These boards are relatively neutral on any and all topics. For a hobby which makes a game of war, we are careful not to point fingers, assign blame, and are generally careful to respect all sides in conflict and history. The boards stay away from religious views and festivals, and we are not here to judge or accuse.

As part of this there is one exception, and that is Remembrance Sunday (linked with Armistice Day, Veterans Day and known by various titles worldwide). While I acknowledge that some countries have an alternative day for this, being English and this being largely the most common date (from my UK-centric perspective) we use this as our date.

At this time of year, the boards are redecorated to commemorate the day signifying the anniversary of the end of the First World War, which is now taken as in international day of memory and thanks for all those who have fought in all wars.

I choose to mark this event on this site. This is the only official event that this site marks. I dont want to get into political debates, and I dont want to open the doors to many other, equally deserving, events. I chose to mark this event in respect of all people, from all nationalities and backgrounds, who have fought, and in many cases sacrificed, for the principles that they believe in, and the world that we live in, no matter what side they were on.

I don't decorate this site for any other events - we don't put Christmas decorations up, and we don't pretend to be Hello Kitty for April Fools.

I strongly believe that, as members of a hobby closely related to these events, we have a responsibility not to take this for granted, and to remember. In addition this year, feel free to make any personal dedications or remberances. I also believe that this is a critical period in history, when the veterans of the 'great wars' are becoming fewer and fewer, and the subsequent generations who did not live through these times have a responsibility to rememer, and not take our world for granted, or take for granted the relative peace that we have which enables us the luxury to remain safe in our homes and play games simulating wars we hope that we will never know.

Thank you.
Iain

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We shall remember them, always

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Ah this time of the year again.
Here in Germany we have nothing resembling such an event. The ven greater mistake Germany made in provoking WW2 and the result of it suffocates everything regarding War Memorials.
No one here is proud of the participation of Germany in any war.
And no one bar relatives and some very few history interested will remember the fallen

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I find this very sad. That the sacrifices made on either side are forgotten. To waste a life in war is terrible enough. But, to forget that sacrifice is both dangerous and a real disservice.

Whatever the moral standpoint or errors in command and leadership, the thousands and thousands who were caught between their leaders decisions and an opposing nation who tried to stop them deserve recognition, in my opinion.

My grandfather was in the Navy during WWII, and he held absolutely no ill will to any German in the actual forces, despite losing his ability to walk as a result of the war. He continues to inspire me after his death.

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I've always found the British point of view on this far more noble than the American. Rememberance Day is about remembering all who fought and all who fell. Veterans day gives no thought to those who fought and died for their beliefs and country, but happened to be on the other side.

War is terrible. We remember.

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We will remember them.

Sometimes representatives of our government visit the ceremonies of those memorial days. IIRC our Cancellor Angela Merkel last year visited France on one such occasion.
It doesn't mean much to most of the Germans but i guess it means much to the poeple of the visited countries.
For all my interests in history and especially wars i am very glad to life in such a peacful place as present day Europe.
We learned from our chared history.

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Interesting perspective there SG. Probably my experiences are somewhat colored by the fact I come from a Navy family and to put it mildly, the US navy was far more involved in the Pacific relative to what went down in the Atlantic (patrols and convoy duties vs full on heavy fleet/air engagements/sea invasions being par course there) so I've seen a type of deep respect between old warriors frequently. It's not a rare, well I should say it's rare as the number are dropping sadly but you get the point, to see meetings between USN and IJN veterans in my youth in Hawaii.

Yeah the situation you point out BL is IMO somewhat lamentable. Don't get me wrong, National Socialism turned out to be a pretty horrible chapter in German history, i mean crap pretty much my whole family went to the ovens, but the vast majority of people in the armed forces were not NAZI SS douchewaffles and were simply caught up in the fighting and trying to get through it with their asses in tact. Anyone who fought with honor should be able to hold their head up high...

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On a personal level I agree that many of our vets have deep respect for their opposing numbers. My point is that Veterans Day is generally about 'our Veterans', not all veterans, at least to those who haven't served. It's a very American attitude, IMO. Perhaps I'm just cynical. :/

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SG

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Oh i stand correckted:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day#Germany

Literal translation of Volkstrauertag is National Mourning Day.

More details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkstrauertag

Even more details but you want to use Google Translator:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkstrauertag

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We will remember them.
Thanks CyberShadow.

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Yes, we will always remember ...

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Nice to see the red flowers again. I believe we are all equal, we just have different believes and that we should respect each other enough to agree to disagree. I agree that anyone who fought with honor should be respected. They stood up for what they believed. I may not agree with what they believe, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have my respect.

In New Zealand we celebrate ANZAC day.

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, originally commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all those who served and died in military operations for their countries.

It is also becoming popular to celebrate Armistice day, take a look at this website; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac_Day

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.

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Bugger I hate it when that happens!

And down here in Malta it's today too, red poppies and all.
It's a very international affair as we don't only remember the Maltese, but have several veterans coming here from abroad to commemorate (mainly) WWII. The numbers are, of course, dwindling.
Well said, CS.

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