h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today I bought a poppy on my way into work, I made sure I had plenty of gold coins in my purse, and put several in the bucket.

Sadly, I didn't see many wearing poppies, it doesn't seem to be as popular anymore

I was up barely in time for the minutes remembrance:

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, 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.

The "Ode of Remembrance" is an ode taken from Laurence Binyon's poem "For the Fallen", which was first published in The Times in September 1914.

As a teenager, I was in the Air Cadets in NZ, this was one of the bigg days of the year for us, we formed the Guard of Honour, around the cenotaphs where the services where held.

We practised doing the gun salute till our timing was perfect.
gun at shoulder,
raising gun,
slapping gun,
then lowering gun until the barrel rested at our feet and our heads bowed.

It was a solemn moment and much emotion could be felt.

I was chosen for several years in a row, and it is still something I think of each year.

Lest we Forget