On My Hobby Horse Again, Sorry.

[Guest guest37336]

Well today is Armed Forces day here in the UK,:notworthy::notworthy:.

 

I know some view it as 'just' a job, but all the same to me and many others I hope it is something worth celebrating.:jiggy:

 

Though the main parade is in Edinburgh, it is to some extent being celebrated all over the UK, or rather it should be,:mad:.

 

Out of ten newspaper headlines I saw this morning TWO had a major/minor headline outlining the fact. The rest were either about Andy Murray,:SLEEP:, or Ed Milliband admitting that Labour need to shape up.

 

Oh well, just another day in Paradise,:mad:

 

Just as a note, where I live there is not ONE parade or any kind of celebration, I guess the council see it as a waste of time and one of those things that because of the cuts have to go by the wayside.

 

The Status Quo comes to mind.

 

Cheers Tony.

[Mandy28]

Hi Tony, This is off topic (Christmas poem) but I thought I would share it with you.

 

A Different Christmas Poem

 

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the garden to a winter delight.

 

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

 

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the

sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,

And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

 

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,

Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,

Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

 

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,

"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,

Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

 

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light

Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,

That separates you from the darkest of times.

 

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Grandfather died in France ' on a day in December,"

Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gran always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of Burma

And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

 

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,

But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,

The red, white, and blue... a Union flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,

Away from my family, my house and my home.

 

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,

I can sleep in a trench with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,

Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,

To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

 

" So go back inside," he said, "harbour no fright,

Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,

"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,

For being away from your wife and your son."

 

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,

To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,

To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

[Guest The Ropey HOFF]

I have to say this Tony .............. there seems to be more and more appreciation of what our brilliant brave forces do and theres more coverage these days, admittedly not enough and i think the ordinary man and woman in the street admire everything they do.

[Mandy28]

 

 

If You Don't Stand Behind Our Troops, Feel Free To Stand In Front Of Them!!

 

 

:army-biggrin::army-biggrin::army-biggrin::army-biggrin::army-biggrin::army-biggrin::army-biggrin::army-biggrin::army-biggrin::army-biggrin::army-biggrin:

[Guest guest37336]

I have to say this Tony .............. there seems to be more and more appreciation of what our brilliant brave forces do and theres more coverage these days, admittedly not enough and i think the ordinary man and woman in the street admire everything they do.

 

Trouble is Jim, if true, how long did it take this mindset to come about. Was it the tenth, hundredth soldier to be killed in many war torn areas.

 

And yes I have to admit that as of late the media :mad: have to some very small degree 'publicised' the sacrifices made, but soon enough mate watch when another 'celeb' of our times decides to get a boob job, marry again, or just gets pi77ed, soon enough our soldiers work will be little more than a brief piece on page ten of the newspapers and the fifth story on the news, short memories mate is all.

 

Cheers Tony.

[Quoll]

Good luck to all our boys and girls! I would be there in support if I could!

[Guest]

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer,

The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."

The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,

I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

 

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";

But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,

The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,

O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,

They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;

They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,

But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

 

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";

But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,

The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,

O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep

Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;

An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit

Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

 

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?"

But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,

The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,

O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,

But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;

An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:

Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

 

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"

But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,

There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,

O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:

We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.

Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face

The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

 

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"

But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;

An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;

But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

 

 

 

Nice poem, nice words, bit dated, but its just a job after all...now read it again

 

[pablo]

Agreed Tone,the armed forces deserve praise,i think the reason "some" of the media dont go out of their way to praise them is they might think that by praising them their backing the wars they are involved in?which is wrong for me.

The two things are seperate issues of course,the armed forces dont choose which conflict to get involved in do they?thats the job of politicians,most of whom dont have family in the armed forces:radar:

I do think if the Iraq and Afghan wars had universal backing the media would be a bit more forthcoming with praise for the services tho,i dont know that obviously,but its maybe a reason mate

[Guest]

you didnt bother reading it then, ok.

 

No matter