This year I was at home this morning to watch the BBC's coverage of the Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in London and found it incredibly moving, particularly the
laying of wreaths by the three centenarians, Henry Allingham, Harry Patch and Bill Stone, all sadly, wheelchair bound now but still retaining a strong presence and dignity. I should imagine that the occasion was a challenge for all three and it was obvious that memories of former friends, companions and experiences were as if from yesterday.
As I watched, I wondered if the dispicable thieves who stole
the four bronze plaques from Mountain Ash in the Cynon Valley and all the other thieves and vandals who have despoiled war memorials throughout the country were watching.
Sadly, I'm sure they were not.
6 comments:
They did it in a park I pass every day on my way to work.
Truly despicable.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7707598.stm
A couple of years ago, a young man was arrested for urinating on a war memorial in Ottawa. He was given a legal slap on the wrist despite public outrage. It makes me bilious.
At my schoool I had a class of eleven year old kids at eleven on th eleventh. I told them about my Uncle Jack who died in the Battle of Britain. They observed the silence with the utmost respect.
I read the account of that one too, Steve.
Dale, it certainly is very depressing.
YP I think that youngsters often need to have it personalised for them for it to make an impact.
Yes, I agree: when such things are explained to young people in a way that makes it relevant to them I think they're capable of showing the utmost respect.
Schools need to focus on it a lot more, Daphne.
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