Some pics of inspiration

[Lucky13]

THE bugler sent a call of high romance—
"Lights out! Lights out!" to the deserted square.
On the thin brazen notes he threw a prayer:
"God, if it's this for me next time in France,
O spare the phantom bugle as I lie
Dead in the gas and smoke and roar of guns,
Dead in a row with other broken ones,
Lying so stiff and still under the sky—
Jolly young Fusiliers, too good to die..."
The music ceased, and the red sunset flare
Was blood about his head as he stood there.

Robert Graves. 1895–1985




Taps
Day is done ...
Gone the sun ...
From the lakes ...
From the hills ...
From the sky ...
All is well ...
Safely rest ...
God is nigh...

Fading light ...
Dims the sight ...
And a star ...
Gems the sky...
Gleaming bright ...
From afar...
Drawing nigh ...
Falls the night ..

Thanks and praise ...
For our days ...
Neath the sun ...
Neath the stars ...
Neath the sky ...
As we go ...
This we know ...
God is nigh ...

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Njaco, the photo I contacted you about you have already posted. Mine will not let me upload it to this thread but it has a caption that I think you all would be interested in. The photo is on page 5, 4th one down, the Marine being embraced by the elderly gentleman. Here's the caption; Pearl Harbor survivor Houston James of Dallas embraced Marine Staff Sgt.Mark Graunke Jr. during a Veterans Day commemoration in Dallas yesterday. Graunke lost a hand, a leg and an eye when he defused a bomb in Iraq last year. This weeks images of troops in combat in Fallujah deepened the day's significance for many who attended tributes held in San Diego and across the the nation. ( Associated Press)

[Njaco]

Thanks Aaron, its even better when we have the story for the pic! Great!

[Wayne Little]

Top stuff Lucky!

[Emac44]

I have gone through this thread. I gazed upon the photos of Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and other places that make you feel humble and grateful to those who sacrifice themselves for our FREEDOM. But I have no photos to share of strangers who inspire me. So I will share my Private Photos of my Father with you.

Every day I pass my Father's Photo I took an ANZAC Day 1992. He stands erect like the Digger he always was. His Campaign Medals polished and worn proudly upon his chest. He earned the Day for his mates and himself to commerate his Fellow ANZACs. Those who came home and those who didn't.

What inspires me every day I pass his Photo. Is to constantly live up to the standards of me being his son. Some days I look or think about my Dad. And say to myself in silent prayer and to him alone. Dad do I make you proud? Have I achieved all I can do or have I not finished in being a Father and a Husband myself and more importantly the man of who I am? And in my mind I hear this. Son you always make me proud. I take my inspiration from the memory of my late Father. Who passed away on 20th July 1994. Just barely 10 days of my Parents Golden Wedding Anniversary

My Father as you can see served in the 2nd AIF in the Middle East North Africa Papua New Giunea and later with 467 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force 5th Bomber Group Bomber Command Waddington. He joined the AIF at 18 years of age putting his age up by 2 years. He too was a boy soldier barely able to shave. Not abled to buy a beer as he was under age but old enough by lying to join and serve God King and Country. Dad served with the 6th Division 2nd AIF in North Africa Middle East and Papua New Giunea. In the Army he became what we Aussies call a Larrikin. And his charge sheets testify to his sense of humour and Army Military Officialdom clashing head long at times. Returning to Australia he joined the RAAF to become a Mid Upper Gunner for Bomber Command. And undertook training at Evan's Heads New South Wales in Air Gunnery School for RAAF Air Crew. After completion of Air Gunnery School he was posted to a Lancaster Squadron to serve as a MId Upper Gunner in England from 1944 to 1945. Where upon like other Gunners and Air Crew he was detailed to serve with 6 other men from various parts of United Kingdom, Australia and the Commonwealth. Flying 33 Missions over Germany and the Occupied Territories. On returning to Australia in 1946 with my Mother whom he had met and married in July 1944 and she became known as a War Bride. My Father and Mother settled to peace time life to raise a family of 3 daughters and 2 sons. Dad again had falsified his age a second time to join the RAAF. But on him being demobbed in London late 1945 he eventually gave his correct age.

Was my Father any one special? Was he a War Hero with a chest full of medals or a Victoria Cross won for Gallantry? No he was just an ordinary Aussie. Doing a job he volunteered for. First with the Army and later with the RAAF. And later still returning to the RAAF to serve his country once more but in peace time. Finally retiring from the RAAF in 1976.

