Respect
A moments silence.
On the 28th July 1914 war was declared.
This was to be the biggest battle since the Boer War and later described as:
The Great War
A ‘World’ War
‘The war to end all wars’
So many people enlisted for this conflict, in fact more than 42,000,000 were mobilized, all in order to serve and protect their loved ones and their country, all with the belief that, ‘It will all be over by Christmas’, how wrong they were.
This War saw the lives taken of well over 5,000,000 men and women in their prime, many of which were still teenagers.
On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, we celebrate Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day,
A day when we give two minutes silence to those who have fallen in all wars and conflict.
As we take a moment to remember those who have suffered, let us try to use our Wing Chun to protect and to do good,
and to help whenever possible those in need.
Today marks the end of this war.
Let us never forget their sacrifice.
For the Fallen
By Laurence Binyon
With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.
Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England’s foam.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
