[philthy]

It's that day again.

Since my dad died I take my mum to the local war memorial for the service. She was in the Wrens at Beauliu in the new forest during the war, and assisted in a small way in the organising of the Normandy landings.

My dad was on mine sweepers and after he died I found an old photo album holding photo's of him, his vessel and the rest of the crew. I wish now I had asked him more questions about what he did.

We meet up with a friend and his Grandad at the service. Amongst his grandads medals is one presented by the French quite recently. He and his tank regiment stayed behind after Dunkirk and fought a rearguard action against German tanks during which time their tank took a direct hit. The rest of the crew were killed instantly and he has described to me the scene inside the tank after they were hit in graphic detail. He suffered terrible leg injuries and now walks with the aid of sticks.

Last year my mum asked me to wear my dads medals ( On the right ) and I was very unhappy about this because I thought that others might think I was a fraud. I put them on my suit jacket under my coat.

When we went to ''The Legion'' after the service I removed my coat and jacket revealing the medals, and was horrified when my friends grandad pointed his stick at me and with an angry face said ''What are they doing there''. I went crimson and wanted the ground to open up. ''They're my dads medals''. He started banging his stick on the ground and asked me again why they were there. By now the sweat was dripping off me and I stammered the same reply to which he responded '' They're your dads medals and you should be proud to wear them where we can all see them, not hidden away like that!'' It took me ages to stop sweating!

This year I am wearing them on the outside ( With some trepidation I must admit.) And for the first time my 16 year old son will be with us which will be nice. He is thinking about joining the T.A. hopefully as a sniper and I know that he could end up in Iraq like others here.

The numbers at the Legion after the service are diminishing
each year now, and it is for me, an honour to talk to and buy a pint for those men and women who are REAL HEROES unlike the footballers etc who are idolised and called heroes today.

Is'nt it sad that we are today still asking our brave servicemen and women to face the same horrors in other parts of the world, and that they too face the same risks as another generation 60 years ago.

Yes, it's a very special day today.

Phil

[Edited on 13-11-2005 by philthy]