Remembrance

It's only in recent years that the 2 minutes silence on the 11th has come in. I observe it if its possible but think its unreasonable for a busy hospital and other busy environments to observe it. There is always the Sunday and other occasions to remember as an individual. We should be careful not to get too strict about it. Ian - I don't understand your post - many many 'foreigners ' gave their lives in wars for Britain

I will always observe the two minutes silence. Unfortunately I work in a multi-culteral area and it offends some people, but I am not put off by these foreigners.

I was brought up to observe the silence. My 2 grandfather's were in the first war, and my father in the 2nd. They never glorified any aspect of war. Rarely spoke of it, and were always moderate when we children turned into people who demonstrated agains the Vietnam war. I observed the silence on Sunday and today in memory of those lovely, gentle men and all those who have lost their lives in wars, including in Afghanistan. I spoke to a 93 year old Jewish friend today, she had phone about something different, but inevitably we spoke of Remembrance. What a life she has led, and what an inspiration to us as we age.

I have something of a problem with remembrance because my father, who served in the far East, would never celebrate the day in any way or acknowledge it - he always said that he could not understand why anyone would want to remember - it is better to forget.

So Remembrance day is a difficult one for me - on the one hand I feel I should honour his memory by letting it pass, but on the other had I do understand the arguments on the other side.

I am also ambivalent about children being burdened with memories of the wars - in a sense it sullies their innocence and that disturbs me. I think that it should wait until they are of secondary school age at least.

I know that these will seem like slightly weird views, but they come from the guts! - I have no choice about them to some degree. They are a part of me and how I was brought up.

They do not lessen my respect for those who were coerced into wars that were not of their making and who stepped up to the plate and did what they had to. I feel deeply saddened by all that loss of life.

One Beaver, two Cubs and a Scout - my GC were out in force yesterday though I was too far away to go and watch them. It's good that at such an early age they are made aware of remembrance.

I was in Lincoln hospital attending a specialist appointment at 1108 hours. We found a quiet space at 1100 hours and sat for two minutes but I can say that nothing seemed to change around us. People were wandering around and chatting. My husbands grandfather was severely wounded in the battle of Nonne Bosschen on 11th November 1914 and his two brothers were killed alongside him so, as well as the armistice date commemoration, we have always as a family had November 11th as a special date. That would have been 99 years today. We must never forget.

One of my GD and GS were in the parade to the war memorial for the first time as part of the Brownies and Beavers. Luckily it was a sunny day so I wore sun glasses as I found them all marching down the road incredibly moving. I wept buckets at the Menin Gate for the last post too when we visited. My grandfather was an Anzac and I wore an Australian badge for him as well as my poppy for my Dad and others who lost their comrades. What bugs me is that our governments continue to get into wars not of our own making. The tribute made to her son of the mother who was interviewed I found moving but it made me feel angry too. And going back to the original question the answer is yes - two minutes silence is something we can all give

Thanks Grannyacticist for very quick response and pm. Have looked at the site and it bought a tear to my eye but THANK YOU [floweres]

Brenda - Yes, your brother's name is inscribed on the memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum. click here for details.

Do any of the GN'ers live near the National Forces Memorial ( I think that's its name) in Staffordshire? If any do and go for a visit could you let me know if my brothers name is there. Ian Jarvis died January 1956. He was in the RAF and died whilst flying from Cottishall RAF base. I would be very grateful.

The poem still makes my hair prickle along my neck! I remember hearing it each year with my parents, soon after WW2. Beautiful words.

Galen - I think it's fine to have a 2 minute silence during the tribunal but only if everyone involved is told beforehand and so the silence is expected and planned for. What do the courts and tribunal service normally do?

Yes Galen

Where ever you are that 2mins is achingly poignant. 'the least we can do' - yes, think, actually think about it. Two minutes and we question it. I do remember years ago, the traffic would pull over and stop. Such a tiny thing in comparison to the sacrifice made by those of previous generations and those troops fighting now. Thanks to all of those brave men and women.

Yes to Galen you should!

grannyactivist big respect to you and your family.

This morning at 11:00 , in some beautiful local woods, my DD2 plus 2x DGDs and I stood still and remembered 'the soldiers and their families' along with other walkers out in the lovely autumn sunshine.

We observed the silence at my son's athletics practice this morning. It was amazing how all the chattering parents just fell silent as soon as the cannons were fired on the Garrison with no prompting at all.

Tomorrow I shall make my way to our local park where the cannons will be fired again at 11am and observe the silence there. I think that if it is at all possible then a few minutes to remember is the least we can do.

Go for it Galen

In church today even the small children were quiet as if they knew this was a special time.

Our service was lovely albeit small with a total of about 150 people there. We were under the shade of 3 trees, they made a canopy above us, and our chairs were placed in rows to make a semi-circle. Directly ahead was a huge wooden cross, this was where the wreaths were laid.

We had Senior British Loan service personnel, Ambassadors, Commonwealth Representatives - all with their very well turned out ladies (except the few who don't really understand that today was not the time or place for sleeveless dresses and bare legs). There was also a good turnout from the general expat population.

The Chaplain was excellent, a young man who's face I hadn't seen before. I think the old Chaplain must have retired - at least I hope he's just retired.

He made gave a little welcome talk and we then sang a Bidding Prayer, it wasn't one I'm familiar with. After that the Ambassador read from The Old Testament Micah 4: 1-5, then it was the Senior British Loan Officers turn and her read from Revelation 7: 9-17. BY now we were into the act of Remembrance and another loan service officer then Said - They shall not grow old etc.

During this part of the ceremony we also had reading from the leader of the Hari Krishnas here in Oman, and an Islamic preacher. The Islamic preacher then translated what he had recited from the Holy Quran and the message was no difference to that offered by the Chaplain. I'm assuming the same could be said for the prayers offered by the Hari Krishna Chakraborty but we'll never know because he spoke no English whatsoever. One thing I did notice though was that they both recited Amen and 'hear our prayer' etc when everyone else did and the Islamic preacher joined in with the Our Father. I thought he would because there's no reason why he shouldn't and I thought to myself - if only people could see this side of the people I live with and love.

After this the wreaths were laid, the last post was played, then we sang Abide With Me.

Oh and I forgot - somewhere in amongst all of this we had a lone piper playing a Scottish lament and as he played he walked away from the graveyard till he was just a sound in the distance.

And that was it but we did have a very smart Honor Guard on the way out made up of an RAF regiment who I think may have been brought in from Afghanistan on a kind of R&R and official duty kind of trip. They were very smart and have a special place in my heart because my husband served his country for 30 years and it was the Air Force he was in.

It was a lovely day

At archery today, we observed the two minute silence. Not a sound was heard and considering there were a lot of us there with over half being children, it was very moving.

for you GrannyActivist,

I am so lucky My so returned from Iraq so many of his friends and colleagues didn't so Remembrance Sunday and Tom at 11am very poignant for me.

At morrisions today I was proud of he the entire store kept quiet for 2 minutes at 11am it was very respectful.

A very touching poem Grannyactivist

Absolutely should , to remember all those brave hero"s !

Yes.
I get so cross if I am shopping and it is announced on that two minutes silence will be observed, and yet some people just carry on ignoring it.
I will observe 2 mins silence again on Armistice Day at 11am, it is the very least I can do.

Yes do it galen It is the very very least we can do.

Just reading this thread has brought tears, I've watched the service this morning and remembered all those who died and their poor families.
Those poor mothers who lost several sons and more.....