The church I’m at – Tipton Family Church – is a few yards away from the path that the annual march takes each Remembrance Sunday.
Every November, we work our service schedule so that we can go out and stand, as we join with those who pay their respects.
This year, due to the Covid-19 situation, there has been no march. However, still wanting to keep awareness at the forefront of minds, below is the video from 2019.
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 (May 1915)
My brother John and I came upon the Remembrance Day commemoration outside Chester Cathedral at 11 am this morning. I thought about my dad who flew forty missions for RAF Bomber Command during WW2. Dad survived only to die of a coronary heart attack aged only forty two. Many of his colleagues died during the conflict. So standing on a cool November morning I remembered dad although he passed when I was very young his mates and silently thanked them for their bravery and sacrifice.
Some deep reflective thoughts there, Dave. A tragedy that he died at such an early age but much to be proud of.