Let Us Never Forget

[DominicS]

 

Let Us Never Forget

 

 

Let us never forget what has gone before,

Through the blood and the guts and the mud and the gore.

So many young men cut down in their prime,

So many young lives cut short before their time.

 

As they crouched in the trenches, bullets whizzing over head,

The minutes ticked down, hearts filled with dread.

This is it boys this is it, our time has finally come,

Thoughts of loved ones and family, knuckles white gripped their guns.

 

Then silence, such silence,

An eery cold calm.

As the big guns fell silent,

As if the war had been won.

 

But whistles so many whistles, and over they went,

Charging ever forward, some only taking one step.

The pipes oft were heard, to urge them on and on,

But many a brave soldier never to see another dawn.

 

So many young men, so eager to do their part,

Not aware of the horrors they would encounter from the start.

So many smiling faces as they boarded the trains,

So many shattered heros as in the mud they writhed in pain.

 

And what was it for, what did we achieve,

But the loss of a generation, millions at home left to grieve.

But one thing is for sure, no matter where you are from,

Let’s not forget Passchendaele or Ypres or the Battle of The Somme.

 

‘The War to End All Wars’, that‘s what they said,

But have we really listened to those millions now sadly dead,

To me it doesn’t seem so, as we carry on our way,

With bombs, guns and bullets as the default to get our say.

 

But as we approach this Sunday, this time 100 years,

Their memory must not be forgotten, or their blood and sweat and tears.

Because dear friends it is certain, that we will ever be in their debt,

So please take a moment of reflection, and Let Us Never Ever Forget!

 

By Stuart McGregor

 

9th November 2018

 

 

[Rnglgdj]

Very nice!!!!!!!!

[Downwind66]

Thank you Stuart McGregor and thank you Dominic for sharing with us! It is a sad day, but a day we will all be thankful and grateful for, those who have sacrificed for us!

 

Rick :cool:

[tgon]

+1 in thought and prayer

[CRJ_simpilot]

Great poem. I read about Frank Buckles years ago circa 2008. This is the last WWI veteran.

 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-last-doughboy-of-world-war-i-11880886/

 

 

My town, which is one of maybe only a few in the country has bell ringers go around on Veterans Day early in the morning. It was quite somber to hear that bell ringer drive by while I was out on the patio having a smoke and drinking coffee with the still cold air and falling snow. It's been a tradition in this town since the end of WWI, and the ordnance allows bell ringers on this day only.

 

I do have a relative that was in WWI, but I don't know too much about him. Also, my great uncle was in the Spanish American War. Then I have relatives that served in WWII, and Desert Storm. Not sure about Korea and Vietnam. Seems like many Americans have or had at least one person serve this country.

 

 

With my utmost respect to all those that have served, thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CRJ_simpilot]

And on an aviation perspective. WWI was the first war to see airplanes as weapons of war, and the first to see machines and horse back in theater together.