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Original poster

Lest we forget

65 replies

marthamoo · 11/11/2004 07:24

I always wear a poppy at this time of year (I buy a new one too - don't save it from year to year!) but I have really noticed this year how few people are wearing them. And those who are are mostly elderly - I am one of the youngest people I have seen wearing one.

I was also shocked a couple of years ago when I happened to be in Manchester on Remembrance Day at how few people observed the two minutes' silence - most people just carried on with what they were doing.

So...how many MNers wear a poppy? Does it even matter these days? (I think it does, obviously!)

OP posts:
acer · 11/11/2004 11:13

I haven't got one yet, but my ds took some money today to get himself and his brother one.

sobernow · 11/11/2004 11:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
marthamoo · 11/11/2004 11:18

I'm glad I'm not the only one it matters to - somehow knew I wouldn't be alone on MN.

Ds2 didn't observe the two minute silence either - but I think I can forgive him as he isn't 3 yet...

Marina, I remember watching the commemorations in France in 1994 and wondering if Grandad would have wanted to be there - or if he would have found it too emotional. He rarely talked about the things he had seen - and was very dismissive about what he had done (I didn't even realise how many medals he had 'til recently when ds1 became very interested in WWII and my Mum dug them out to show him). I can't even imagine it...

Wifeof - absolutely, our thoughts should be with those soldiers who are still in danger now.

OP posts:
Original poster
marthamoo · 11/11/2004 11:20

Sorry, that last sentence should have said our thoughts should also be with those soldiers who are in danger now.

OP posts:
Gobbledigook · 11/11/2004 11:20

Both my Grandad's fought in WWII. One Grandad was at Dunkirk. The other Grandad, still here, I'm not sure of - he never talks about it. All I know is he was in Africa at one point and he also got malaria.

Very, very proud of them all and like Twiglett says, we have them to thank for our freedom today.

I'm ashamed to say I've not got a poppy yet but tbh I haven't even seen any on sale in the places I've been. I've been in Tesco a lot and the healthclub but not seen them in either.

Gobbledigook · 11/11/2004 11:20

Yes Wifeof - thinking of them too.

Marina · 11/11/2004 11:27

I'm pleased to say that the noisy multicultural HE college where I work has just observed the 2 mins very effectively indeed. Nice to see French, German, Spanish etc youngsters all participating.
Marthamoo, it took my dad YEARS to come to terms with his war experiences. His two older brothers were fortunate enough to do 39-45 with practically no front-line experience and slotted serenely back into Civvy Street. Dad basically became a beatnik, travelling scruffily around Europe and North Africa for 15 years, living hand to mouth on tramp steamers etc, before my mum "straightened him out".
He would not go back this year because he knew there would be fewer, frailer veterans this time. I was actually living in Caen at the time of the 40th anniversary, and he wouldn't come then either. But he was glad to be there for the 50th. A lot of quiet weeping for lost friends but it was a cathartic experience in the end. I think your grandpa might have felt the same...

KBear · 11/11/2004 11:27

My DH's great uncle's grave has recently been discovered - he died at the Battle of the Somme. Apparently the headstone on his grave in France spelt his surname wrong but now some relatives have finally traced him. I have a special thought for him today (and I didn't even know him)along with those who sacrificed so much for us and continue to do so.

I think most people remember and appreciate the bravery shown by the armed forces but I wish it was discussed more in schools. We studied medieval history etc but not 20th century history - All I know about the wars is from uncles that fought and my dad.

JanH · 11/11/2004 11:48

Amazingly there were 23 known UK WW1 survivors in August ...four of them attended the commemoration of the start of the war. I don't know if they'd all lied about their ages when they signed up.

This website is sad but very interesting.

Uwila · 11/11/2004 12:01

This is so touching....

\link{http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004521120,00.html\Harry (British, 106) and Charles (German, 108)

Uwila · 11/11/2004 12:01

I HATE when that happens
Harry (British, 106) and Charles (German, 108)

hana · 11/11/2004 12:19

both of my grandfathers were in WWII - always wear a poppy as soon as they come out - there do seem fewer places that have them - dd wore one this year as well

just a little aside - the poppy centers in Canada have always been green, mum was here for Nov 11 one year and took lots home as she 'liked' them better. odd

Issymum · 11/11/2004 13:35

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request

AuntyQuated · 11/11/2004 13:44

i was in M&S at 11 this morning. tills weren't working, lighting was dimmed and everyone was standing still in thought. i was standing by the empty ecsulotors when 3 dear old OAPs got on....
OAP1 "Oooo the lights have gone dark"!!
OAP2 "What's veryone waiting for?"
OAP3 "the tills aren't working, that's what they'll be waiting for"
OAP2 "Well they need to sort the lights out too"

no one had the heart/guts to say anyhting until

3 year old boy pipes "Shhh, we've got to be quiet for dead soldiers"

everyone raised a little smile and 3 OAPs scuttled off.

nailpolish · 11/11/2004 13:48

AQ they must have been ashamed

good for the wee boy! his mum must be proud

AuntyQuated · 11/11/2004 14:02

they did have poppies

nailpolish · 11/11/2004 14:05

no excuses then!

hester · 11/11/2004 14:20

My great-grandfather fought in WW1 - but on the German side. By WW2 my grandfather wasn't welcome in anybody's army, being German Jewish. I think it is very important to observe Poppy Day as a memorial of all those who die in war.

As a child, though, I used to nick all the little crosses off the war memorial in our street - they were SO handy to mark the graves of our various dead pets

nailpolish · 11/11/2004 14:21

lol hester!

ps do i know you? did you go to college in edinburgh? hope you dont mind me asking.............

Slinky · 11/11/2004 14:25

Was in Boots this morning when they switched the lights off for the 2 min silence.

Everyone stopped apart from these 2 women (around my age) who carried on chatting, moaning about the lights and what they were buying who for Christmas!

Ignorant c*

KBear · 11/11/2004 21:31

Get this - the people in charge of such things in my office FORGOT to announce the two minute silence today. FORGOT. Everyone was really cross about it and we observed it anyway but even so, incredible isn't it. They did apologise profusely but still...

whizzz · 11/11/2004 21:33

I was suprised to see that there wasn't as many people / shops selling them as usual. I had to hunt around to find one to buy.
We did a 1 minutes silence at work today but some people just carried on yapping through it which I thought was quite rude.

JanH · 11/11/2004 21:36

AQ, love "ecsulotors"!

The old dears probably hadn't realised it was because of the 11th - Remembrance Sunday has been much more important than the actual 11th until very recently - I bet they were mortified. Bless that little boy though .

misdee · 11/11/2004 21:47

i didnt see anyone selling them this year. we usually buy one as well.

observed the 2minutes silence as was in teh council offices. even dd1 stayed silent, dd2 didnt tho.

Pagan · 11/11/2004 21:53

Always wear mine with pride and bawl my eyes out where-ever I may be. Today I was sat in my parents' drive listening to Radio 2.

It's the least we can do.