In Remembrance of Honorable Soldiers

We have reached another Armistice Day (Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth, Veterans Day in the US, ).  Originally to remember the end of the Great War, the Armistice that ended the war starting at 11:11am on 11 November, 1918, and those who served and died there.  Since then, it has been expanded to include the many others who have served and died for their country in honorable service through the years.

If you remember, pause for a minute of silence to honor the brave warriors that have guarded us -and still do- at 11:11am.

Though do not let us forget that war is a terrible thing as well.

When You See Millions of the Mouthless Dead

Charles Hamilton Sorley (1895-1915)

–

When you see millions of the mouthless dead

Across your dreams in pale battalions go,

Say not soft things as other men have said,

That you’ll remember. For you need not so.

Give them not praise. For, deaf, how should they know

It is not curses heaped on each gashed head?

Nor tears. Their blind eyes see not your tears flow.

Nor honour. It is easy to be dead.

Say only this, “They are dead.” Then add thereto,

“Yet many a better one has died before.”

Then, scanning all the o’ercrowded mass, should you

Perceive one face that you loved heretofore,

It is a spook. None wears the face you knew.

Great death has made all his for evermore.