Support the Armed Forces

They shall grow not 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.
(Laurence Binyon, 1914)

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, 1915)

For making the ultimate sacrifice - we thank you

Although I'm having a very bad personal time at the moment my thoughts are constantly going to all the men and women who are putting their lifes and safety at risk for us.
You are all hero's.
I realise that some of you are going through so much not only with the deaths of loved ones but for those men and women who have been injured, those that suffer evryday and ths I can understand and empothise with.
Emja 69

It has been suggested to me that members of this group might like to see this post from Kendrive. The song is also embedded below. I think it reminds us that servicemen put their lives on hold (and at risk) in the course of their duties.

Thanks to Jollyweez for suggesting this post.

I think it was a couple of weeks ago that I told you about my five year old grandon doing a sponsored event for "Help our Heros". He did it last Thursday.

It was held out doors on a playing field, by his Karate Club. While the childen did their various obstacle courses and karate trainings, the retired soldier was running round the outer track, in full army gear, one by one the children put on their back packs loaded with its bag of sugar, and ran after him, they had not to get in his way but to follow round. All the children completed this challenge. The little ones doing one lap, older children doing more according to their age.

The children then went on to demonstrate "partner work", my grandson, who is a very small child (the main reason for him going to this karate club) was partnered by an even smaller four year old girl. They had to take turns in pulling each other down to the ground while holding them by the wrist. The second was to do a shoulder strike.

My daughter said it was a brilliant event, well organised and all went smoohtly. The children have to address all adults very formally, she said my grandson, when the event had finished went up to the man that had been doing the running, shook his hand and said to him "thank you for helping the soldiers Mr. Gale". My grandson raised £35.00 to go to the charity.

Another sweet thing, she was in her bathroom, she could hear the grandson talking in his room next door, she heard the words, "don't let our soldiers get hurt, Amen". So either at school, or at the karate club, they have been taught to say their prayers for the soldiers, he also now knows the word "Afgahnistan"

On Wednesday of this week the BBC screened a documentary entitled "Wounded" it follows the lives of two soldiers; Andy Allen and Tom Neathway who have both been seriously injured in Afghanistan.

The story is both heartbreaking and inspirational, it gives real insight into the reality of the danger faced by our soldiers and the gravity of the situation and challenges that face the injured. If anyone wants to watch it, it is currently available on BBC i player.

I would also take this opportunity to provide thislink to encourage support for this charity. Christmas is coming, maybe some of the items that they have for sale would make good gifts or just give!

My five year old grandson goes to a Karate School. As well as Karate they are being taught about social responsibility and caring for others.

Later this month they are doing a Sponsored event to help swell the funds for our Soldiers.

AS one of the younger ones, his task is to carry a bag of sugar ("2 lbs" approximately) in his haversack while completing an obstacle course. While the children undertake their tasks suitable for their age group, a 67 year old retired Soldier will be running on a treadmill in a corner of the room. No doubt all will have fun and a sense of achievement.

What a brilliant concept, from the youngest to the oldest, they have a common purpose to help other people - Our Soldiers, who are giving so much.

Every friday for the past few months I have been wearing red as a sign of my support for the British troops. I do so in response to this initiative "Red Fridays" Every week I get an E-mail that helps to remind me of my intention but I don't really need the reminder now, it has become habit. The E-mails also provide lots of interesting links which today lead me to this article which I thought I was worth sharing on here. Not everyone receives an award for the selfless acts that they perform whilst in the course of their work, but reading about those who do helps to remind us of the demands that they face on a daily basis.

We have been up to Edinburgh this week to see the Tattoo.

We have talked of going for years, and this year we have actually gone and done it!

Before the Performance, we had seven hours in Edinburgh itself. We were fortuantate the weather was super, we watched several street performers, had a walk in the Princes Stree Gardens, a meal, then it was time to re-join the coach to go up to the Castle.

The coaches have to be in place at seven o'clock. Then uou walk up to the Castle to Queue and queue! It is quite off putting the amount of Police and Security in evidence. There are people photographing the crowd, out bags were searched, and we were told if we were suspicious, "We would be searched". It was a relief to get in and find our seats.

The Tattoo was brilliant, but we were totally surprised at the noise all those Bagpipes and Drums make! Before the thing started the R.A.F., Squaronaires played some Jazz and Glen Miller so we were well "warmed up".

They did do a piece showing medics recovering injured in "Afghanistan", this was so effective, they had firing going on, the the "Helicopter" came over, the noise was deafening, the put a relection and lights onto the Castle, of a helicopter so realistic.
It made us all appreciate the awful din and noise that the soldiers face all day and every day. I felt quite exhausted by the noise after the few minute representation that we saw.

The rest was lovely, a brilliant experience. It will be shown on T.V., this Saturday.

Getting out of the Castle and back to the Coach we a bit of a nightmare, there were just so many people. The Police were saying "keep moving" and herding us down the hill. One 93 year old man that was on our Coach got lost, we waited 45 minutes for him, then had to leave becaus of the Drivers "hours". The Police actually found him by looking out for him on the CCTV, then going and picking him up, he was sent back to our Hotel via a Taxi.

"If you don't stand behind our soldiers, feel free to stand in front of them." (unknown)

This is a quote which I wholeheartedly agree with. Some say it is unethical, some say it is right. I think that supporting our troops does NOT mean you support the war, and too many people confuse the two!! Our troops are not just about the current conflicts - our troops are about offering their lives to preserve the safety and freedom of ours.

Anti-war protesters who argue that our troops have not done much for our country and just go around killing others - do they not realise that it is those same troops that they slander who gave their lives in order to preserve free speech? That without those troops they would live in a world where all media and opinions are censored?

At the end of the day, troops around the world from all countries do the same job. The fight for their country. They fight for their people, and for their rights. Whether or not they get it right or wrong is, in a way, irrelevant. If the UK was attacked tomorrow I know that our forces would be there to protect those who support them AND those who don't. And the people who don't would still want their support. So why not give the troops theirs?

I am proud of our troops all the way, both past and present, and will NEVER stop admiring the fact they all sign up knowing full well they may die for us.

God rest all of those who have given their lives for us, and protect those still with us today xx

As we continue to suffer the loss of more servicemen in Afghanistan, it is important to remember that for every man killed, there will have been several more injured and a greater number still who are traumatised by these events but are required to soldier on and get the job done. I was thinking about these men and how they might feel and this is what I wrote - trying to put myself in their boots, I know that in reality I don't have a clue what they feel, but I try.

What is pain?
Pain is, knowing you'll never see a mate again
His bones will be buried and you won't be there
For Queen and Country he gave his all
It's over for him
No more guard duties
No more ration packs
No more anything
Nothing at all
Except his name on a memorial wall
On November 11th we'll all stand
with eyes to the ground
trying to forget those awful sounds
and wishing that he was still around
We will remember him
RIP mate.