Poppy Day! Wear a Poppy for Remembrance Sunday! : : The Awesome Hen

The church was pretty full today for the Remembrance Service.

Our congregation gathered first outside the Village Hall for the Minute’s Silence at 11.00. and then watched whilst a Chinook from the RAF Base flew very low down the entire length of the Street. We were very impressed to see such a sight, the only sound being the Chinook propeller blades whirring in the quiet. Everyone stood and thought of all the fighting that took place during the last century and of our soldiers and airmen now out in Afghanistan. The Vicar then led us all in a procession back down the road to the Church for the service, flanked by the Brownies holding flags. The flags on their poles were more than a match for their bearers and you may be sure that the agent and I took care to maintain a safe distance from all the wavering about.

In lieu of a sermon, Rev. Rosecomb read out the poem, “In Flanders Field” which I reproduce for you all here below:

In Flanders Fields.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae, May 1915

We sang, “O God Our Help in Ages Past” and finished up with “I vow to Thee my Country” which always makes me think of Princess Diana.

We did not sound as good as The Poppy Girls whose youtube link is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjRnXLX8RIw

The Poppy Girls, October 2013

Lady Egality is coming round later to watch the last episode of Downton Abbey – we shall curl up on the sofa and get thoroughly involved. Later we will enjoy ourselves tremendously, agreeing that it really is complete twaddle and Lady Mary is a cold fish. You will be glad to know that black armbands will not be required dress alongside our poppies as Manchester United won their match this afternoon. What a relief!

Yours as ever,

LLH

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