What a poignant week to be in England. There was Remembrance Day, quickly followed by Armistice Day, on the same day as our Veterans Day. Ashamedly, back home Veterans Day is not given enough thought, speaking for myself. Having never been here this week, has been profound and quite though provoking. Witnessing the British pomp and circumstance with seemingly the entire nation in a collective remembrance that touched most families.
This year in particular is the centennial of the start of World War I
Nearly every village, town and city has their War Memorial listing the village boys, lost to war. WWI was a brutal war that "lost a generation of the best and brightest."
The long ago moat was filled with hand made ceramic poppies, 888, 246, one for each soldier lost
We went to London to see this first hand, along with an estimated 5 million others. The crowds were massive, polite and completely silent
The first wreath is always laid by the Monarch, followed by members of the Royal family, politicians, service and regiment leaders, followed by the leaders of their commonwealths. Here is King George in 1918, Queen Elizabeth's grandfather
The country stopped for 2 minutes of silence.
The 88 year old Queen and her 93 year old husband, stood firmly in place while all the wreaths were laid.
This year, hailed many terrorist threats and it was suggested the Royal family not participate, the Queen would have none of that
I have to say what has moved me is listening to stories of the veterans, people who were children in London emerging from shelters to find everything they knew bombed away, the sights, the sounds and the smells.
Crosses for each man of Sherborne lost in war
Debra
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