11th of the 11th of the 11th

**Finistere** · 30th October 15, 05:07 AM

Armistice day
I am reminded of the men, women and children who lost their lives in all wars around the world, every time I walk to the village square where the cenotaph is and I always stand and look at the names, whole families gone, children and babies gone, it always pulls my heart strings as I stand in silence reading the names of the fallen, I'll be wearing the "Bleuet de France" on that day, what do you Lad's and lassies wear to remember the fallen on that day. Kit

**Father Bill** · 30th October 15, 05:37 AM

In Canada the Royal Canadian Legion hands out poppies. A small donation is appreciated in return. As Padre to our local branch, I'll do my stint for three days at the entrance to the local grocery store, and of course, I'm already wearing a poppy.

For Remembrance Day (as it's called in Canada) I'll kilt up in full gear because the older folks love it, but at the cenotaph I'll be preaching and will wear my black cassock, white surplice, and Legion preaching stole over the whole works (with poppy of course). If it's too cold, I'll wear my black cloak over it, with the poppy on the outside again.

Poppies always go on the left side, over the heart.

**Stobie** · 30th October 15, 05:44 AM

We have it here as well. Remembrance day. 11th day. 11th hr. 11 th min. 2 minute silence. Lest we forget.

**Finistere** · 30th October 15, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by Stobie

We have it here as well. Remembrance day. 11th day. 11th hr. 11 th min. 2 minute silence. Lest we forget.

Thank you Stobie for your kind reply but I hate to correct you Sir, its hour, day, month here maybe its different in your neck of the woods. Kit

**Stobie** · 30th October 15, 08:32 AM

Cheers. Thanks for correcting me.

**Father Bill** · 30th October 15, 10:00 AM

Same in Canada. Month, Day, Hour.

**MacEanruig** · 30th October 15, 10:12 AM

It's a somber time to reflect on all brave souls who gave their life during conflict.

**Tarheel** · 31st October 15, 07:53 AM

I agree that the VFW poppies are "less than standard". There was a reason; being the mass production issue. Then, as many things in the US, the attention span shifted except for the thoughtful, families of veterans and when the media reminded the unaware.

I commend any effort of the VFW to keep a tradition alive.

**Jock Scot** · 31st October 15, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by Finistere

Thank you Stobie for your kind reply but I hate to correct you Sir, its hour, day, month here maybe its different in your neck of the woods. Kit

I think the British way is hour, day, month and if required, year, I am not sure what the rest of Europe do, but as per usual it seems to be done differently in North America? It certainly seems to be an American thing. Mrs Jock has the date printed on her photographs automatically and I really find the month coming first very confusing.

We have just returned from spending three days on the Somme in France. Beautiful weather, beautiful surroundings and the farming is impressive, but it could not hide the awful human waste that occurred there in 1916. I have been before, but as I am now a lot older I find the beautifully maintained military cemeteries that are so close together all rather emotional. It was brought home when we drove across the battlefield from one side to the other at the widest point of advance after some 5 months of continuous fierce fighting and it took us just over 5 minutes!

I am trying to download some pictures but it seems my computer and photobucket are not talking to each other.

The poppy was worn with pride by us, a wreath of poppies was laid at the Thiepval Monument where over seventy two thousand names(British and Commonwealth) of those who fell in that battle who have no known grave are remembered. Sadly my family have a name placed there. On another day a single poppy was placed on a post in the nearest fifty acres of where he fell near Gommecourt on the first day of the battle and what did we see by the post that was chosen(with the amazing help of google earth) as "the place"? A wild poppy, still in flower, growing there. A tough one that.

"Lest we forget."

**Finistere** · 31st October 15, 09:55 AM

Thank you Jock Scot for your reply, the way the dates are written here is both ways, day first and then sometimes month first which is very confusing, I think that the month first is due to the fact that they teach the kids in schools and colleges American English, I was always taught "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month". Kit