In Memoriam to the Fallen..

"Each has won a glorious grave -- not that sepulchre of earth wherein they lie, but the living tomb of everlasting remembrance wherein their glory is enshrined. For the whole earth is the sepulchre of heroes. Monuments may rise and tablets be set up to them in their own land, but on far-off shores there is an abiding memorial that no pen or chisel has traced; it is graven not on stone or brass, but on the living hearts of humanity. Take these men for your example. Like them, remember that prosperity can be only for the free, that freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it..."

Pericles, Athenian General and Statesman; 495 - 429 BC.

Today we remember the sacrifices of our armed forces in all of our wars.
Our thoughts too for the many wounded verterans.
"At the going down of the Sun
And in the morning,
We will remember them"

quote

Quote :

Take these men for your example. Like them, remember that prosperity can be only for the free, that freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it

Thanks for the quote JC, it has gone on the memorial plaque for 3 of my friends.

Strong words indeed.

Just heard on the radio news that a record number of poppies were sold this year.
The current conflicts have brought generations together in paying their respects to our glorious dead, from all conflicts.

Fallen heroes who are flown to nearby RAF Lyneham before being transported in a funeral cortege along the high street of the market town of Wooton Bassett, near Swindon - where hundreds have gathered to line the streets to pay their respects.

The parade of troops and servicemen from the RAF, Army and Navy included band members, high ranking officials and war veterans - and featured flyovers by a Hercules C130 and Globemaster C17.


This turn out of respect has continued for every one of the fallen.



Wootton Bassett is acting on behalf of us all, and deserves our gratitude and respect.

Help for Heroes Concert
Saturday 30 January 2010 7:30 pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

The Army present a lively and entertaining programme of music and dance that includes the Band of The King's Division, Liverpool's Sense of Sound Choir - finalists of BBC's Last Choir Standing, Singer/Songwriter and forces sweetheart Laura Critchley, The Mersey Beatles, MD Productions–Kensington Dance Troupe - semi finalists on ITV's Britain's Got Talent and The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Corps of Signals. All to raise money for the charity Help For Heroes.
Booking details here

As this year's Poppy Appeal is launched, we naturally turn our thoughts to the fallen of all conflicts.
My good friend Victor snapped these photos today as he passed the SOE Memorial in London...


[The Telemerk Memorial]



[Violette Szabo, GC, MBE]

I've just heard on local radio that a section of the seafront promenade in New Brighton is to be named in honour of Ian Fraser, VC who hailed from the Wirral, and who led a mini-submarine attack on Japanese shipping.

From our side of the pond…unfortunately many of these are awarded posthumously.


The first formal system for rewarding acts of individual gallantry by the nation's fighting men was established by General George Washington on August 7, 1782. Designed to recognize "any singularly meritorious action," the award consisted of a purple cloth heart. Records show that only three persons received the ward: Sergeant Elijah Churchill, Sergeant William Brown, and Sergeant Daniel Bissel Jr.

The Badge of Military Merit, as it was called, fell into oblivion until 1932, when General Douglas MacArthur, then Army Chief of Staff, pressed for its revival. Officially reinstituted on February 22, 1932, the now familiar Purple Heart was at first an Army award, given to those who had been wounded in World War I or who possessed a Meritorious Service Citation Certificate. In 1943, the order was amended to include personnel of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Coverage was eventually extended to include all services and "any civilian national" wounded while serving with the Armed Forces.

Although the Badge of Military Merit fell into disuse after the Revolutionary War, the idea of a decoration for individual gallantry remained through the early 1800s. In 1847, after the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, a "certificate of merit" was established for any soldier who distinguished himself in action. No medal went with the honor. After the Mexican-American War, the award was discontinued, which meant there was no military award with which to recognize the nation's fighting men.

Early in the Civil War, a medal for individual valor was proposed to General-in-Chief of the Army Winfield Scott. But Scott felt medals smacked of European affectation and killed the idea.


The medal found support in the Navy, however, where it was felt recognition of courage in strife was needed. Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy medal of valor, was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861. The medal was "to be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, and Marines as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry and other seamanlike qualities during the present war."

Shortly after this, a resolution similar in wording was introduced on behalf of the Army. Signed into law July 12, 1862, the measure provided for awarding a medal of honor "to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldierlike qualities, during the present insurrection."

