Whether you call it Veteran’s Day, Remembrance Day, or Armistice Day, we celebrate this day to honour the veterans who have fought, and are fighting, for our freedom around the world. This year, we celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the Armistice, which is the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, signaling the end of the First World War.
LEST WE FORGET
I’ve been hearing the phrase ‘lest we forget’ all my life, but I didn’t really know how it originated. So I decided to do some research, which I thought I’d share with you.
The phrase ‘lest we forget’ is repeated at the end of 4 stanzas in the poem Recessional, by Rudyard Kipling. Although not technically a poem about war, it’s grim realism suits the universal sadness befitting war. When the poem For The Fallen, by Laurence Binyons is read, the line ‘lest we forget’ is often added at either the beginning, or said aloud as a reply by those listening. This stanza, below, is one that I remember best.
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.
For me, the phrase ‘lest we forget’ is not just a caution against forgetting the sacrifice of soldiers and their families, but also a caution to remember, and guard against, another world war. Of course, with nuclear and atomic weapons held by countries these days, another ‘world’ war would be a very different, and more lethal, experience.
IN REMEMBRANCE
This is a card that I created and shared last year. (you can see it was from before I changed my business name to Thistle Designs).
CARD DETAILS
I finally decided on an image to download from the internet; that of the soldier. To transfer the image, use graphite paper, and trace it onto a white cardstock panel, and then colour in the silhouette with a basic black Sharpie. After that, stamp the poppies image in Nocturne ink. Cover them with clear embossing powder, and heat set. Now you can colour the poppies with your favourite medium. I chose a combination of markers and coloured pencils. The markers gave darker definition as well as the green stems. Two shades of red gave more depth to the poppies. After colouring, use a blender brush to apply Broken China Distress Oxide ink around the edges of the panel, leaving it white in the middle. Finally, stamp the sentiment from the Penny Black Sympathy Sentiments stamp set in Nocturne ink, and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
This year, with COVID 19 in play, we won’t be having the same parades and gatherings that we usually would, to honour our soldiers. Everyone is still being encouraged to hold a moment of silence at 11:00 am, to remember and honour our soldiers and their families. I’ll also be taking this time to hope for peace for all, and an end to all conflicts around the world.
Wishing you peace and happiness today and always, my friend. Lest We Forget.
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Awww, Deb. So beautiful! Here in the U.S. at the national cemeteries, when they place flags at each plot, they read the soldier’s name out loud. I can’t remember the saying, but it says something to the effect of that a soldier truly dies when no one says his name again. It is sad that many soldiers lay forgotten in the cemetery. My father was 20 years older than my mother so he was a WWII Army veteran, who landed on Normandy Beach and was present for the liberation of Paris. He was buried with full military honors at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. He was very patriotic. My uncle (his brother) is also buried there. Anyway, such a beautiful card, Deb. 💜