by Anura Guruge
on November 11, 2022
This song, from 1971, is about WW I — & all the young men who died during that v. cruel war.
I like to bring it to people’s attention on a regular basis, around the time of ‘November 11‘, because it SO CAPTURES what it is all about.
Please listen to it. It is haunting.
by Anura Guruge
on November 8, 2023
Click images to ENLARGE.
Given my British upbringing Poppy Day is important to I.
But, I don’t just observe it, support & pay homage to what it represents just in November, leading up to the ‘November 11’ Remembrance Day. I pay homage year round.
Remembrance Day is this Saturday, November 11, 2023.
by Anura Guruge
on November 11, 2022
This song, from 1971, is about WW I — & all the young men who died during that v. cruel war.
by Anura Guruge
on November 5, 2022
First time this week that I went out other than for my multiple, daily rambles.
So, it was time to wear my Red Poppies. I was just going to wear one of my Canadian ones, but in the end decided to wear two. SMILE. I was going to wear my prized ‘Churchill‘ one, but it is small & at such most would not have noticed (& worse still, not recognized it). So, I played it safe.
Remembrance Day is this Friday, November 11, 2022.
by Anura Guruge
on November 5, 2022
As a good & loyal Brit, I have always been a big advocate of ‘Poppy Day’, i.e., November 11, ‘Remembrance Day‘ & the annual ‘British Poppy Appeal‘. I always try to wear one of my Red Poppies, with pride & respect, in the days leading up to Poppy Day. Now that COVID is kind of behind us, & I am getting around, I will start my tradition as of tomorrow — though I have to be very careful as to NOT lose any. Getting the real deal in the U.S. is NOT easy. I am currently using three poppies that were sent over to me from Canada.
I am NOT complaining. It is FREE & as such it is their prerogative & I would never deny that. At least they still have some news — unlike our town rag which no longer even makes a pretense of trying to include some local news. Again, it is free & they get local ads. irrespective of whether they bother to include any local news or not.
Doesn’t really bother me. I get 98% of my news online or from TV.
I just wanted to share this with you, just for edification.
by Anura Guruge
on November 11, 2021
Unlike ‘Memorial Day‘, ‘Labor Day‘ or for that matter ‘Thanksgiving (U.S.)‘, ‘Veterans Day‘ is NOT a moveable holiday. It is always marked on November 11 (i.e., 11/11) of each year — as of 1938 (i.e., for the last 83 years).
There is a profound reason for this, i.e., marking it on 11/11. That was when what was the horror of WW I formally came to an end — the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 (11:00 11/11/1918). That was Armistice Day.
Though a lot of wars, though none probably as brutal & horrific as WW I, have come & gone, we still mark Veterans Day & Remembrance Day to mark 11/11.
We Brits, & our dear kin from the glorious British Commonwealth, can never forget the 11/11 significance because of our wonderful & SACRED red poppy tradition. When we wear (or see) a red poppy we automatically think of ‘Flanders Field‘, WW I & what all of that entailed.
The U.S., alas, does not have the red poppy tradition though I even wrote to President Obama asking him to try & make it a reality. I am, however, seeing signs that red poppies might start growing in popularity in the U.S. as time passes.
But, for now, for today, please remember, that Veterans Day is always on 11/11 because that was Armistice Day. Thank you.
Please listen to this from the incomparable ‘Eric Bogle‘. One of my favorites.
by Anura Guruge
on November 11, 2021
Never makes sense. It is a U.S. Federal Holiday. As such there is NO U.S. postal delivery (though I have a sneaking suspicion that they might NOW be making an exception for ‘special’ priority mail). Most of the BIG banks, such as ‘Bank of America‘ are closed. The U.S. Bond Markets are closed. But, not the U.S. stock markets.
That is not right. Yes, I like having the markets open, & as soon as I post this I will be checking to see what is happening & whether I could/should do some trades. [I can’t help it. I am addicted to stock/option trading. Though definitely NOT a day trader, & never have been, I like to do some trading everyday.]
It is something to think about. Maybe down the road it would change. Let’s hope so.
Don’t forget that I have a dedicated ‘Red Poppy‘ page on my old blog.
by Anura Guruge
on November 10, 2021
Click images to ENLARGE.
Over the years, with my yearly commemoration of Remembrance Day I built up quite the collection of images on my old blog.
Don’t forget that I have a dedicated ‘Red Poppy‘ page on my old blog.
by Anura Guruge
on November 10, 2021
I, per my strong & abiding British Commonwealth heritage, faithfully & unfailingly commemorate Remembrance Day, a.k.a. as ‘Poppy Day‘ to us Brits, every November 11th. If I was going out I would try & wear one of the many red poppies I had managed to procure over the years.
Well, this year, I will mark Remembrance Day 2021 with this photo.
Don’t forget that I have a dedicated ‘Red Poppy‘ page on my old blog.