Although it was created for the Civil War, Congress made the Medal of Honor a permanent decoration in 1863.

Almost 3,400 men and one woman have received the award for heroic actions in the nation's battles since that time.

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* Quoted from "Armed Forces Decorations and Awards," a publication of the American Forces Information Service. Copies of the pamphlet are available upon request (in print format only), via the "DefenseLINK Comment/Question Form" in the "Questions" section.

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Read some of the citations...
http://www.history.army.mil/moh.html

On this Remembrance Day....." at the going down of the sun, and in the morning; we will remember them"

To all our British Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen, both current and past, I wish you a heartfelt and somber Veteran’s Day and/or Armistice Day.

Let us all attempt to do three things in honor of our Nation's Veterans. 1) Make certain you pass along the reason for these days to your friends and family, especially the children because they ain’t going to learn it in school. Read up on it yourselves, if need be, so you can educate others. 2) Take a moment, alone or with friends and family, and remain quiet, reflect, pray, and give thanks to those who made your life and the lives of the free-world possible. 3) Lastly, support our troops in anyway possible. If you see a GI alone in the airport, stop and talk to him, get him some lunch, whatever. Perhaps a Sailor stationed in the Persian Gulf needs a pen pal, write her, you’ll make a good friend, and help her feel someone back home cares. Join Adopt-A-Platoon, volunteer at the local USO club (or your versions of them), call your local military base, and see if anyone would like to come over for a Sunday or holiday dinner…or just smile and say thanks.

Most only think of the recent actions and their Vets. Refer to these links for a listing of all the major actions of your Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen, and ours, you won’t believe it!

List of wars involving Great Britain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Great_Britain

United Kingdom Historical Military Conflicts, Events or Wars
http://www.cyndislist.com/miluk.htm#Historical

United States Military Campaigns, Conflicts, Expeditions, and Wars - Compiled by Larry Van Horn, U.S. Navy Retired
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vanhornfamily/military.htm

Timeline of United States military operations - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_United_States_military_operations

In the news...
Wootton Bassett, renowned for paying its respects to soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, is to be granted the title "Royal" in recognition of its actions.



The small market town in Wiltshire will become the first town in more than 100 years to be given the honour in recognition of its spontaneous shows of respect and mourning for fallen soldiers, David Cameron said.

The news comes as Mr Cameron confirmed that troop repatriations through the town would no longer happen from September because of the closure of the nearby RAF Lyneham base.

Mr Cameron said the Queen had agreed to the tribute as "an enduring symbol of the nation's admiration and our gratitude to the people of that town".

"Their deeply moving and dignified demonstrations of respect and mourning have shown the deep bond between the public and our Armed Forces," Mr Cameron told MPs.

The Prime Minister made the announcement after making his regular tribute at the start of question time in the House of Commons to the most recent military casualty in Afghanistan.

"The town will become Royal Wootton Bassett later this year in a move I believe will be welcomed right across our country," he said.

The only other Royal towns in England are Royal Leamington Spa - granted the title Royal in 1838 by Queen Victoria - and Royal Tunbridge Wells, granted the honour in 1909 by King Edward VII.

Wootton Bassett residents welcomed the announcement but insisted that they had taken part in the ceremonies as a mark of their respect for the Armed Forces and their families and had not sought any reward.

Mary Champion, Mayor of Wootton Bassett, said: "Whilst we have never sought recognition for our simple act of respect I am certain that this will serve to reinforce the pride and gratitude we feel for the members of our armed services who will always be in our thoughts."

Well done Royal Wootton Bassett and a very nice thing to do by Her Majesty.

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I don't know if you heard about this in the UK but our last WWI Vet passed recently.


Frank was born on February 1, 1901. At the age of 16, he witnessed the European theatre of World War I, serving in the United States Army as an ambulance driver. In World War II, he became a Prisoner of War in the Philippines and was imprisoned for 39 months. After his return, Frank settled down in West Virginia to his humble farm, where he lived until his death on February 27, 2011, at the age of 110.

http://www.frankbuckles.org/

Wootton Bassett has been officially re-named with the prefix "Royal" by Princess Anne, in honour of its role in the repatriation of British military personnel killed in war.

Amen

Fitting tribute to the Commandos in Westminster Abbey..