[Newsbot]

Title: Hundreds of strangers attend funeral of U.K. veteran who died alone
Category: Military
Posted By: Strutz
Date: 2013-11-11 12:29:09

[shockedcanadian]

Glad to see some people understand how important some lives have been even if they aren't known by everyone. There are many veterans who are either forgotten or not appreciated for their efforts and it simply isn't right.

[Strutz]

How incredibly wonderful that so many attended to pay respects.

[housewife]

That is a wonderful tribute

Heres hopeing it will start a trend... No one should be forgotten

[andyt]

I'm not being a grouch when I say that it would have been better if they had looked in on him when he was still alive.

[Freakinoldguy]

andyt andyt:

I'm not being a grouch when I say that it would have been better if they had looked in on him when he was still alive.

It's so very seldom I ever agree with you that I'm actually having heart palpitations while I write this but, you hit the nail on the head. Well put.


+5

[andyt]

Thing is, nobody would have known about him, hopefully he did have volunteers and such to look in on him.

Remembrance day is pretty powerful. I watched a movie today based on a true story about a marine accompanying a casket on its way home. All along the way, people were solemn and respectful, as they should be. But we do revel in death a bit, play up the death and sacrifice and nobility (rightly) (and hope that rubs off on us a bit) but sort of forget about the living, and how we can prevent war. During the eulogy, it was said if the world were all like "Chance", there would be no need for marines. He looked like a decent kid, but he was probably killing decent kids on the other side. (Iraq II). The world is full of Chances, but the killing goes on.

My focus is elsewhere, but if I was focused on the military, it would be on doing our utmost not to send them in harm's way unless absolutely necessary, not for political gain as happened in Afghanistan (after the US changed the mission). And while the fallen deserve respect, the living wounded are the ones that really deserve our attention.

[ShepherdsDog]

sort of a related aside. After the fact, you have too many people who say I should have called...I should have dropped by for a visit. Coulda, shoulda...DIDN`T. Tomorrow is too late...there`s no time like the present. We have thousands of lonely forgotten seniors who have memories, stories and lessons to share.

[Jabberwalker]

$1:

(after the US changed the mission).

Aye. There's the rub.

[andyt]

OK, I reread it, and he just had no surviving family or close friends to attend the funeral - he just outlived them. Doesn't mean he was neglected while alive by the people looking after him. So good on these folks for turning up.

[Jabberwalker]

It must feel pretty awful to be both at the end of your life and to be aware that you are the end of your line, as well. It must happen all of the time, but still..

[bambu]

andyt andyt:

I'm not being a grouch when I say that it would have been better if they had looked in on him when he was still alive.

People today live busy and stressful lives and can hardly cope themselves.

[bambu]

Join the military...politicians decide when and where you are sent to war to slaughter the enemy before they slaughter you and the People of your homeland.

War ain't pretty, but someone had to blow bin Laden's head off!
Someone has to go and fight the terrorists who hate us.

Someone had to go to PNG and fight the Japanese in the jungle...or Australia would've fallen and her People enslaved.

At first it was a militia army, poorly trained, and poorly armed.

On the 29th August the Japanese broke through the Australian lines forcing the Australian Battalions to withdraw towards Alola and then to withdraw to Templeton's Crossing. This was followed by a further withdrawal to the major supply point of Myola. News of the withdrawals reached Australia and the hierarchy expected the Japanese to soon claim victory. American General Douglas MacArthur announced that:

"the Australians have proven themselves unable to match the enemy in jungle fighting. Aggressive leadership is lacking."

With defeat looking inevitable, preparations were under way to form a defensive grid across central Australia where the next attempt to stop the Japanese would be made.

_______________________________
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Invading Afghanistan was a big mistake...as anyone who'd watched 'Rambo 3' would've known.
You have to wonder what politicians do all day.

[martin14]

'You can't let an old soldier go on his own': More than 100 people turn out for funeral of WWII veteran who died aged 90 with no living family

Reginald Watson died in November aged 90 with no surviving family members
Ex-soldier faced having to be buried in an unmarked grave at a pauper's funeral
Vicar appealed for public support on Facebook, releasing details of the service
More than 100 people attended funeral in home town of Ormesby in Norfolk


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z4VO0CU0ML



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