It’s Remembrance Sunday this weekend, and I had a rather apposite consultation this week, with Mr C. He is an elderly gentleman, nearly 90, a retired serviceman. He was an officer in the Royal Navy during the second world war. On his discharge he struggled to work, as he was suffering from PTSD and impaired hearing as a result of his experiences. He is now very frail, falling at home, and struggling. He begged me not to admit him to hospital – “just get me well enough so that I can stand with my head held high on Sunday at the parade”. He doesn’t like hospitals you see, because they treat him like a child. “I don’t like being called by my first name – do you know once I was addressed as ‘you there’ in a hospital?”. I shuddered at the very thought. He wants the young to know that old people are people too, and something he said was so very apt that I scribbled it on a post-it note once he’d left my consulting room. He said, “I don’t mind being forgotten if I’m all right, but if I’m not all right, I wish they’d remember.”
I’ll be remembering this Sunday.
Nice Lady Doctor 
Very moving.
To me, it is still the 11th hour of the 1th day of the 11th month that I will remember them, even although I go to Church for ‘Remembrance Sunday’ as well.
I still remember when all the offices stopped, all the cars and buses and trams stopped to remember those who died for our freedom.
The sense of getting to the parade on Sunday, speaks volumes to myself for many reasons.
There is so much to be learned from the man’s generation in the post.
Would watch my Dad, at the sound of the last post…he would weep, strong men, stand silently and weep….at what they saw, for the lost, and also for the world today, the many wars. Always reminds me of the quote “For those who fought for it, freedom has a taste that the protected will never know”
I used to nurse in a Veteran’s Hospital (australia) and 11-11 was always a moving day. Everyone would stop our work, and stand for a minute of silence. Many of the WWII Vets would stand to attention at the ends of their beds (if they were well enough). Sadly 11th Nov is often forgotten by the younger generation now…although fortunately ANZAC Day services are becoming more popular amongst the younger generations.
Fair enough. I have done first aid work on ANZAC day in Australia a few times and have always been so blown away by the vets and their pride in their service and country. And it is NEVER the vets who need first aid, generally the cadet soldiers who skipped breakfast faint..
Bookmarked
Come back NLD!
Where have you gone to?
I’m missing you.
JD.
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