Rememberance Monday

[myshell]

Please read this as it is important

Number 10 Downing Street has approved a petition that was launched
requesting a new public holiday falling on the Monday after Remembrance
Sunday in November each year. To be known as the National Remembrance
Holiday, it's got three aims:

1. To emphasise the remembrance of those servicemen and women who have given, and continue to give, their lives for Britain

2. To remind people of the importance of protecting our Nation and what
it stands for;

3. To break that 3 month period between the August Public Holiday and
Christmas when there are currently no long weekends, especially as the
UK has fewer public holidays than most other European Countries.

If you agree to the idea, please sign up to the petition - it doesn't
take long - and it would be great if you were to forward the link to
other people as well. If you are not interested, just hit the delete
key. This is not just about another bank holiday, but more importantly
about having a designated day to remember all those people that
sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

THIS IS A NOTEABLE PETITION THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ASKED FOR, PLEASE SIGN IF YOU WANT AN EXTRA BANK HOLIDAY.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/remembermonday/


PASS THIS ONTO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK


this link will take you to No.10 Downing Streets web site

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[Firefox]

Well of course its a good idea which I support. There's a couple of facts which are wrong in the chain email though.

1. Let's face it, it's about having another bank Holiday. The email should be honest in that! There is already a designated day to remember those who died for us: Rememberence Sunday.

2. It's not a Gov petition, or a petition the Gov has asked for. It's a private petition started by an individual. Anyone can do that.

3. Bank Holidays don't just come "free". They have to be paid for out of the national purse and by employers. The more bank holidays we have the less competitive as a nation we are, which has implications for our industry, national debt, balance of payments etc. While it's true some other countries have more national holidays, they also give less annual leave than our employers do.

This has already been tried in the UK at this time of Year, adopting Trafalgar Day, October 21st as a National Holiday. I think that day makes more sense for motorhomers (likely better weather!). However the Gov rejected it for the reasons given in number 3.

That said, I'm off to sign the petition. No harm in trying, but don't hold your breath!

 

[Deleted member 207]

In Australia we have a specific day to remember the people who have given their lives or health - its called Anzac Day and is on 25th April each year. Initially it commemorated the first time that Australian and New Zealand troops fought as armies in their own right at the Gallipoli landings in Turkey.

The commemoration services are usually preceded by a march to the local war memorial, laying of wreaths and then a religous service. The marches in the major cities can be several hours long and include people from all over the world who have fought for and against Australia. Following the services it has been somewhat traditional to retire to the nearest pub and drink to those who gave their lives.

It fell into a bit of a lull following Australia's involvement in the very unpopular Vietnam War and there were plenty of demonstartions against the troops and ex service men and women marching. Even some of the members of the Returned Servicemens League (RSL)were very anti the soldiers who served in Vietnam. It was a particularly unpleasant period when soldiers were directly blamed for political decisons, although some troops may have behaved in less than acceptable standards. In general though I think that the Aussie troops got tarred with the GI brush.

Since the early 1980s it has had a resurgence of popularity and in recent years marches have included the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of servicemen and women. They wear their forebears medals and march with a great sense of pride for what they did. The day has also come to remember all those affected by war - civilians who often suffer as much if not more than the soldiers. I think this inclusiveness has led to the day's success as a day of national rememberance.

Banjo Patterson wrote a poem in 1915 which I think sums up the pride that most Australians feel about the military personnel who often have to fight wars on behalf self seeking politicians.

Australia takes her pen in hand,
To write a line to you,
To let you fellows understand,
How proud we are of you.

From shearing shed and cattle run,
From Broome to Hobsons Bay,
Each native-born Australian son,
stands straighter up today.

The man who used to "hump his drum",
On far-out Queensland runs,
Is fighting side by side with some
Tasmanian farmer's sons.

The fisher-boys dropped sail and oar
To grimly stand the test,
Along that storm-swept Turkish shore,
With miners from the west.
The old state jealousies of yore
Are dead as Pharaoh's sow,
We're not State children any more
We're all Australians now!

Our six-starred flag that used to fly,
Half-shyly to the breeze,
Unknown where older nations ply
Their trade on foreign seas,

Flies out to meet the morning blue
With Vict'ry at the prow;
For that's the flag the Sydney flew,
The wide seas know it now!

The mettle that a race can show
Is proved with shot and steel,
And now we know what nations know
And feel what nations feel.

The honoured graves beneath the crest
Of Gaba Tepe hill,
May hold our bravest and our best,
But we have brave men still.

With all our petty quarrels done,
Dissensions overthrown,
We have, through what you boys have done,
A history of our own.

Our old world diff'rences are dead,
Like weeds beneath the plough,
For English, Scotch, and Irish-bred,
They're all Australians now!

So now we'll toast the Third Brigade,
That led Australia's van,
For never shall their glory fade
In minds Australian.

Fight on, fight on, unflinchingly,
Till right and justice reign.
Fight on, fight on, till Victory
Shall send you home again.

And with Australia's flag shall fly
A spray of wattle bough,
To symbolise our unity,
We're all Australians now.


One other verse that is read out every evening in the RSL clubs followed by a minutes silence;

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


I hope that if the UK does get a public holiday it will be as dignified as the Anzac Days have become here.