So, for my Dad who soldiered on from Ortona to Holland, one of Lady Astor's DDay Dodgers:
However, we should also remember that we now have a fresh wave of more recent, 21st Century, veterans who have also answered their country's call and put their lives on the line and we have grieving families. They should also be remembered by us.
Ross Mac,
ReplyDeleteOne of our local charity shops - not one associated with any military charity - has a window display that includes photographs of local soldiers who have been killed or seriously wounded since 1914. Each image had a short note, which gave their name and place of birth as well as their age if they were dead. It was so unexpected and very poignant ... yet hardly anyone walking past seemed to have noticed it.
It is vitally important that we remember these people as individuals, and not just as veterans or the 'glorious dead'.
All the best,
Bob
My own parents were 16 when WW2 ended though my grandfather served as an air raid warden - he 'left' WW1 after being gassed and actually met my grandmother whilst in hospital - she was one of his nurses. So both wars are very much still in my memory (I even had my own ration card - in the UK rationing didn't end until 1954!)
ReplyDeleteWell said.
ReplyDeleteA very poignant piece, as Ed remarked "Well said".
ReplyDelete