In praise of America

[gemarriott]

Let's give praise were it is due.

I am in Gettysburg at the moment and today is memorial Day and our American Allies have a parade to give thanks to their Forces. This morning I visited the National Cemetery in the town and every soldier's grave, around 15,000 of them had an American flag planted on it by the local Boy Scouts. This afternoon we went into town to watch the parade. 2 coachloads of vets from the Veterans hospitals were guests of honour and each one of them roundly applauded to their seats. The parade of local townsfolk, schools, vets groups masons etc took over an hour to pass us, each stopping to clap or salute the vets.

As I type this the local kids are putting flowers on every veterans grave. Now when I shuffle off this mortal coil I'd like to think that I had a final resting place with fellow servicemen of all varieties from all eras around me, just think of the stories they will tell when we sit around our ghostly sandbags with the lantern swinging gently in the breeze. And just think sombody would always tend my grave even if the family won't.

 

[lisab]

There are alot of things the Yanks do that annoy me but they have it spot on with the way they treat their serving and ex-serving members of the forces, us Brits could take a leaf out of their book on how to treat forces people!

 

[Ex-Bay]

There are alot of things the Yanks do that annoy me but they have it spot on with the way they treat their serving and ex-serving members of the forces, us Brits could take a leaf out of their book on how to treat forces people!

Quite right. But we get a good turnout from a variaty of local organisations from the Browies &Beavers upwards at the Rememberance parade. And the local miliary cemetries get due respect at due time.

 

[PingDit]

Gem,

I've seen it before myself, but not where you are, I was in Florida. The whole appreciation thing for their forces is magnificent. Yes, we should have something similar in this country. However, until we get the stabbings off the streets, get the kids back into Brownies, Girl Guides, Cubs and Scouts and THEN reintroduce National Service, we won't get anywhere. We as parents (alright and Grandads) need to teach every one of our children the simple principle of right and wrong, insist that they are responsible for their own actions and make them appreciate the sacrifices that have been made. Should this now be moved to the 'Rant' thread?

Ping

 

[Scaley brat]

There are alot of things the Yanks do that annoy me but they have it spot on with the way they treat their serving and ex-serving members of the forces, us Brits could take a leaf out of their book on how to treat forces people!

As do our European neighbours, perhaps this is a good use of our "doley's" spare time. It would beat boot camps ! DT_Xtremez_26:

 

[VBT1]

This is one area where the spams put the UK to shame. The Recognition of our veterans and serving people is way behind the way the americans.

 

[Realist78]

Transitting through Bangor, Maine a couple of years ago and the 20 odd of us were treat like we had just returned from Iraq etc. At the airport were a crowd of 'Veteran Greeters' who swarmed all over us, including grannies etc (much to the amusement of my WG Cdr who said as he passed me being hugged by a septuagenarian "I see the FS has tapped off then"DT_Xtremez_28: They sure know how to treat all troops, pity the UK population doesn't but can anybody detect a growing swell to reverse that trend?

 

[AndyZ]

Just seen advert on tv for UK Veterans Day on June 27th, so maybe we are following are US brethren after all. As for placing flags on servicemans graves the Legion place a poppy on all graves known in their area on the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday.....

 

[gemarriott]

Just seen advert on tv for UK Veterans Day on June 27th, so maybe we are following are US brethren after all. As for placing flags on servicemans graves the Legion place a poppy on all graves known in their area on the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday.....

perhaps somebody ought to tell the rest of the Legion that. I have never seen it done, heard of it being done, or been asked to help do it.

 

[grumpyoldb]

perhaps somebody ought to tell the rest of the Legion that. I have never seen it done, heard of it being done, or been asked to help do it.

Sadly, there's more chance of graves being vandalised in this country.****** 's

 

[3Chordwonder]

About 3 weeks ago, I took some friends to do the tourist thing in London. My mate is a US Marine Master Sgt and he wanted to watch the ceremonial stuff at Buck House.

While we were watching the guards change, their were several English guys int he crowd who were laughing at the marching and all the little things the guys had to go through to do the change. My friend was absolutely appalled. These weren't youngsters either, they were guys in their mid-twenties. My friend commented that if they had done that at a ceremonial event in America, there "ass would have been straight in jail"

I saw his point.

 

[AndyZ]

perhaps somebody ought to tell the rest of the Legion that. I have never seen it done, heard of it being done, or been asked to help do it.

I know as a fact this is carried out in many areas of the UK maybe you can contact your local branch Poppy Appeal coordinator and find out why they dont do this as the poppy crosses are provided free so it does not cost to do maybe its a manpower thing in your area. I assume that something similar is being done in many areas for June 27th Veterans Day, I do know there will be wreathe laying ceremonies and can only assume it is being left to local Legion branches to sort when in fact it is a civll ceremony and should be organised and funded by local councils

 

[I`m Spartacus]

I was in Arnhem once around the 17th Sept. There were Union Flags and Polish flags everywhere and when I went up to Oosterbeek Cemetery, School kids were stood infront of every grave with poppies. It would seem our cloggie friend have their priorities right too.

 

[gemarriott]

I know as a fact this is carried out in many areas of the UK maybe you can contact your local branch Poppy Appeal coordinator and find out why they dont do this as the poppy crosses are provided free so it does not cost to do maybe its a manpower thing in your area. I assume that something similar is being done in many areas for June 27th Veterans Day, I do know there will be wreathe laying ceremonies and can only assume it is being left to local Legion branches to sort when in fact it is a civll ceremony and should be organised and funded by local councils

You are completely missing the point Andy. We all know the Legion do a good job recognizing the fallen. This thread started to point out that over here in the US it is the general public from school kids up to the grave that do it. Old soldiers aren't going around putting flags on flowers on graves it is kids, veterans don't need to be KIA to be buried in military cemetaries it is a right, headstones are provided free, 2 busloads of vets from "VETERANS HOSPITALS" turned up for a parade and we haven't even got a military hospital. All the above shines well above the treatment we give our vets.

As a British Vet I get the same discounts in hotels, restaurants and theme pars as the Yanks do. Can you imagine getting into Alton Towers free? Well you can get in Busch gardens free. My hotel bill would have been $1400 dollars this week, I am paying $900.

I appreciate the somewhat random efforts of the Legion at remembrance as when it does happen it comes from the heart, however it does not compare with the efforts put in over here.