Do we remember them?

Although not strictly relevant to death within cyberspace, this is relevant to death, and is something I wish to get off my chest at the moment.

I have been very disappointed to note the lack of people wearing poppies this year - I think I've only seen three today. Are people no longer aware of, or do they no longer care about, the significance of the poppy appeal?

Yesterday (which was, of course, Rememberance Sunday), I travelled to Cardiff for the Welsh Open (fencing competition - http://www.welshfencing.org/). My train arrived shortly before 11.00 and I jumped in a taxi with some other fencers. I could not believe it when, at 11.00, our taxi driver proceeded to make polite conversation (something I would not usually object to). I find it difficult to believe that someone could simply 'forget' about Rememberance Sunday - unless they don't read a newspaper, watch television or listen to the radio.

Please - especially if, for whatever reason, you didn't yesterday - take two minutes of your time at 11.00 tomorrow, 11/11, to remember those who gave their lives fighting for our freedom. Is it too much to ask?

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.

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943), For The Fallen

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWbinyon.htm
http://www.army.mod.uk/events/ceremonial/1069.aspx
http://www.poppy.org.uk/index.php/give-money.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Binyon