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| Remembrance Sunday - short and complete http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6837 |
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
I just wanted to post something to commemorate the day. I hope that nobody minds. - X - Very quietly, Jack Maynard stood up and made his way to the front of the church. It was absolutely packed, with people even standing at the back just to be there, and as he stood awkwardly in front of them, he didn't know that he could do as he had promised. It was Remembrance Sunday, and he had been asked to say a few words, but when he looked up at all the eyes watching him he couldn't find a way to start. Gradually, he picked out Joey from the crowd, and when she smiled at him, he cleared his throat, then suddenly began, trying to hold his paper steady and not show how much he was shaking. “Sub-Lieutenant Charlie Banks, Officer Cadet Nathan Hawthorpe, Commodore James Jackson, Midshipman Robert Priestly, Captain Mark Thompson, Officer Cadet Stephen Rayburn, Officer Cadet Henry Blake, Lieutenant-Commander Percy Smith. “All men that I had the honour of working alongside during my limited time in the navy, and all of whom I saw die. What they sacrificed for their country and other countries in the free world, what they gave for all of us here today, must never be forgotten. All of these men were decent and approachable, always ready to give a hand whoever needed it. I remember once when we engaged in battle with a German ship, and tragically she sank. It was never our intention to harm innocent civilians like ourselves, just to try and stand up for our rights and freedoms. We hauled one of them aboard and cared for him as best we could. “In particular, of all these men, friends to me, I shall remember Henry. There was this look on his face, when he got a letter from home, and we all feared the worst, but suddenly he started jumping around the cabin. His wife had given birth, twins, a boy and a girl. He never got to hold those two children. Somewhere, there are two children who were never allowed a father, but thanks to him there are millions of children worldwide who enjoy freedoms that they might not have done otherwise. “All of these men were dear to me, and I don't mind confessing that I still miss some of them terribly. There was a noticeboard, and each of us pinned up one picture to remind ourselves of why we were fighting. Some men put up pictures of wives or girlfriends, some children. I put up a picture of my beautiful wife holding our daughters, who I'm sure many of you know. But Nathan, he didn't have any family. His father had been killed in the Great War, and his mother died the day after his sixteenth birthday, which was when he joined the Navy. So he made all of us get together, from the Captain to the cook, and he took a picture of us all just before we set sail. We were what he was fighting for. “These are just some of the men who touched my life briefly but who are gone now. And there are many other men, who I will never know, men who left families and men who had no-one to grieve for their passing. Men more courageous than most of use could ever dream of, and men like me who were cowards but who still tried our best. All of these men were taken, but their sacrifice will never be wasted while we have peace and freedom by which to remember them. “Today is about remembering all those who fought and died, in the Great War and in the war of our generation. But today, I'll be remembering these men in particular, because they gave their all to save me and my family, and to save all of us here.” With his head bowed, he collected his papers and walked back down the aisle of the silent church, to once more take his place next to Joey. |
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| Author: | brie [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
Thank you |
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| Author: | Jennie [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
Thank you. |
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| Author: | PaulineS [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
Thank you Ariel |
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| Author: | abbeybufo [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
That was lovely and very moving. Thank you Ariel. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
That was beautiful - thank you Ariel. |
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| Author: | shazwales [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
Thank you Ariel. |
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| Author: | Alison H [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
Thank you. |
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| Author: | LauraMcC [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
I must admit that rememberance Sunday completely passed me by until I read this. Thanks for making me remember, Ariel - it's a very moving drabble. |
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| Author: | Abi [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
Thanks Ariel. |
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| Author: | linda [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
Thank you, Ariel, very beautiful and moving |
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| Author: | Mrs Redboots [ Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
Thank you; that was lovely. |
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| Author: | Chris S [ Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
Thank you. |
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| Author: | Smile :) [ Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
Lovely, thanks CM. |
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| Author: | claire [ Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Remembrance Sunday - short and complete |
thank you |
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