Tuesday 10 June 2014

ABC Wednesday, V for Veteran



 

  To enlarge click on photo.

 

When we talk about veterans, we refer to the military men and women who served in the wars of the last century, and especially those soldiers who served during WW I and WW II. But in the mean time there have been more wars, like Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan. Each of these wars have military people who are too old to fight or have been injured in such a way that they cannot serve anymore.

Last week we commemorated D-Day. The veterans of this invasion 70 years ago, are really very old. Even if they were the very young ones when they fought in Normandy.






Wikipedia says:


"It was the last hurrah for the men of the greatest generation and they were determined to mark their contribution to history with a show.

And one, at least, told his story for the first time because the horror was too severe to confront and convey until now.

Watched by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Normandy Veterans’ Association staged what is expected to be its final parade through the streets of the seaside village where many of its members landed 70 years ago yesterday.

In Arromanches, beside Gold Beach, the veterans marched to the applause of a 3,000 crowd, heads held high.

Those in wheelchairs paraded first followed by around 100 men marching behind a French band, as other veterans, too frail to take part, watched from seats in front of William and Kate.

The association is due to disband later this year as its numbers dwindle, although many, in their 80s and 90s, have agreed to keep returning anyway.

They come not only to pay their respects to the friends but in some cases to find release from the demons that have haunted them ever since.

One such yesterday was Ken Scott, 98, a former Platoon Sergeant with the Durham Light Infantry who finally told the story he dared not tell his friends."


I say:
"All wars were made for nothing, but once one has been started you have to go on and try to end it by killing as many enemies( fellow humans) as possible. Every soldier( usually a nice and pleasant young man) has to become a killing machine. When the war is over, the soldier is so traumatised , that he has lost his nice and pleasant character. He is not the same anymore.
I hate wars. The veterans have  to live a life of terrible memories and nightmares. They are the victims of belligerent rulers who started these fatal conflicts. Wars end without winners, there are only losers. The only people who benifit from a war are the arms manifacturers."

 We thank Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC, and we must thank Roger too for the weekly job to find  ten bloggers for each of the ABC Team members  to visit and to read their posts. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar . This week we are looking for words    beginning with V.



24 comments:

Sylvia K said...

A wonderful post, Wil, as always! May we never forget! Thank you!

Roger Owen Green said...

War is STILL hell.

Dina said...

Yes, and the slaughter of the beaches on D Day was so awful.

Ann said...

What a dreadful fight on that beach!! They are the greatest generation for sure.
ann

Nonnie said...

I too shed tears as I watched Brian Williams' special about the "Greatest Generation" and their sacrifices on that day, and throughout World War II. I had three uncles who served then, 2 in the Navy and one in the Army.

Richard Lawry said...

I have been enjoying the TV coverage of Normandy and the interviews with the veterans who made the journey there. An Arkie's Musings

photowannabe said...

Thank you for sharing this horrible time in history. Thanks for honoring the veterans. They are our heroes.

Joy said...

Yes they were a special generation, a quiet heroism. It is also a time to also reflect on the villages of Normandy whose inhabitants were killed in the bombing.

ellen b. said...

Wonderful choice for V. We should never forget the sacrifices our veterans have made for us!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

did you hear about the 90 year old lieutenant who was not allowed to go to Normandy. He sneaked out of the resthome and went.

AmitAag said...

'V' is for Victory, but for victims too! Great post on war veterans!
http://amitaag.blogspot.in/2014/06/voyage.html

lotusleaf said...

A very good post. Yes. war is such a wasteful thing.

K V V S MURTHY said...

V is perfect choice for veterans...great reading.Your masthead is wonderful.

Maria's Space said...

That is a great post for ABC V day or whenever.

Hazel said...

A very emotional event. Veterans are amazing people

Leovi said...

A nice tribute!

Susan Moore said...

The veterans made great sacrifices.

Lisa said...

What a fabulous post to honor our nation's true heroes. I was privileged to see my father in law return from his Honor Flight and it was an amazing experience. It's sad that when this generation passes, future generations will probably not place as much importance on this period in history as we do.

Rajesh said...

Very special people,

Sylvia K said...

A wonderful post and a great tribute to the many who served and died for all of us.

Kay said...

Thank you for this wonderful post, Wil. We need to always honor those brave men and women who saved our world from evil. If only it could have been the last war.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I found listening to the veterans at the D Day commemorations very moving Wil - those wonderful old men, many of whom had been so very young at the time.

Powell River Books said...

A very appropriate story for this week's letter. - Margy

Indrani said...

This is a great tribute.
Well chosen topic for 'V'.
Happy ABCW!