Remembrance

For The Fallen
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

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

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

The full text of the poem contains the words (in bold) that we quote each year at Remembrance Day Services. Yesterday afternoon, we watched the match of the Cadets, Scouts and Brownies. Later on the girls and myself went along to the War Memorial in town to watch the ceremony there. As we waited in the cold it struck me how much these men and women sacrificed for us; and that they still do.

Whatever, I think of the current political decisions that led our troops into war once again, I must support them and their families. I now live in a Military town and this is even more important than ever. These people have chosen this job and in doing so protect the interests of our Country. I am proud to stand by them.