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j.lukow · Expire: 2021-11-25

On Tuesday - November 11 - is Remembrance Day, to honour our veterans and the fallen in past conflicts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day

Poolhall · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 1296

Well said

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

I had a nice surprise when we played at the Remembrance Service on Sunday. In previous years at one point in the service we normally play the national anthems of France, USA and GB. France because the town has a twinning link (Partnerstadt) with Marly-le-Roi in France, and USA because there was a large USAF base close by. This year was different. The base has been closed down for a few years now, so instead of "The Star Spangled Banner" we played a different one - HUNGARY!!

The town where the band is based, Marlow, has recently set up a new town twinning link with Budavar, an area of Budapest! Smile

The link is because the old chain suspension bridge across the Danube in Budapest, the
Széchenyi Lánchíd, was built by the British engineer, William Tierney Clark, who had previously built a similar old bridge across the Thames in Marlow in 1832.

So, Attila, there is a strong chance the band will be playing in Budapest one day! Very Happy

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Wow! That would be great ! I will bring my brother he has also a small German band Laughing

Rob Leslie · Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 1103 Location: UK Swindon

In the UK we had Remembrance Sunday which was the Sunday before the 11th. The 2 events I attended had a excellent turn out and were very moving

Here are some of my photos from the day
http://roblesliephotography.blogspot.com/2008/11/remembrance-sunday.html

Andreas · Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:27 am

Next week there will be the commemoration again. I believe that it's very important to not forget the men who died to serve their nation. In my family we are two veterans, my father in law who served as a conscript in the Algeria war and myself. Both of us are decorated for "bravery in face of the enemy". In his case it's merited because he saved his unit in an ambush. In my case it belongs more to a lottery… But we never goes to the commemoration because here in our town there are only lads who never fought but still have the medals given to them for the reason of long-time service… Both of us lost friends in action, and nobody (expect their family) remembers them.

As one of my Sergeant-Majors said : "The real heroes are dead, we just have the merit to survive"

lulalake · Expire: 2011-11-18

In the US, it is called Memorial Day and comes at the end of May. Here is a shot of my wife and child at a 2005 memorial day. My wife's uncle is here, and we visit his grave each memorial day.

Jules

(Balda Super Pontura, 120mm Schneider lens, 6x9 neg, Ilford Pan-X, Rodinal)

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

Here November 4th is also national holiday but for different reason - it's anniversary of victory in WW1

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

We have no holiday, no memorial day for our heroes , due we lost in past conflicts. We have memorial day, holiday for foreign winners. If anybody want to remember for our heroes need to face to face with police.Thousands who lost their life for Hungary have no remember just at family places and in heart of people.

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

That's sad Attila,Australia celebrates/remembers one of it's greastest defeats/disastors at Gallipoli.For the huge loss of young lives.Anyone who is willing to give up their life deserves rememberance.Least we forget Crying or Very sad

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

To all people who is died in any conflicts at any sides , well deserved for remembering. We must remember for them who is died for our lands.

kansalliskala · Expire: 2016-12-30

In Finland fallen soldiers are remembered on the Independece Day, December 6th. The idea behind it that we wouldn't be independent without the wars.

(wars = WWII that is divided into two-three parts here: 39-40 against Soviet Union and 41-44 against Soviet Union and 44-45 against Germany.)

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

On Sunday I shall be playing in the band at our local Remembrance Service in Marlow, as every year. Besides our own national services and organisations we usually have representatives from the USAF who are based close by, and from our twin towns, Marly-le-Roi in France and Budavar, a district of Budapest which Attila will know. Everyone is dressed in their best parade uniforms. We play a few quiet hymns during the service and wreath-laying, then the names of all the fallen are read out and one of the band plays The Last Post and Reveille on a cornet. The most moving part of the service is the two minute silence at exactly 11.00am, which is started and finished by the loud boom of a field gun not far away, which must bring back terrible memories for some. The flags are lowered, the rifles are reversed, everybody bows their head and there is complete silence. After the service we play the three National Anthems and then a Scottish regimental band in full Scottish dress, playing bagpipes and drums, leads everybody past the War Memorial to pay their respects.

I'm going to take my camera this year and take a few pics if I can, but it's difficult to grab picture opportunities in between playing.

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

Andreas · Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:45 pm

I was thinking about killed soldiers I've known well or being concerned by my family.

3 (great)uncles (1 in the austrian civil war 1934, 1 at Moscow, 1 at Stalingrad)

Austrian army : Staff sergeant F, plane crash

French Foreign Legion :
(in order they died)
Private M. (France) Bosnia, my promotion
Private 1st Class C. (Spain), French Guyana
Corporal P. (Hungary) French Guyana
Sergeant G. (Germany), killed by a sniper in Sarajevo
Private 1st Class Z. (Poland) French Guyana
Corporal K. (UK), shot twice at Sarajevo, Medaille Militaire and died in French Guyana
Corporal G. (France), Brazzavile Congo

The most painful loss was Corporal P., we shared the room together and he had to die a few days before the birth of his child… I'll never forget the message on the radio, I'couldn't believe it.

Some other comrades where killed in stupid accidents or suicides…

Since I left the army some of my friends get injured but nobody died.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Hard ! Most people can't imagine including me...

Andreas · Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:38 pm

For sure it's sometimes hard, but there where some good moments with them too.
But sometime it will come up again later. I remember when I was with my (now) spouse at Monteux to see the fireworks. The first minutes I just wanted to duck, was a real strange feeling. Or every time I make Palatschinken (pancakes) for my daughters I have to think about P. and the great time we had cooking austro-hungarian food the week-end.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

One of the most important thing at least to remember for heroes who are died in fights. To not remember for our soldiers what our politicians doing is a big shame in my opinion , soldiers couldn't select what is good what is wrong they lost their life for us.

Andreas · Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:03 pm

Once the mother of my former girl-friend found one of my "papers" and she said : " You never old as that you being a hero!" My answer was : "I'm not a hero, only stupid enough to do this kind of things."

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Andreas · Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:19 pm

One of my soldiers was an arab from the "Banlieu"; When I asked him why he choosed the Legion he answered me : "Sir, to earn some money I only had two choices, either dealing drugs or join the Legion. I prefer to fight."
So, sometimes the choice isn't really a choice. I never wanted to become a legionary. Circumstances in my life made me an elite soldier, that's all.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

I lost one of my uncles in WWII, of course I never knew him.
My grandfather survived three wars (WWI, Ethiopia, and WWII), but he was captured in Tobruk and spent 3-4 years as war prisoner in India. But he was a real tough man and came back in good condition.
One of my grand-uncles instead was also captured in WWII somewhere in Jugoslavija by Titus army. He spent about one year prisoner and came home in very critical physical and mental state, almost near insanity.

A lot of people here died during WWII, on both sides, either as soldiers supporting Germans or as partisans supporting allies. On the hills that you see pictured many times by me, there were the hides of a lot of partisan armies.
A lot of civilians died too in the bombings, because my hometown, which has a lot of luxury hotels, was chosen as SS headquarters. It is in fact a little miracle that I am here writing, because both my father and my mother, then children, were almost killed by Spitfire raids.

Russ · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 432