Remember - November 11 is Rememberence Day. This is the day where we remember all of those who have fought in wars to protect the freedom we take for granted. The day - 11 November - was originally Armistace Day, celebrating the end of World War 1. After World War II, it was agreed throughout the world to extend the rememberance to all conflicts. In Australia, we remember those who have given the supreme sacrifice for their Country by The Ode. "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." The Ode is a verse from a poem called "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon. In Australia and New Zealand, The Ode is carved on War Memorials and is recited on both Anzac and Rememberence Day Ceremonies. To read the full poem, visit here For a fandom that loves a fighting team, a fandom where one of the main characters died for his team, it is doubly important that we, as a fandom, honour those who defend us. I hate war - but revere those of our soldiers who go to work each day knowing that they may be asked to die in their line of duty. For a history of Rememberane Day, visit here Lest We Forget. Rememberance Day 11/11

Here in the U.S. it's called Veteran's Day. With all the election stuff that's been going on, it's gotten lost... Thanks for the reminder!!!

November 11 is as important to me as April 25th is. I may not be in Australia anymore, but that date is still extremely important to me... I know that I won't hear the Last Post being played on the radio today as we are asked to bow our heads in silence (it seems that it is forgotten in the Corporate world), but know that I will think, remember and respect those who died for our freedoms for much longer than a solitary 60 seconds today ... I will add a favourite peom of mine to this threat. This was written in May of 1915 by a Canadian Soldier in response to a brave death of one of his former students -- and a friend. In Flander's Fields 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 Flander's 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, tho poppies grow In Flander's fields. By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-191 Canadian Army SJ

That poem does mean a lot in Canada, doesn't it? Thanks for posting it. I can, to this day, pretty much recite it from memory and so can my sister. For the soldiers...

We just had a Ceremony in school, Last Post and everything. I always get a tear in my eye when I hear that. For some reason this year, while listening to Last Post, I wondered how the Team would react to Remembrance/ Veteran's Day.

Apparently my brother, who is finishing up a two week leave at home near Ottawa and returning to Afghanistan tonight, went to the ceremony today at his middle daughter's school in his full dress uniform, at her request. In a very fitting note, school is named after John McCrae.

LB, my prayers go out to you and your brother. This year we had no one in uniform attend our service. Usually we have a Vet, who attended our school as a child, come and play last post. This year being the 90th anniversary he had other commitments at the time our service was being held.

Thanks, CD. My brother's job over there is something to do with coordinating the aviation side of things, and I don't think he leaves the base very often, so he should be okay. He says it's much better in Kandahar now than it was in the summer, as the weather is cooler. I hope your school gets its Vet back next year!

Thank you for posting the poem, lb. I am not Canadian, but I know it too. It is famous around the world. When I was young girl, on Veterans Day in the US many VFW posts (Veterans of Foreign Wars) sent their members to street corners with a bucket of plastic poppies. They sell them to you as you stop at the intersection for whatever donation you care to make. You put the poppy on your rearview mirror and it stays there all year until you buy a new one on the next Veterans day. My Dad always bought one. Until recently, I lived my entire adult life in a major city without a car and I don't know if the tradition still exists in the smaller towns like the one I grew up in. I am glad we took a moment to remember this day - Sharockchick is right, it has gotten lost this year in the midst of the US election.

Originally posted by gogirl212 Thank you for posting the poem, lb. I am not Canadian, but I know it too. It is famous around the world. When I was young girl, on Veterans Day in the US many VFW posts (Veterans of Foreign Wars) sent their members to street corners with a bucket of plastic poppies. They sell them to you as you stop at the intersection for whatever donation you care to make. You put the poppy on your rearview mirror and it stays there all year until you buy a new one on the next Veterans day. My Dad always bought one. Until recently, I lived my entire adult life in a major city without a car and I don't know if the tradition still exists in the smaller towns like the one I grew up in. I am glad we took a moment to remember this day - Sharockchick is right, it has gotten lost this year in the midst of the US election.

Today here in Ontario you can find a box with poppies in it, that you can buy to wear, in most stores. They are sold by the legion. The poppies are then asked to be returned after the 11:00 service - something to do with "disrespect" to wear them after that time. But I do not understand this fact completely, if I am always displaying it to show I remember. Perhaps because many people were displaying poppies but not really "remembering" does that make sense?

