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Post by spindrift on Nov 8, 2009 20:22:16 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 8, 2009 20:31:23 GMT
Oh, thank you, Spindrift! This was so moving, and your pictures are wonderful, as always.
That last one, along with its caption, is pure poetry.
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Post by spindrift on Nov 8, 2009 20:36:45 GMT
Thanks Bixa, you are always so encouraging.
I think the page is 'stretched'....please could you kindly rectify this for me. I don't know how to do it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2009 22:28:12 GMT
Such a nice way to remember those who served, Spindrift, thanks for the pictures.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2009 22:44:40 GMT
A thoughtful remembrance Spindrift. Thank you for this.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 8, 2009 23:12:17 GMT
Spindrift ~~ the pictures fit perfectly on the page. I'm not seeing it stretched at all.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 9, 2009 1:58:26 GMT
That is lovely, spindrift. Here, Remembrance Day (Jour du Souvenir, in French, or "L'Armistice", as in France) is on the day itself, the proverbial 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Which is nice, but limits participation somewhat as it is not a day off work for everyone. The poppies blooming amidst the mud,gore and destruction of Flanders must have been quite a sight. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day
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Post by imec on Nov 9, 2009 3:44:11 GMT
Very moving spindrift - thank you. The last picture of the tree at peace, is a fitting tribute to those we seek to remember.
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Post by lola on Nov 9, 2009 4:54:19 GMT
Lovely, Spindrift. Thank you.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2009 5:23:57 GMT
Perfect as usual, Spindrift, but I am surprised that the commemoration was on Sunday. November 11th remains a holiday in France, so all of the ceremonies will take place in France on Wednesday. For the first time ever this year (and why did it take so long?), the German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be taking part in the ceremonies in Paris at the Arc de Triomphe. (Gerhard Schröder declined Chirac's invitiation in 1998, but Helmut Kohl and François Mitterrand did indeed meet at the ossuary of Douaumont near Verdun in 1984.)
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 9, 2009 5:25:32 GMT
What is the object between the two wreaths? It appears to be wrapped in the German and the French flags.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2009 5:59:42 GMT
I would imagine that it is a symbolic coffin.
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Post by bazfaz on Nov 9, 2009 8:21:03 GMT
In our village there will be a commemorative ceremony at the war memorial on Wednesday at 11.30. This will be followed by a drink in the mairie.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 9, 2009 12:31:42 GMT
Yes, that would be a symbolic coffin. Over 300,000 soldiers were slaughtered at Verdun (I mean were slaughtered - most of the deaths were caused by artillery fire and the guys in the trenches were just sitting there in the mud and the blood and the mire - utterly horrific). And the situation was unchanged after this carnage. www.memorial-de-verdun.fr/ (also in English and German). Wonder why Schröder declined Chirac's invitation - they certainly met each other many other times. I remember the Kohl - Mitterand meeting at Verdun.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2009 12:45:33 GMT
Actually, the 'symbolic' coffin probably contained human remains, because they continue to find them all over the region. The coffin would have been interred later either at Douaumont or at the German military cemetery.
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