You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Iraq-Jordan
Dutch soldier killed in Iraq
2004-08-15
Posted by:Dutchgeek

#3  Laurence Binyon's For the Fallen - written to commemorate the staunchness of England's soldiery in the Great War:

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is a music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncountered:
They fell with their faces to the foe.

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.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables at home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end they remain.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2004-08-15 9:07:28 PM  

#2  Shortly after the attack, US military, including a Black Hawk helicopter, came to help with the medical evacuation.

I'm glad we don't stint on the support. Wish we could have helped the one guy.
Posted by: Super Hose   2004-08-15 5:41:27 PM  

#1  Dank je wel, soldier, for keeping us all safe. Fare you well on your final journey.
Posted by: trailing wife   2004-08-15 6:23:42 AM  

00:00