Saturday, November 15, 2014

"For the Fallen"...



...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.”

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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