite overwhelmed.

Another impeccable display and the music by the military bands is superb. Elgar's "Nimrod" always moves me. So does Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" as an expression of mourning

I do find it moving, and have ex forces friends who also go. However, I also do understand those who’ve served and are still suffering both emotionally and physically. Both my parents served in the armed forces and I’m proud of them. Empathy and compassion to those who’ve prefer to forget their own awful experiences

Always feel immense gratitude . All those service men who can’t articulate their experience,I wish they could just somewhere secretly write down their experiences and have them kept somewhere so perhaps future warmongers might think twice. Unlikely I know.