“November Heroes”
When I was stood listening to the Remembrance service I realised this was the one day that we actually honour and respect our elderly.
Those fortunate enough to still be alive and attend the services across the world are heroes on this day.
People respect these war veterans on this one day looking up to them despite their withering stature and diminished height.
On this one day, these are the men and women who indestructible by war are now failing. The sheer number of years simply taking its toll.
“Look at the old boy” a woman in her 50’s remarked to her partner, about Charles, the 95 year old Naval veteran we had escorted to the Cenotaph in our town which is a military one, famous for being closest to the Royal Marine Training Centre .
Charles may be an “old boy” but this “old boy” still has a full head of hair, his own teeth and his own opinions.
Reading the inscription on the memorial ” In Memory of all those who gave their lives” he remarked” That’s a load of rubbish”.
“They didn’t give their lives, their lives were taken“.
He wore his “gongs”, his military medals, with pride and his Sunday best, commenting on a young officer for being “inappropriately dressed” wearing his dress suit miniatures, not his full size medals.
People respected this “old boy” on that day with courteous hand – shakes and heartfelt “hellos”.
Today people remembered and noticed him.
The next day they didn’t.
We can be Heroes – Just for one day. (David Bowie)
