Today is the 11th of November (Saeed's time). In the States, this is Veteran's Day, in the British Commonwealth it is Remembrance Day. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns went silent in Europe. Should we break the bonds of all fellowship?

To fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
Just divine embrace, eternal light
In the Mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
Through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord

Peter.

In Flanders Fields



In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, saw dawn, felt sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.



Take up your quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.



Lieut. Col. John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

First Brigade of Canadian Field Artillery

LE JOUR DE LA VICTOIRE - Po�me de Blaise Cendrars

A Paris

Le jour de la Victoire quand les soldats reviendront ...
Tout le monde voudra LES voir
Le soleil ouvrira de bonne heure comme un marchand de nougat un jour de f�te
Il fera printemps au Bois de Boulogne ou du c�t� de Meudon
Toutes les automobiles seront parfum�es et les pauvres chevaux mangeront des fleurs
Aux fen�tres les petites orphelines de la guerre auront toutes une belle robe patriotique
Sur les marronniers des boulevards les photographes � califourchon braqueront leur oeil � d�clic
On fera cercle autour de l'op�rateur du cin�ma qui mieux qu'un mangeur de serpents engloutira le cort�ge historique
Dans l'apr�s midi
Les bless�s accrocheront leurs M�dailles � l'Arc de Triomphe et rentreront � la maison sans boiter
Puis
Le soir
La place de l'Etoile montera au ciel
Le D�me des Invalides chantera sur Paris comme une immense cloche d'or
Et les mille voix des journaux acclameront la Marseillaise


My grand-mother had eleven brothers. When 10 were killed, the last was recalled as unfit, WWW2 got him.
It's a part of more of 90% of my family killed for freedom and democraty.

There may come a time when all alliances shall be broken and scattered to the 4 winds.



This is not that day!



If we are mark'd to die, we are enow

To do our country loss; and if to live,

The fewer men, the greater share of honour.

God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.

By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,

Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;

It yearns me not if men my garments wear;

Such outward things dwell not in my desires:

But if it be a sin to covet honour,

I am the most offending soul alive.

No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:

God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour

As one man more, methinks, would share from me

For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!

Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,

That he which hath no stomach to this fight,

Let him depart; his passport shall be made

And crowns for convoy put into his purse:

We would not die in that man's company

That fears his fellowship to die with us.

This day is called the feast of Crispian:

He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,

Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,

And rouse him at the name of Crispian.

He that shall live this day, and see old age,

Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,

And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'

Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.

And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'

Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,

But he'll remember with advantages

What feats he did that day: then shall our names.

Familiar in his mouth as household words

Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,

Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,

Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.

This story shall the good man teach his son;

And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,

From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remember'd;

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,

This day shall gentle his condition:

And gentlemen in England now a-bed

Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,

And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks

That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Henry V

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Commandancy of the Alamo

Bexar, Feby. 24th, 1836 To the People of Texas & all Americans in the World--

Fellow Citizens and Compatriots--



I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna--I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man--The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken--I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls--I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all despatch--The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country--Victory or Death.



William Barret Travis Lt. Col. comdt.



P.S. The Lord is on our side--When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn--We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels, and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves--





God Bless those who have stood and now stand in Harm's Way for us!