Very few of the worlds population will know who this man is. Very few, in fact, in the UK will know who this man is. He is one hundred and eleven years old – he is an old man who is frail and vulnerable. He is the oldest man in the UK and Europe, the second oldest man in the world.
He was born in the 1800’s and now is one of four men who are the last who served in the first world war (UK veterans). I bring this up because when these men are gone an era will die with them, and we must always remember them. Today, 89 years ago, the first world war came to an end – the war to end all wars that never lived up to that title. We know our modern history and why that war didn’t stop the carnage that happened several years later. But we must remember these men, women and children. Children because we have to look at those who serve now – 17/18/19 years old – and we entrust our freedom and liberty in their hands. I don’t agree with what is going on in certain places in the world today – I would hazard a guess that many who fell would agree with me. Those who fell should be held up in honour while we still our hearts for one minute per year to think of their sacrifice. Giving that which many of us cannot understand – their lives so that we can live in a world that is, ultimately, free.
Let us never forget all the Henry’s no matter which country we were born in – it is they who should be in the forefront of your mind whether you be a pacifist or not, for it was with their blood that you can be who you are. You never asked them to do what they did, but they did it anyway – give them the respect that they deserve.
They shall not grow 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.
11/12/2007 at 8:21 PM
I find that many a politician have used the heroism of these men and women to their own ends, Muse. They ask those to do their job and then forget them – it is us who must never allow politicians to forget the veterans, unless, of course, the politicians would like to go out and do the fighting instead – that would be interesting don’t you think?
11/12/2007 at 1:12 AM
Thank you for this, Will. It was Veteran’s Day in my country, Remembrance Day in others. I applaud courage and commitment, both of which can be very separate things from politics.