...written by Robert
Laurence Binyon (1869-1943).
Born in Lancaster, England, he was the son of a clergyman
and educated at St. Paul's School and Trinity College, London. He was an
English poet, dramatist and art scholar.
During September-October 1939
throughout ten Allied countries and upon the suggestion by the Allied
Federation of Ex-Servicemen, the 25th anniversary of Laurence
Binyon's For the Fallen was observed.
This is one of the most famous and enduring war poems...and
it was written at an historic moment...just after the retreat from Mons and the
victory of the Marne.
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 worry them, nor the years condemn.
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 darkness,
To
the end, to the end, they remain.
By Robert Laurence Binyon, 1914.
William Shakespeare wrote:
“Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The Valiant never taste of death but once.”
We Remember!
A dramatic photo by Barry Gray depicts a de-leafed gray-barren tree
trunk
with a few minor branches standing against a pale ashen sky...
attached to it are a few red poppies.
Barry comments, “Every year people leave poppies in this tree
in ‘Mark Graham Park’on Hamilton Mountain to honour the fallen soldier.”
with a few minor branches standing against a pale ashen sky...
attached to it are a few red poppies.
Barry comments, “Every year people leave poppies in this tree
in ‘Mark Graham Park’on Hamilton Mountain to honour the fallen soldier.”
Largest Hamilton
Crowds, in memory, honour the Fallen! Thousands upon thousands
gathered, under sunny skies (also in outreaching areas of Stoney Creek,
Ancaster and Flamborough) for outdoor ceremonies yesterday. On television I watched CHCH’s coverage at
Hamilton Warplane Heritage Museum where close to 3,000 were gathered…for
tribute to Veterans and to our Lancaster, the focus of attention!
Argyll Lt.-Col. Laurence Hatfield’s Address: “Remembrance Day, 2014 is about everybody
who served. I don’t believe anyone would
think it is about one person. It’s
critical that we remember all,” he said adding that a total of 1,660 Argylls
have paid the supreme sacrifice in the regiment’s history. “In Cirillo’s case,
the Corporal was killed defending the most sacred ground in Canada. It brought attention to sacrifice and
service. That is one of the small silver
linings in the whole process.” (excerpt from his message)
A “Lancaster crew”
of seven veterans in attendance were personally recognized...
each representing his position in the warplane’s action during WWll...
pilot, 2 navigators, flight
engineer, rear gunner and 2 bomb
aimers.
Fred Coleman (navigator) wore
his original uniform!
Merle Baird-Kerr...scripted
November 12, 2014
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