The most "general" picture I've found for this year... I didn't see any poppies around here, but I had class yesterday so I wasn't out and about. Also, thanks for sharing the poems. They are beautiful.

After SJ's rant the other day about some one disturbing her when she was giving her "moment" of silence to Remember. I thought of this Clip which we showed during our Service. The story behind this song goes like this: On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us. Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable. When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect. Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time". Enjoy.... A Pittance of Time

Originally posted by gogirl212 When I was young girl, on Veterans Day in the US many VFW posts (Veterans of Foreign Wars) sent their members to street corners with a bucket of plastic poppies. They sell them to you as you stop at the intersection for whatever donation you care to make. You put the poppy on your rearview mirror and it stays there all year until you buy a new one on the next Veterans day. My Dad always bought one. Until recently, I lived my entire adult life in a major city without a car and I don't know if the tradition still exists in the smaller towns like the one I grew up in.

I remember that too, GoGirl. Sadly, I haven't seen the plastic poppies in a while... I'm hoping it's only because I personally haven't been witness to the fundraiser of late and not because it's becoming a forgotten tradition.

Originally posted by gogirl212 You put the poppy on your rearview mirror and it stays there all year until you buy a new one on the next Veterans day.

I was in Nova Scotia in October of '98 and I bought a poppy pin from some veterans at a mall, and when I wasn't using it in successive Novembers, I kept it pinned on the visor inside my car. I still have it, although ten years and exposure to sun have taken their toll on it. Next year, I will get a new one.

Originally posted by clouddancer After SJ's rant the other day about some one disturbing her when she was giving her "moment" of silence to Remember. I thought of this Clip which we showed during our Service.

Thanks for posting this, CD. I'd never heard this song before.

I hadn't either but it really touched my heart and I love listening to it now.

For both Rememberance Day and Anzac Day (25 April), we have serving soldiers on most street corners in the City selling poppies for a few days before hand, and usually in the major shopping centres (like a Mall for my US friends....) on the day and the weekend beforehand. Never heard about the disrespect for them being worn after 11am - over here we wear them all day. There are some very nice enamelled badges out now that a lot of people wear all year round.

[FONT=comic sans ms]Veteran... Galactor salutes You![/FONT]

Originally posted by Madilayn For both Rememberance Day and Anzac Day (25 April), we have serving soldiers on most street corners in the City selling poppies for a few days before hand, and usually in the major shopping centres (like a Mall for my US friends....) on the day and the weekend beforehand.

Was April 25th selected as ANZAC day because of the Gallipoli campaign in the First World War? I first saw Peter Weir's film, "Gallipoli," many years ago, and to this day, I haven't seen another film with an ending that tragic and powerful.

Yup. April 25 was the day of the Gallipoli landing in WW1. Interestingly enough, though, more Australians were killed on the Somme and the rest of the Western Front than were killed at Gallipoli. Another (not so nice) piece of trivia - more soliders were killed in WW1 than in any other war.....

Maddy I had an Uncle who fought in WW1 in France...he got a VC for bravery... Very Condor like in his approach. For our population we have lost as many soldiers in battle as other western countries have. The movie Gallipoli is very moving... And true to our Larrikin nature but get the job done and don't complain or glorify it. I had a crying baby in my arms at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.... But I did my minute of silence at least.... I'd feel odd not doing it since i grew up in a country town that has a HUGE army base on the outskirts. ANZAC day and remembrance day are outwards shown in respect due to the army camp's ceremonies.

It's been nearly a month since Nov. 11, but this picture (taken Dec. 6 in Kandahar) just made a national news website in Canada. The man on the right, in the foreground, is my brother! He's giving the parade orders at a ceremony to mark the opening of Canada's first Air Wing in Afghanistan.

He looks very strong, LB! And it certainly is an action shot! I'd expect all of those soldiers to fall over in the next shot! Of course, I'm probably just attributing my own clumsiness to them.

Hoping we all get to spend this Xmas together as last year my sisters were off getting sun tans at an FOB in 'stan. You forget what they do, then they send you pictures of them 'at work'.

