Sunday 8 November 2009

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY


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

My father is 94, and for the first time, he stumbled over these words at our village war memorial this morning. Then he straightened his shoulders and carried on.
Yesterday, he took out his medals and gave them a polish. One is a fairly simple silver cross, with a grubby ribbon. The Military Cross.
Not many people really know what that medal means. But I do, my sons do. And we all try to make him as proud of us as we are of him.

4 comments:

Lauri said...

What a lovely touching post, Vanessa. It seems astonishing to me that men and women can walk into those battlefields at all but then to do so with such heroism is indeed something to be proud of.

Sarah Salway said...

That's a really lovely post. And full of respect too, as it should be. We are losing a lot as that generation slowly leaves us.

Elizabeth Madden said...

A poignant reminder to all of us, Vanessa.
I have two former pupils of mine who will be "forever young" and I think we should all be very grateful to all the lost for their enormous sacrifices on our behalfs.

I really hope lots more people are beginning to feel the same way, too.

Anonymous said...

You must be so proud of your father, Vanessa.
Armistice Day tomorrow, the event will be observed here.