Lest We Forget

[=EXPEND=Dendro]

Lest We Forget...........

 

 

[bzc3lk]

  +1

[[TWB]80hd]

Indeed, sir.

[Finkeren]

[jaydee]

 

Great shot Fink. Says it all !

[Smouch]

It was an honour to serve for 14 years.

 

For the Fallen,

 

Lest We Forget

[=362nd_FS=Hiromachi]

Ah, Remembrance Day. 

 

In Poland it is partially incorporated into Independence Day since 11th November is our Independence Day:

 

 

S!

[6./ZG26_Loke]

S!

[Cybermat47]

Lest we forget the brave men and women who have sacrificed for their nations.

[PatrickAWlson]

The men and women are not forgotten.  Unfortunately, it appears that the lesson is never learned.

[=WH=PangolinWranglin]

Veterans Day is what it's called here in the U.S. of Murica'. I wish I was at school today because we have guest speakers in from every branch of the U.S. Military. Thinking about it, I have 2 relatives that were injured on deployment. My uncle fell down a port on a carrier and fractured a vertebrae and my cousin had a tank's turret land on him. (An IED went off while he was on top of the tank, resulting in him being under the tank, he survived.) Thanks to all who served!

[SC_Manu653]

S!

[ST_ami7b5]

S!

[Goanna1]

And not to forget the many, many ex-soldiers who struggled for decades after serving with PTSD and it's 'hidden' ramifications for living and leading a normal life after their experiences in a war torn environment.

 

My father was one such person who served in the Navy from '42 to '45 and was attacked by both kamikazi and torpedo hits to his ship and bore the effects till he finally passed away in 2004.

 

Although when I was a rebellious teenager in the late 60's/early 70's he always said that 'at your age I was on a ship fighting for Australia's freedom and always remember that many mates of your age passed away doing the same'.

 

He never mentioned his experiences until we spoke at length in his last few years of life (in his late 70's) but he was always first to go to the Dawn services on Anzac and Remembrance days and sold Anzac badges whenever he could to gain funds for the Returned Servicemans League --RSL here in Oz.

 

 In the post war period then 'men' wer encouraged to 'suck it up and be silent' about their war traumas.

 

At least now there is some understanding and counselling for our returned soldiers yet still the suicide rates amongst ex-servicemen remain extraordinarily high.

I saw stats yesterday that said 43 Australian soldiers died in the ongoing Afghan/Middle east conflict and 263 had succumbed to suicide after returning home after their tours. (figures are from my memory and may be slightly out-apologies if they are)

RIP to the fallen Diggers-- and soldiers of all nations!

Edited November 12, 2016 by Goanna1

[[TWB]80hd]

My uncle posted this today, I only had a newspaper article before...  the article said he (my grandfather) got shot down over Germany, not Austria.

 

Apparently he and 2 other soldiers escaped.  Hope to learn more of it.

 

 

Edited November 12, 2016 by [TWB]80hd

[unreasonable]

Perhaps worth saying that the inspiration for Poppies as the symbol of the dead came from this poem by John McCrae, a doctor in the Canadian Corps in the BEF.

 

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.

Edited November 12, 2016 by unreasonable

[JG13_opcode]

Wow Finkeren that is a gorgeous photo.

 

Where did you find it/where was it taken?

[Monostripezebra]

[Finkeren]

Wow Finkeren that is a gorgeous photo.

 

Where did you find it/where was it taken?

It's been circling the internet for a couple years now.

 

I'm pretty sure it shows an American made tank left over from the Korean War and left to rust in the demilitarized zone.

 

The flowers actually don't grow on the tank itself, the flaking green paint and rusty metal just happen to match the flowers.

[unreasonable]

It looks most like an M46 Patton. - The rear of the turret is a little odd, but it may have been damaged or a particular modification. 

 

 

 

Although on reflection the slope of the rear plate - as you can see with the towing point - suggests a M41.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 13, 2016 by unreasonable