Today at the Cenotaph

Good point. Our military bands are wonderful.

Yes, I agree. They are marvellous and always bring a lump to my throat.

It’s such a sad occasion but I feel overwhelmed with pride watching all our servicemen and women. The military bands are wonderful. To play musical instruments while marching is incredible!

Agree, wholeheartedly.

The whole service was very moving. The music was fantastic as it was last night at the Festival of Remembrance.

Must say I love the fact that we still have a ‘First Sea Lord’, not some mundane modern phrase.

Kenya not attending for the wreath laying, apparently.
(Liz Truss and co were there).

We never watch it or attend any remembrance services. My DH is still suffering from his experiences in the Gulf War and it all becomes too much for him. He hasn't told me much but even the bits he has told me are too horrific to post on here.

I watched it and was full of pride and hearing the shouted commands from the officers in the silence, always sends a tingle down my spine. And hearing ‘Nimrod’ by Elgar is always very moving.

I understand your feelings, vampirequeen. Many ex-soldiers won’t wear a poppy, or do anything in remembrance of things they want to forget.

That's it, Grandma 70s. He's worked hard to box up those memories and bury them. They still creep out in nightmares sometimes though. He never forgets his friends who were killed or maimed but he hates the public day of remembrance with all it's pomp and circumstance which is mainly 'enjoyed' by people who have no idea what being in the armed forces is really like. And, lets be honest, look what happened this year when all those 'patriots' got drunk and attacked the police near to the cenotaph. That's not what remembrance is about.

With respect, I don’t think we the public ‘enjoy’ it quite as such vampireequeen I’m saddened you see it that way. It’s the only way we can, in sorrow and gratitude, pay our respects. Wearing our poppies with pride and thanks for all the brave servicemen and women is a part of that.

Yesterday I went to the Armistice service in our churchyard in Normandy. In a very moving ceremony I joined the people of our village to remember the French dead and to pay my respects to the British typhoon pilot who died here in 1944 and has a beautifully kept memorial.
I watched the British ceremony today. Both ceremonies were deeply poignant.

We'll just have to agree to differ on that, Urmstongron. But that's the nice thing about this site. We can disagree but not fall out.

Indeed vampirequeen. 😊
Thank you.
x

Urmstongran

With respect, I don’t think we the public ‘enjoy’ it quite as such vampireequeen I’m saddened you see it that way. It’s the only way we can, in sorrow and gratitude, pay our respects. Wearing our poppies with pride and thanks for all the brave servicemen and women is a part of that.

This and very much so. I feel proud and so do my family

I found it quite sad that Prince Harry wasn't there to honour the people he served with. His choice, of course, to live elsewhere but he must feel the absence at times like today.

I was thinking the same as you Devorgilla. Particularly last night at the Festival of Remembrance. He was hugely and I think genuinely supportive of the Invicta Games.
Vampirequeen I feel so sorry for your husband, who has bravely served his country and is now feeling the cost. I was a military wife for most of my married life (husband died young after leaving the Service) and our sons were both in the military too and saw active service. I enjoy the pride I feel on such military occasions and I think urmstongran has put that feeling into words far better than I can. Please believe that it isn't a frivolous enjoyment - the military bands evoke great emotion. It's just that for the majority of us we are fortunate that that emotion is positive. I do feel for your DH and the many others who must experience something similar.

I think that there could have been a compromise for Prince Harry on these occasions, but the constant trashing of the RF, shameful treatment of our dying late Queen causing her much anguish, and even the prospect of another book written by the Sussex's spokesperson, due for release at the end of this month, apparently full of more scandalous revelations, Prince William in the firing line - AGAIN, that any hope of harmonious relations with Harry are sadly out of the question. Why doesn't he put a stop to all this grief, haven't they said enough? Its all very sad and I think the King is feeling very weighed down with it all.

ixion

Kenya not attending for the wreath laying, apparently.
(Liz Truss and co were there).

what do you mean ?
the Kenya representative laid a wreath, i watched him, he was at the end of a commonwealth group.

the commentator on sky news also mentioned Kenya's wreath.

BBC commenter said that no representative from Kenya was present at the wreath laying.

Harry chose not to be there

maddyone

The whole service was very moving. The music was fantastic as it was last night at the Festival of Remembrance.

I had a lump in my throat watching last night, what a fantastic
Festival it was.
Glad the service at the Cenotaph went off well this morning, and the music and formation marching as the OP says are always amazing.