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[Zofitmogelijk]

Hello, friends from all over the world it is of topic, but I wanted to express my admiration for performance of the festival of remembrance in the royal Albert Hall. The British are outshining in manifestations like this. Only feeling compassion for the queen, for having to stay up that late.

[SheffieldJane]

I must watch it on catchup. She is pretty phenomenal for 92 is it?

[Zofitmogelijk in reply to SheffieldJane]

Just seen it on BBC 1, was it not live? Yes if only we can live to walk on earth till we are 100 (while we did forget all about PMR)seeing "the crown" is giving us a bit of an idea how life is as a queen.

[Grants148]

I have just watched it,very moving ,our queen is an amazing person and is still very hard working.There are many beautiful and amazing tributes to those brave men and women who lost their lives featured all over the country,a tremendous effort has been made with thousands of red poppies and images of soldiers,they must always be remembered .

[Yellowbluebell]

Apparently she doesn’t go to bed early and as no one else can go before her I should imagine this annoys the rest of the family. Must admit it was great event and we are exceptional at pomp and ceremony.

[Zofitmogelijk in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Haha, you make it sound like you are one of the regulars, having a glass of madeira with the queen.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Thank you.

I’m biased as my hubby was a serviceman for over 20 years but I agree we do ceremonials brilliantly.

I always watch the festival of remembrance (actually it’s recorded a bit earlier in the evening and then screened later) and of course the service this morning. Have been to a few of those during the years (not at Whitehall but on various army bases). I’m always grateful my hubby got through his service unscathed and my dad through WW2 and grandfathers through WW1.

[Zofitmogelijk in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes 3 reasons for you to be grateful and one more, we could live most of our lives in peace

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Zofitmogelijk]

Yes. So right.

Take care.

[Telian in reply to Zofitmogelijk]

My dad's brother didn't make it back from WW11, Dad had a lucky escape came back blind in one eye from schrapnel. Father in law was a bag of nerves for the rest of his life, he was a prisoner of war. Only as we get older do we realise the significance of it all.

[Zofitmogelijk in reply to Telian]

O Teilian, the war had so. Much impact on many of us.. My parents were harmed for the rest of their lives and never spoke of what happened in those.years..when I grew UP to be a young adult everything seemed.so.optimistic. Peace and understanding. Looking.back it was naïef. But it will be benificial to respect and honour the people who made the greatest sacrifice, and let us.learn to.find a way not to repeat our mistakes.. How.is that for you, can you watch to the yesterday's ceremony?

[BonnyQuine in reply to Zofitmogelijk]

You speak for me too, Zofitmogelijk. My parents also were affected for the rest of their lives - mother early teens in occupied Belgium, Scots father fought throughout the entire 6 years - all over incl N Africa - - ending up in Belgium, hence the connection. Me = born 1946 in Scotland, but in Belgium every summer, it seemed all everyone talked about, or didn't, was the war. Too much trauma! As a child I didn't know what was wrong - it's only as we get older that we realise the significance of everything.

You are so right - as a young adult I also thought that we had changed the world - peace and love. We certainly were naïve! I also hope the world can find a way forward that doesn't repeat the mistakes of the past. These days I'm not so optimistic - just fatalistic. When will they ever learn?

Maybe Macron's peace conferences can achieve something? I watched all this morning's ceremonies, esp Paris, in tears - the war graves are always overwhelming, and those tributes too. They got it right in Paris this time. I appreciated Macron's focus on internationalism - long overdue - and was much moved at the sight of Macron and Merkel hand in hand - obviously sincere. If only, if only the others would hear.

Peace, love and hugs to you.

[Zofitmogelijk in reply to BonnyQuine]

Thank you so much for sharing Bonnie Quince. A day for goose bumps and tears and a little hope, Macron and Merkel hand in hand.. I don't know.why but today 100.years seems not far away, feeling connected.

[Zofitmogelijk in reply to BonnyQuine]

And a big virtual hug for you

[Telian in reply to Zofitmogelijk]

I was able to watch a little, found it very emotional - I find it so sad that our parents never spoke about it preferring to suffered in silence - that's how it was for them. Since my dad has passed I've found that his brother is in a marked grave in Holland - don't think he would have known that, his body was moved to it's final resting place. Would like to go and visit him. I see BonnyQuine mentions N Africa, that's where my FIL was.

[Zofitmogelijk in reply to Telian]

Hi Telian, when you decide to come to Holland you are very welcome in my little farmhouse , in Friesland if you feel like that.

[Telian in reply to Zofitmogelijk]

Might hold you to that, it would be me and my sister.

[BonnyQuine in reply to Telian]

8th Army - El Alamein etc.

[Telian in reply to BonnyQuine]

7th Armour Brigade - El Alamein - Desert Rats.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Remember it wasn't QUITE as late for her anyway - the UK is an hour behind us! But it starts at 7pm and is transmitted with a delay.

[Zofitmogelijk in reply to PMRpro]

O good for het

[Zofitmogelijk in reply to PMRpro]

Must be good for her, my tablet has a mind of its own.

[Jackoh]

Yes it was really good wasn't it?

[Blearyeyed]

I am presently watching a documentary on the Poppies that were displayed at the Tower of London at the moment. It's on ITV called, Britain's Poppies. If you can get chance to watch I would definitely do so, lots of wonderful stories about the heroes and heroines of World War One, and the more forgotten people like those from China, India and other Nations whose countries were not in the war for all or part of the war , and ambulance and medical workers.

You could see it on the ITV hub online.

There is also a website featuring the amazing sand portraits of soldiers created right around Britain between the tides today , a symbol of how brief the lives were of so many who went to war. pagesofthesea.org.uk

Many people are saying that the Rememberance Day should be stopped with this Centenary to show we are now in a new phase of peace.

But in my opinion, we should always commemorate the sacrifice of all soldiers for all wars, no matter what our personal beliefs on war .

By doing so it reminds us all of the true cost of war and we remember that we should not pay this price again.

Hope you take a look .

[Yellowbluebell]

My grandson was asked by his aunty what was special about Sunday he replied saying “it’s about all the soldiers that died” so at least the schools are teaching them the right things. Our village had a small beacon lighting event last night and a good percentage of the residents turned out including lots of younger people. A villager who is now in the military police lit our beacon which made it extra special. The service with the queen caused a few tears here and that’s how it should be. Debbyx

[Zofitmogelijk]

Hi Debbie it sounds like a very satisfying (if that is the right word) village remembrance. The simple things like l ights are falling deep in our hearts don't they.