I was in Confederation Park over the weekend and had a look at this plaque honouring Canadian airmen who died during the Second World War over Poland. I photographed and posted this last fall in the blog, but the dates are what drew my eyes this time. Many of these men died in August and September of 1944 in air support operations during the Warsaw Uprising. Seventy years later, and these names still speak to us through the mists of time.
Their contribution moves me deeply!
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= . <3
Sad. They contributed to a victory that the world needed, but where might those lives have otherwise led?
ReplyDeleteMoving stuff. I think that RAF Bomber Command suffered higher % casualties than any other branch of the services. I also seem to recall that Stalin wouldn't let Allied aircraft land to refuel on Soviet territory. Hence any operations over Eastern Europe, including air drops of supplies, had to wait until bases became available in closer range, within mainland Western Europe.
ReplyDeleteIt is a memory, many do not have it.
ReplyDeleteTomás.
Few people take the time to notice memorials, and I am always saddened by this. However, I don't always take the time either.... But it is so worth it.
ReplyDeleteSo sad ... and still wars are going on everywhere and young innocent people die ...
ReplyDeleteSuch a long time ago again, all those lost young lives and the world is still struggling....
ReplyDeleteA sobering photo.
ReplyDeleteDark times.
ReplyDeleteso sad...
ReplyDeleteI always make a point of looking at the names...just to let them know they are not forgotten.
ReplyDeleteJane x
@Cloudia: me too.
ReplyDelete@Kay: we can't know.
@Mike: given what Bomber Command did, it wouldn't surprise me that the casualty rates got that high.
@Tomas: quite true.
@Bibi: I do like this memorial.
@Jan: unfortunately true.
@Marianne: it really is.
@Greensboro: Indeed.
@Revrunner: very dark.
@Hilary: it is.
@Jane and Chris: so do I.
It's right that we remember but wrong that we don't learn. How sad the world seems to always have conflict somewhere.
ReplyDeletea beautiful plaque in remembrance.
ReplyDeleteA very moving memorial.
ReplyDeleteSo sad, but glad they are remembered.
ReplyDeleteI second EG Camera Girl: "It's right that we remember but wrong that we don't learn."!
ReplyDeleteVery touching memorial.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and touching. Today is a sad day for many...
ReplyDelete@EG: it seems humanity doesn't learn.
ReplyDelete@Tex: I've always liked it.
@Sharon: I think so too.
@Cheryl: it's a good remembrance.
@Jose: I wonder if humanity can get past that.
@Linda: thank you.
@Halcyon: it certainly is.
Speak they do and we should remember to listen. MB
ReplyDeleteThis sort of thing is always moving. I wonder how many lives will be lost in our war on terrorism?
ReplyDeleteA sad and sober memorial...
ReplyDeleteThe world never seems to change!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds us that we must never forget.
ReplyDeleteI agree very touching ( :
ReplyDelete@MB: we should.
ReplyDelete@Norma: god knows.
@VP: indeed.
@RedPat: certainly not.
@Marleen: we cannot.
@Beth: thank you.
I find this a very moving and beautiful memorial, especially since my ancestors were Polish.
ReplyDeleteOh wow...so powerful!
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(writing blog)
When we look at the numbers, and their ages, it's a horrible part of history.
ReplyDeleteWhy or why is it necessary to send our young men to die? I mean, I understand there was not a good alternative but it's just wrong that a small group started something so horrendous. And history repeats.
ReplyDeleteI think being called the "greatest generation" is a well deserved tribute.
ReplyDelete@Lois: I wondered if this might come across the eyes of someone with Polish roots.
ReplyDelete@Sarah: thank you.
@Jennifer: they're always young.
@Linda: there are times when the alternative is much worse.
@Pat: in this case, very much so.