A Pittance Of Time

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-11-10 06:13pm

Pittance of Time

This actually made me cry, as I am sure I will be on 11 Nov. If you don't understand why it moves me than ask your nearest Vet.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-10 06:28pm

As ever, I shall be remembering them. I've even gone through three poppies already as I kept losing them (but it meant more money for the collection, so I don't mind).

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-11-10 06:32pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:As ever, I shall be remembering them. I've even gone through three poppies already as I kept losing them (but it meant more money for the collection, so I don't mind).

I didn't know that Poppies were worn in the UK as well. I thought it was just Canada. That being said they have a habit of falling off all the time. I've gone through 5 this week. But like you say, more money for the collection.

I'll be at the Cenotaph tomorrow to watch the parade, if my Legion uniform was ready than I'd be in it. Even though I have to skip college classes to do it.

On a side note, are there any other Legion members here?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-10 06:40pm

The Poppy Appeal applies to most Commonwealth states, IIRC and even some not in it. I've always put money towards them since I was in school and going to the local Scout group. I shouldn't really, but I get somewhat annoyed seeing people - even elderly - walking around without poppies.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-11-10 06:55pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:The Poppy Appeal applies to most Commonwealth states, IIRC and even some not in it. I've always put money towards them since I was in school and going to the local Scout group. I shouldn't really, but I get somewhat annoyed seeing people - even elderly - walking around without poppies.

Well you learn something new everyday. Thanks for contributing, it means alot to us Vets. Is Nov 11th a holiday in the UK? It isn't here.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-10 07:01pm

It is not, sorry. I have a meeting that may eat into that time, but screw it. My dissertation tutor can just guess why I'm suddenly not responding at that time.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-11-10 07:07pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:It is not, sorry. I have a meeting that may eat into that time, but screw it. My dissertation tutor can just guess why I'm suddenly not responding at that time.

Alot of my class is actually coming with me to the Cenotaph tomorrow. I must say I'm impressed, as it seems that most of the old Vets are leaving us. And with them the major interest in Nov 11. I hope it's different in the UK.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-10 07:12pm

Being I'm not in school anymore, I can't say. But I do know that most in public recall the events and stand silent for it and my old school and college used to.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-11-10 08:56pm

it doesn't just effect you english and commonwealth types.

my stepdad still has that piece of metal that nearly removed his arm.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-11-10 09:05pm

The Yosemite Bear wrote:it doesn't just effect you english and commonwealth types.

my stepdad still has that piece of metal that nearly removed his arm.

Where abouts are you?

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-11-10 09:17pm

Yosemite CA, my stepdad was in erm Veitnam cambodia but we were never there. at the time. He doesn't have it in him, mind you, he wears it on his neck, next to his tags, and his rosary.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-11-10 09:26pm

The Yosemite Bear wrote:Yosemite CA, my stepdad was in erm Veitnam cambodia but we were never there. at the time. He doesn't have it in him, mind you, he wears it on his neck, next to his tags, and his rosary.

The song is as much for all Vets of the world as it is for Canadian ones. That's quite the souviner to have, he's lucky to have his arm.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-11-10 09:28pm

But in the states we observe nov. 11th as well

strangely it's one of the two holidays here in the states where I feel most unworthy. I get paid 8 hours extra, and still have to work the day where people come up and take it as an excuse to recreate.

oh, BTW this year we have a local hippie band who preform anti-war songs for 11-11 grr.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-11-10 09:37pm

yup

It brought a tear to my eye, and then I got a phone call from my grandpa who fixed bomber's in china, some 60+ years ago...

sniff

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2004-11-11 01:50am

One of my Grandfathers fixed fighters in the pacific....my other one served in the US Navy during Korea...they are both gone now.....

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2004-11-11 01:51am

In Flanders Field the poppies grow. Between the crosses row on row

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-11-11 07:51am

Typhonis 1 wrote: In Flanders Field the poppies grow. Between the crosses row on row

The strange thing about that poem is that after WWI the poppies completely disapeared from Flanders, in fact they only grew there during WWI. Not before or after.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-11 08:56am

Cpl Kendall wrote:
The strange thing about that poem is that after WWI the poppies completely disapeared from Flanders, in fact they only grew there during WWI. Not before or after.

The shed blood does actually help them survive, I believe. Once all of it had gone, then the poppies died off. That's why they come to symbolise such events.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-11-11 12:27pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:
The shed blood does actually help them survive, I believe. Once all of it had gone, then the poppies died off. That's why they come to symbolise such events.

I also read that the constant shelling enriched the soil in Flanders with lime. Which Poppies really like. So they sprouted up, and after the war was over and the lime gone, they faded away.

The Dark · Post by **The Dark** » 2004-11-11 10:38pm

My grandfather was on a ship "over there" when V-E day occurred. He was a staff driver for a general (don't know who; he never spoke of it before he died) and was involved in liberating some of the German camps around Neurengamme (sp?). The more time I spend at the Holocaust Museum in St. Pete, the more I understand why he never spoke of it.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2004-11-12 03:39am

You see poppies worn on lapels in the US at veteran-oriented events these days.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-11-12 05:49am

My grandfather fought in North Africa, Italy, Corsica and Sardinia as an anti-aircraft gunner.

Never forget the sacrifices our soldiers have made for our nations.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2004-11-12 10:00am

None of my great-uncles ever spoke about their service, except for one, and he simply stated that he was rear-echelon and one of the last waves to walk onto Normandy Beach.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-11-12 10:02am

LadyTevar wrote:None of my great-uncles ever spoke about their service, except for one, and he simply stated that he was rear-echelon and one of the last waves to walk onto Normandy Beach.

Alot of Vets simply refuse to talk about the war. And given the horror sthey saw and the things they had to do, it's understandable. Even I rarely talk about my service to others, and I was never in a war.

StarshipTitanic · Post by **StarshipTitanic** » 2004-11-12 11:59am

My paternal grandfather manned the dorsal turret on a B-17 and participated in one of the first daylight raids on Berlin. He got a piece of shrapnel in his bum and my grandmother still has it somewhere.

My maternal grandfather was an Italian so the government took his radio away.