Remember - 65 years ago

[Mark Latimour]

Although I am a mad reader of WWII history, I always recall this quote (that seems appropriate for tomorrow):

"Too many people learn about war with no inconvenience to themselves. They read about Verdun or Stalingrad without comprehension, sitting in a comfortable armchair, with their feet beside the fire, preparing to go about their business the next day, as usual.

One should really read such accounts under compulsion, in discomfort, considering oneself fortunate not to be describing the events in a letter home, writing from a hole in the mud. One should read about war in the worst circumstances, when everything is going badly, remembering that the torments of peace are trivial, and not worth any white hairs. Nothing is really serious in the tranquility of peace; only an idiot could be really disturbed by a question of salary.

One should read about war standing up, late at night, when one is tired, as I am writing about it now, at dawn, while my asthma attack wears off. And even now, in my sleepless exhaustion, how gentle and easy peace seems!"

— Guy Sajer (The Forgotten Soldier)

Perhaps for a day we can forget about the teachers annoying us, the chicks who won't date us, the bass we can't afford etc.

[MakiSupaStar]

Awesome quote. At first I was thinking you were talking about you actually remembering something from 65 years ago. I was thinking man Latimour is an old man in a young man's body, but this makes Lindfield seem like a spring chicken.

[warwick.hoy]

D-Day...6.6.44

Good quote...one should never look fondly on war.

[Relic]

What an awesome quote, so incredibly true.

Come Sept 1st, it will be the 70th anniversary of the start of WW2. In some ways it's astounding how far we've come since then, then again we still have a loooong long way to go..

[Gard]

...an awesome day in history...so many gave their lives on those beaches to end the reign of one of the single most heinous people to ever live.

Thank you to each and every one of them, living or not.

[MonetBass]

Good quote. There are many of us who will never know what it is like to have to go to war, but I for one am very appreciative of those who did it for our country. God bless them all.

[GregC]

Spot on, what a quote! A day to remember and be grateful.

[Stu L.]

I honestly didn't remember until after I got to work, already wearing my POW shirt, and thinking of changing my avatar. My grandfather flew one of every aircraft we had going at the time. Thank you.

[GeneralElectric]

My grandfather dropped in on D-Day with the 101st Airborne. The scope of the sacrifice made by that generation will never again be comprehended by those born after.

[fitbass3p]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

My grandfather dropped in on D-Day with the 101st Airborne. The scope of the sacrifice made by that generation will never again be comprehended by those born after.

I really hope that this comes to be the truth, and none of our kids or kids' kids (etc) have to repeat something like that.

[Steve S]

It always makes me wonder how I would have fared in that situation and if I would have lived through it. I admire all of the people who had to do it....because they were such young men. My 23 year old son still lives with me and many of the men who fought and died on those beaches were younger than him.

[wilser]

I can't imagine what war feels like for a soldier, I can only humbly respect what they do for all of us.

[jwbassman]

If you reflect on the sacrife that was made it makes you stop and remember not to take our freedom for granted. If more people would do this the world would be a much better place.

[bassteban]

I recently read The Forgotten Soldier- recommended.