Remembrance/Veterans/Armistice/Poppy Day

[Janke 1st MRB]

Gentlemen, today is a solemn day. Today is the day that the first world war was officially ended, and the day that the allied nations of that war remember those brave, valiant men and women who laid down their lives, originally in the great war, but since has evolved to include all armed conflicts since, for the freedom of their proud nation.

The First Marine Raider Battalion was a group of those brave men. They fought for the freedom of the United States from the hands of the Japanese, who sought to dominate the Pacific and eventually attack the Mainland USA. These brave men put their lives on the line for us to be here, some of them didn't live to enjoy the freedom they fought for.

Gentlemen, we often take for granted the rights and freedoms we have, forgetting those brave enough to stand up for it. Millions of people from all over the world have laid their lives down so that we can be here now, talking freely over the internet, sitting in front of our computers, going to school, living our lives. We take this day, the anniversary of the end of the first world war, to remember them, if on no other day but today.

The poppy is often seen as an international symbol of remembrance of those who lost their lives in armed conflict. This is because of a famous poem written by a Canadian medic during WWI. It was written in 1915 by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, because of what happened at Flanders, Belgium after one of the bloodiest battles of the war. The blood enriched the soil there, allowing poppies to thrive. After the battle, when no more blood was being spilled on the soil, the poppies ceased to grow. The poem he wrote, entitled In Flanders Fields was about those poppies. The poem is as follows:

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, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our 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.

- John McCrae

Gentlemen, even now troops from NATO are still being killed in armed conflicts. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq respectively are claiming lives of more brave men and women today who are fighting terror. We must not forget them. We must not forget those who fought in the Korean war, we must not forget those who fought in Vietnam, We must not forget those who have fought in UN peacekeeping tours, we must not forget those who fought against Fascist Germany, Italy and the Japanese Empire in world war two, we must not forget those who fought against the Central Powers in world war one, and we must not forget those who have laid down their lives in the numerous other armed conflicts in the world.

R.I.P.-Those brave men and women who fought for our freedom.

Lest we forget. *Salute*

Edited November 11, 2009 by Janke 1st MRB

[Vogt]

Very nice Janke, very nice.

[Parker 1st MRB]

*Salute*

[GMoney BAR]

Well said my man

[Warren 1st MRB]

*Salute*

[Gooderham 1st MRB]

*Salute*

[J. Clark]

*Salute* well put janke

[Pina]

*Salute*

[Yamagata 1st MRB]

Wow, how did I miss this?

My Grandfather was in Vietnam, made it to PFC in the Army and came back home. These guys in Vietnam were some of the least honored US soldiers, and at times, still are today.

To the War Veterans that fought and died for our countries:

*Salute*