Remembrance Day.

Hello and welcome to Inso's World again.

Today is Remembrance Day and as usual, I will be going to the local town with my family to join in with the festival of remembrance.

This year will be a bit different because my children are away from home so it will be just me and my wife. It will be quite strange because we have always attended as a family apart from when I have been oversees on military duty; then it has just been my wife and children.

It is a particularly poignant one this year because my son is currently at basic training for the Royal Air Force, so is following my path in life (although he has joined as a different trade). Every year he has joined us on our trip to the festival, yet still has decided to join the military; with full knowledge of what can happen. I am very proud to have him as my son.

I think that in this everchanging world it is essential for our children to understand what foundations were laid for us to have a relatively free existance; not living under oppressive dictatorship, and standing for an hour, by the roadside, whilst listening to the names of the local people who fell during the various conflicts, helps to cement that understanding.

All of the men in a single family... dead.

Beloved sons... dead.

Cherished daughters... dead.

Supporting fathers... dead.

Loving mothers... dead.

Then there are those who live on... scarred by war in body and mind. Soldiers, living on the street because they have nothing left. Their suffering continues and needs to be remembered for them to receive the help they deserve.

As long as we teach our children the sacrifices that were made for them, us, our fathers and mothers... one day, they or their children, will eventually see the futility of it all and there will, in time, be no need for it. Until then...

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.

In other news, I have not really achieved anything hoby wise this week, apart from cleaning up the three Vulkan Battlesuits, ready for assembly... so I think I'll leave today's post there.

See you from a solemn place.