Apologies for making this so late but I figure it should be out there anyway.
They shall grow not all, 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.
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.
i saw a kid marchin’ with medals on his chest.
he marched alongside diggers marching six abreast.
he knew that it was anzac day - he walked along with pride.
he did his best to keep in step with the diggers by his side.
and when the march was over the kid was rather tired.
a digger said “whose medals, son?” to which the kid replied:
“they belong to daddy, but he did not come back.
he died up in new guinea on a lonely jungle track”.
the kid looked rather sad then and a tear came to his eye.
the digger said “don’t cry my son and i will tell you why.
your daddy marched with us today - all the blooming way.
we diggers know that he was there - it’s like that on anzac day”.
the kid looked rather puzzled and didn’t understand,
but the digger went on talking and started to wave his hand.
“for this great land we live in, there’s a price we have to pay
for we all love fun and merriment in this country where we live.
the price was that some soldier his precious life must give.
for you to go to school my lad and worship god at will,
someone had to pay the price so the diggers paid the bill.
your daddy died for us my son - for all things good and true.
i wonder if you understand the things i’ve said to you”.
the kid looked up at the digger - just for a little while
and with a changed expression, said, with a lovely smile:
“i know my dad marched here today - this is anzac day.
i know he did. i know he did, all the bloomin’ way”.
Thank you to all the veterans and their families in the World of Tanks community.
From skype:
the war (that was meant to end all wars) set out to gain,
in the Dardanelles, a shipping lane.
When they thought that decisive victory might have been in their reach,
they discovered instead, a well-defended beach.
At Gallipoli, against daunting cliffs, against the Turks,
they could only curse at the arrogance of the berks.
Several thousand turned the straits red.
We remember them with a field of red.
No one celebrates those times with bullets, shells and tanks.
Instead people clap and cheer and hold up signs conveying thanks.
For those ANZACs that were daunted when that cove was fortified.
Both sides' valour is recalled by those who come from either side
There are other wars remembered at this time.
But it is my sincerest wish that we truly will see peace in our time.
And the lions lying down with lambs, while everyone who chose
a relationship with God will see the door to troubles close.
Edited by Flying_Elite, 25 April 2017 - 08:49 PM.