We used to call it Armistice Day and then changed the name to Veterans Day after WWII.
Yes, the military tends to be respected by both sides of America's radically polarized population.
Said military suddenly became more popular when we copied you and ended conscription.
Veterans Day has it parades and ceremonies and such, but I speak more of the behavior of the general populace.
The people all wearing the poppies impressed the hell out of me. It's hard to explain, but I was moved by it.
Well Ye olde boomer we can thank a nice American lady for us Brits wearing a poppy.👍
Quote;
Perhaps the most famous war poem of all time, In Flanders Fields was written on May 3, 1915 by Canadian born Lieutenant Colonel John McRae following the death of his friend and brother in arms Alexis Helmer. While poppies remain more popular in the United Kingdom and other commonwealth countries, it was an American,
Moina Michael, who can be credited with the first charitable poppy sale. Michael had been working at the YMCA Overseas War Secretaries Office in New York and was so stirred by McRae’s poem that she vowed to pin a poppy to her lapel and swore always to wear one to honour and revere the war dead. Using money she had earned for her work for the YMCA, she purchased twenty-five silk poppies and distributed these to her colleagues. Her efforts did not stop there. Michael continued her effort to have the poppy adopted as a symbol of national remembrance and it was just two years before her dreams were realised and the National American Legion adopted the poppy as the official symbol of remembrance. Thus it appears that the early history of the poppy is deeply rooted in American tradition and is not of European origin.
That said The RBL sell wooden crosses, Star of David crosses and Islamic crosses. It has no political or religous views as an organisation. Week last Tuesday Mr and Missis Tash spent the day at the Nottinghamshire Holocaust centre. We took up a box and a half of Star of david crosses. They were chuffed to bits. This last two weeks has been mental for me and Missis Tash. Every night counting money collected from the local,ASDA. Counting £1200 takes a lot of time. I am number drunk. The overwhelming generosity is just astonishing. All of today has been spent taking down poppies off lamp posts. Going to shops collecting pots and counting more money. Leaving pots outside in the garage for a week coz the nursing home has COVID. Been up to Sherwood golf club and counted there pot. Let’s just say have have done very Well indeed so thanks to them.
Our branch is doing very very well, but it is proactive. We had our 100th anniversary ball last month. Done with a military theme.Best bib and tucker. 206 folk loved it. For the first time ever people and companies want to help sponsor it.
yesterday’s Remembrance Day parade was fantastic. It was a fantastic day and once more the servicemen and women woke up today with thick heads. I am sure they have Port for blood. Bro in law who is chairman made his speech. Five mins later I had to go outside for a bit of fresh air.That’s what I told folk, truth is I shed more than a few tears. My sons best make took his own life a few months back. Leaves a five yr old daughter. Bro in laws speech Mentioned Andy Francis in great detail. RIP Franno.
If Counting £12 K up to yet means the hardship of a few late night meals. I will take that if it means that money stops another young lad taking his own life coz of what he saw in Iraq and afghan.
Responding to the Ops question. Last year the branch held a social distance memorial, all spaces ( 25 ) pegged out in the church yard with wooden crosses. Public were advised and encouraged not to come because of COVID. Some did. When we had finished a few hung around most disappeared. We looked up the rd and a fight had kicked off. We got up there and it was my lad who had been fighting. Apparently he was watching the service and a bloke did nothing but Eff and Blind all the way through talking to his mate .When the service finished my son said “ do you have no respect for the folk that have died”. A few women gave the man a bollocking. He was embarrassed and walked off. He waited for my son who Walked up the street a couple of minutes later. He collared my son and said he was going to kick his head in. My son said “really”. The bloke swung a few punches and basically my son gave him a pasting. A load of women saw what happened and thanked my son. He was embarrassed. The bloke said “ I am the hardest man in Forest Town and this is not finished”. Apparently one of the women said “ it looks like your the second hardest from what I saw”. So. In answer to your question yup some folk don’t get it. But most do.
