I'm in Belgium this weekend. The reasons for this aren't really relevant.
Tonight I went to the Menin Gate for the first time, to witness the Last Post - a ceremony that's been done at 8pm local time since the memorial was built, excepting during WW2.
I cried. There are 54000 names on the Gate, none of them have a known grave, and every night their lives and loss are commemorated. This is astonishingly powerful.
I also drank beer, but that's not important right now.
@greem Didn’t make it to the Last Post, but spent a couple of days based in Ypres for history visits. A very sobering experience.
Need to go back for the Last Post. Expect I would cry too.
@FloatingOnion I'm up the road from the Gate in a bar at the moment, pondering whether to go back again this evening.
It was really moving.
@greem I would, especially when we need to remember the terrors we have wrought.
Perhaps returning to the bar for contemplation and a strong drink.
@FloatingOnion I didn't, but my Royal Navy Captain friend did on my behalf.
That sounds dreadfully pompous; he really is that but he's my idiot mate Dave. I couldn't face it as this weekend had been emotional enough already.
@greem Not pompous at all, hence my belated apology. I can imagine once was draining and that you already have enough going on elsewhere.
❤️
Greem (Graeme. Not Graham!)
Floating Onion