How then you may ask do I gain inspiration from such a Man as my Father? Simpley put I just do. I see Monuments and War Memorials every day in Australia. I see today's RAAF Army and Navy. The new generation of Aussie Diggers. And I think of my Father. I see his old mates on ANZAC Day. Marching with pride but a little slower and ranks thinning each year. And then I think of today's ANZACs like yesterdays ANZACs (like my Father who served) and are serving my Country I gain pride and inspiration. For such men and women like my Father and the new Generation of Austrlian Military Air Force Army and Navy. Are placing themselves in danger for my freedom my liberty and my country. God Bless the Australian Service Men and Women of Australia. My Father like many of his mates has passed on to the New Generation of Australian Military the traditions of ANZAC. Mateship Loyalty and love of Country.

People let me say this. Its not always the Monuments or War Memorials or even the photographs Njaco placed on this thread. Those too inspire. But sometimes its the personal photos you have of a family member. No longer with you or has answered the call of the Last Post. That inspire and will continue to inspire long after they have gone to be with the Lord

[Wildcat]

A great tribute to your Dad Emac, to his fine service to our country.

[Emac44]

Thanks Mate. But I didn't do him justice. As I failed in the words I needed to say. But thanks mate

[Wayne Little]

Emac, don't sell yourself short mate, well said, to you and your Father..

[Dale01]

Originally Posted by Wayne Little

Emac, don't sell yourself short mate, well said, to you and your Father..

Well said Emac and nice tribute to your Dad , I just wish some of the younger generation of today could and would learn in our schools about the sacrifice the men and women of our Armed Forces past and present have done for all of us.

Dale

[Lucky13]

[Emac44]

Well my Father was and still is my INSPIRATION. Of all the times I think of Freedom and Sacrifice the Diggers paid I think of my Dad. And him and his mates of course. Iron Men with Iron determination from the Generation of the Depression. The Great Depression Kids. No offense to oter nations but these Aussies who went through the Great Depression and a World War straight afterwards moulded this country. And I have instilled in my own kids to be proud of their GrandParents

[evangilder]

Sometimes words fail to really state what is in the heart, but what you wrote was well done. If it is a fraction of how you feel, the general gist of what you were saying has come through. We must continue to educate the younger generation of the sacrifices that those of the greatest generation suffered through so that we could enjoy the freedoms that we have today.

[Emac44]

Well Evan I agree. My children have been schooled as I was with the Traditions of Service to Australia. The reasons why members of their family saw it necassary to go to War or to serve in Peace Time in the Military. To be proud of that their own Family contributed to the Freedom of Australia. And to be grateful that Freedom had come at a price and members of their family were willing to pay that price for future generations of the family.

ANZAC Day for my family Evan always remains a Special Day. Time to remember time to reflect. For nearly 15 years on ANZAC Day I use to drive my Father into the City for him to take part in ANZAC Day Marches. It became Family Tradition for me to do that. I suppose it was my way of saying Thanks Dad and at the time I didn't realise the significance until he had passed away. The Mateship of these Diggers Airmen and Sailors struck home to me on the day of my Father's Funeral Evan. The Church was full to overflowing with Ex Servicemen and Women. The Coffin of my Father Draped in the Australian National Flag with Floral Tributes of the Australian Wattles Dad's Slouch Hat and RAAF Cap with his medals on display. With Music of the Flowers of the Forest Amazing Grace and the Last Post being played. And the RSL Eulogy. But these men and women Dad had come to know over many years from the Ex Servicemen's League who came to pay tribute and say good bye to a mate. They all shared something that those of us who had not had to endure hardship will never know. That for me on the funeral of my Father came home Evan. I still find inspiration in this Evan. That same inspiration I have passed onto my own children. And now today my wife has told me her own GrandFather served in the Philippine Armed Services during World War 2 and became a part of the Philippine Resistance Movement during the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines. So another family member who has relatives who saw it necassary to fight for freedom. I said to my wife be proud of your GrandFather always. My family has been made aware of my wife's GrandFather Service to the Philippines. My own Family embraced the memory of my wife's GrandFather and his Service as any other family member in my own family. Just like my family always has done with other family members who served Australia. Now we have my Wife's own GrandFather to praise for the fight for Freedom

[Njaco]

Emac, that is the exact reason for this thread. To remember, be inspired and to never forget.

Thread probably should have been closed with those words of yours. Put it all together.

[Emac44]

No Njaco don't close the Thread by my words alone. But Inspiration can come from a variety of areas. You and several others had contributed Inspiration of the pictorial or as Lucky had done by poems and lyrics of Inspirational Words. And even Sys with his photos of the US Cemetry in Manila and I have similar photos here at home of same Cemetry. But I find inspiration in the individuals who have served and from association of those who are currently serving in Armed Forces around the world who are putting their own lives on the line to ensure our Freedoms and our right to express ourselves as WE SEE FIT