Remembrance Day memorial service in Lincoln

“NAHRY,

I see what you're saying but would like to just add a couple of thoughts:

Unless you've an association with or link to a school you'd not really know what they do and don't do. As Lynn points out the various youth organisations do play a part in the Remembrance Day activities and behind that they have activities that explain the history to the young people. Similarly schools up and down the country use the opportunity to reinforce their teaching of history and some of them are really good at getting their pupils involved. As a serving soldier I've been invited to various schools in recent years to talk to young people about Remembance and what it means to a modern soldier as well as to those further back in history. I've also done work around their citizenship curriculum and go in to discuss the soldiers perspective of our role in supporting peacekeeping/security operations within UN and NATO. I am constantly surprised by the interest, enthusiam and intelligence in questioning that the youngsters have.

I too remember the huge Remembrance Parades of 30 - 40 years ago. Sadly that aspect has for too long been driven by people like those in the excellent pictures here - not neccessarily those that need to publically 'remember' but those who represent, in a nationwide act of Remembrance, those that 'can't forget' (and I number amongst those not just military people and their families, but those of all the emergency and other services that protect in other ways, and civilians affected by war). Remembrance is something we live with daily (hence the line in the poem 'At the going down of the sun and in the morning.....'), our leaders in bygone years brought to life the national day of remembrance to ensure that for one day in the year we would publically 'remember' so collectively the nation does not forget the harsh lessons learned through warfare on a huge scale. And whilst the youth organisations and schools do their bit to educate, the sad fact is that those that can't forget are a smaller part of the population than ever before, so increasingly the act of remembrance must be led by people with no experience of warfare or armed conflict, nor dealing with the consequences of it. Thus I believe the only route back to the 'City standing still' and larger parades than this weekend's, if that is what it is believed is needed, is for our civic leaders in government to stand to the fore and lead, so it is they we must work most on educating. Understanding family history is good but civic and political leaders need to be able to tie that into contemporary context and ensure they understand why those people made that sacrifice and, importantly, why we must never again allow ourselves into war on that scale: ever. I think in that respect Schools are doing fine - politicians less so.

On the subject of young people - soldiering is predominantly the domain of the young, I work with the young people in the army daily; and more than ever before, whilst the country generally bemoans it's youth, I am nothing but impressed with them. They are every bit as good as those that passed before them. They cope with huge responsibilities in the most testing circumstances, in the most austere and dangerous environments imaginable, and work selflessly whilst knowing that at any time they may pay the ultimate price in their loyal service of the country they love. Today in smaller conflicts the world over a part of the youth of this country are playing their part - and all too sadly - joining the ranks of those that can't forget. Collectively we should remember their sacrifices and be thankful that the conflict is not on our doorstep.”

“Im a big fan of rememberance day and always afhere to the minutes silence, unlike the yob mentioned in a previous comment. However, one year rather than remembering the lazy few who had laid down, or been clumsy, lost their footing and fallen, we actually think of the poor ******s who were shot.

Thats my opinion on this matter!”

“The skin head idiot in the rear of picture 35 was stood about 6 feet away from me, and started shouting "viva Italia" through the silence at 11am. Such a disgraceful act to perform on a day as emotive as Rememberence Sunday. Hopefully the organisers and fellow attendees don't feel too dispirited, because the rest of the service was a fantastic tribute to the fallen.”

“NAHRY - What about all the boy scouts and girl guides up and down the Country, they always take part in Remembrance Day services, my children certainly did.”

“Fabulous pics ! I note though there are very few young people. I only wish schools would do more about remembrance day, help children to look into family history so that it would become more personlised, thereby keeping remembrance day foremost in young peoples lifes.
I know what my grandparents did in thier lifes toward keeping Britain a free country, question is does anyone else know about thier familys efforts ?
Don't we owe it to those who died in our name to ensure our children and granchildren know who it was in thier family who gave thier life.
I remember when the whole of Lincoln came to a stand still on Remembrance day, and nothing moved unless it was to do with Remembrance day. Oh and shoppping what shopping ?

WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM !”