Team Mildenhall remembers veterans on Remembrance Day, weekend

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  A two-minute silence was observed all across England and much of the world on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, or 11 a.m., Nov. 11, 2011.

The day marked Armistice Day, also known as Remembrance Day in the U.K., and Veteran's Day in America.

Team Mildenhall and Lakenheath Airmen observed Remembrance Day in a wide array of wreath-laying ceremonies, religious receptions and parades in many areas of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

Wreath-layings took place in West Row, Kenny Hill and Bury St. Edmunds Nov. 12, and Airmen from the 3rd Air Force, 100th Air Refueling Wing, 100th Mission Support Group and Royal Air Force attended the events.

The next day, similar events were held in Mildenhall High Town, Dickleburgh, Ely, Bury St. Edmunds, Thetford, Beck Row, Newmarket, Red Lodge and Soham. Parades, services and wreath-layings were held in many of those locations.

Airmen from 100th ARW subordinate units and tenant units at RAF Mildenhall attended the scheduled events to show support for the RAF and local community, and pay respect for those who fought and died in all wars, past and present.

One event many Airmen attended was a service near Angel Hill in Bury St. Edmunds.

Col. Christopher Kulas, 100th ARW commander, was one Airman in attendance and said he was touched by the words of Ronald Day, Royal British Legion Bury branch president.

Speaking into the silence, Day quoted the "Ode of Remembrance," taken from Laurence Binyon's poem "For the Fallen." He said, "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."

After the sounding of reveille, Day continued, "When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today."

Binyon's poem was written during World War I and Remembrance Day began when an armistice was signed, marking the end of World War I, 93 years ago. In the years after, many remember The Great War and World War II by wearing a poppy on their shirt or jacket.

The first official Legion Poppy Day was held in Britain Nov. 11, 1921, and was inspired by the poem "In Flanders' Fields," written by Lt. Col. John McCrae, a doctor serving with the Canadian armed forces.

After witnessing the death of his friend, Canadian Army Lt. Alexis Helmer, and while tending to the dying and wounded on the battlefields of Flanders, McCrae wrote:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

In the spirit portrayed by McCrae's poem, people worldwide remember veterans of all wars, past and present, each Nov. 11.