Wow... they sure look like Condor girls! to your sisters, Veritas!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Wow... they sure look like Condor girls! to your sisters, Veritas!

Definitely! Galactor beware! I asked my brother what the straps on his back and neck, in the photo, were and he replied: "The straps are part of the holster that holds a pistol in my left armpit and two magazines of ammo in my right. The only place we don't carry a gun is the shower, the gym and bed. If you go to church you bring your gun. My rifle is locked up safe unless I need to go outside the wire, and you will only know if I've been outside the wire if something unfortunate happens as I don't talk to home about those trips." I'm sure Joe would approve...

Wow... that does sound like Joe! Your brother is definitely a Condor, LB!!!!

LB, You must be proud of him... Vertis.... you sister is a Condor...what a job!

LB and Veritas, thanks for sharing the photos. You both must be so proud of them. My cousin just got home yesterday after doing two tours over in Afghanistan. I'm so glad he's back safe. May all of your family members get back safely.

Originally posted by gatchgirl May all of your family members get back safely.

Hear, hear! It was apparent when he was a kid that my brother was going to be in the military (he went Air Force, helicopters) and I'll admit my fic interpretations of Joe and Ken are slightly based on him.

Thats cool, does he know that? Kerry showed me a video of her doing pistol practice at the range ( up against the camp wall) and Kate firing a 50mil off the back of a transport, I was only a little bit jealous at their Condoresque skills.

Originally posted by veritas Thats cool, does he know that?

I don't think he even knows that fanfiction exists! On one occasion, some years ago, I had the opportunity to try firing a handgun, and I was a really lousy shot (I know, what am I doing in the Condor clan?) So, my brother's armed and dangerous, my sister is a tae kwon do black belt, and me... I guess I could throw books at the enemy (except I'd probably miss)...

Originally posted by lborgia88

Originally posted by Transmute Jun Wow... they sure look like Condor girls! to your sisters, Veritas!

Definitely! Galactor beware! I asked my brother what the straps on his back and neck, in the photo, were and he replied: "The straps are part of the holster that holds a pistol in my left armpit and two magazines of ammo in my right. The only place we don't carry a gun is the shower, the gym and bed. If you go to church you bring your gun. My rifle is locked up safe unless I need to go outside the wire, and you will only know if I've been outside the wire if something unfortunate happens as I don't talk to home about those trips." I'm sure Joe would approve...

[FONT=comic sans ms]Any time! we are ready for it!...weapons are cool. Kudos!!!... like the military...my respects. Power to Galactor![IMG]http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/9071/galmark5nv8.gif[/IMG] [/FONT]

Originally posted by lborgia88

Originally posted by veritas Thats cool, does he know that?

I don't think he even knows that fanfiction exists! On one occasion, some years ago, I had the opportunity to try firing a handgun, and I was a really lousy shot (I know, what am I doing in the Condor clan?) So, my brother's armed and dangerous, my sister is a tae kwon do black belt, and me... I guess I could throw books at the enemy (except I'd probably miss)...

[FONT=comic sans ms]hahahah I now how to use 9 mm handgun Luger automatic, Magnum 357, Shotgun, AK-47, & Uzi...they are so cool... I love guns...If you go to the range the people from the stablishment are so nice & they give you lessons. I can't wait to have my own gun.[IMG]http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/9071/galmark5nv8.gif[/IMG] [/FONT]

Thanks for sharing your photos, LB and Vertas. I hope you loved ones return home safe and soon!

Originally posted by lborgia88

Originally posted by veritas Thats cool, does he know that?

I don't think he even knows that fanfiction exists! On one occasion, some years ago, I had the opportunity to try firing a handgun, and I was a really lousy shot (I know, what am I doing in the Condor clan?) So, my brother's armed and dangerous, my sister is a tae kwon do black belt, and me... I guess I could throw books at the enemy (except I'd probably miss)...

LB, I purchased a set of throwing knives to "practice" with. Needless to say, I could hit somethings, more then likely the robber would laugh so hard his pants would become wet. Now shooting a gun is about the same, I pity any poor squirrel climbing about. Cause I would hit them instead of the target I was shooting at.

LB and Veritas know that my prayers are with you and your loved ones for their safe return.