WWI 91st anniversary; did any member of your family serve?

[swampcritter]

Tomorrow is the 91st anniversary (11/11/1918) of the end of WWI.

Not only is this a time to remember, its a time for Swampy to listen to his favorite singer.

Singing "Its a Long Way to Tipperary" and "Lilli Marlene":

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc_awaIOrxU

A school group that put clips of their visit to the Somme to the background score of June singing "Green Fields of France" by Eric Bogle. Of course, the trenches look far cleaner today than they did during the war.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZWTZiBbqQM


Do you have any family memories of WWI? Did any member of your family serve?

[dominosarah]

My grandpa was in WW1.....

[adgal]

My great grandfather served.  I have his dog tags and pay book, along with a helmet.  I never had the chance to meet him, but I am so incredibly proud of him.  Tomorrow my husband and I will attend Rememberance Day (what we call it in Canada) services and think of him.

[dawnangela]

We had a minuet silence for the fallen today:(

[redheadaussie]

We call it Remembrance Day too in Australia. My grandfather fought in the WW1  Lied about his age. Forged his mum's signature to get in. He fought in WWII as well. He died thinking he was back there in the trenches in his old age. They called it Shell Shock. Now we would call it Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It must have been horrendous for him to see his mates being blown up and to wonder what was it all for.
  I remember my grandpa, Teddy. I thank those who gave their lives. I wish they didn't have to.

[margypops]

Yes my Granpa died in the Trenches, they never found him, he is one of the unknown ...My Granma died in WW11 in the blitz of London..

[marileew]

I am not sure off hand about family members in WWI, although both of my grandfathers were veterans in WWII. We are taking one of my grandfathers to a Remembrance Day event this morning. (I'm a Canadian)

Lest we forget.

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.
- By John McCrae

[Lonelymom]

I believe my great Uncle on my dad's side, my great grandpa on my moms side and forget who else but I had a few family members serve in WW1 and WWII. My family is a long line of men who have served with the last being my brother.

My nephew is considering signing up and even though I am scared for his safety I am proud of him for caring down the tradition.

[jo929]

Oh yes my granfather and his brother and many more of my male realitives were in world war i also i have heard many storys none were happy ones had uncles that served in world war 2 such a terrible war there were many battle scars and some were not seen they were on the inside, we never know just what goes on over there i remember lots of the ole songs that were out and also a poem about the big guys playing their game of chess and many more died . i do not beleive that i had a male realitive that did not serve their time i hate war  jo

[jo929]

i forgot to mention one song that was popular
it went
We will be over, and we wont be back till its over over there
my grandad was 16 when he joined

[Crochetya]

I am not sure about WWI or WWII. My hubby's grandfather was a vet of II I think. I have brothers that served in the military and numerous cousins. There was a special on LPB about all the cemetaries throughout the world where American soldiers were buried.
There are several in Europe. I think that is one good thing the government did to honor these soldiers on foreign soil.

[swampcritter]

The song "Over There" was written by the great George M Cohan, the same person who wrote "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Give my Regards to Broadway".

[April2]

My grandfather served in WWI. He was in the Navy.