The bottom of the marker is a portion of "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke
IF I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
23 comments:
Jim, this is very special. Besides being a talented photographer, a good citizen, and a hoot, you're a deep guy, too. Nice job.
What a cool thing for the people of Terrell to do. I wonder if any of the families ever wanted to bring the remains back to England? Just a thought. MB
un bel hommage, toujours plein d'émotion ces cimetières de soldats.
a beautiful tribute, always full of emotion these cemeteries soldiers.
Love your post today. I think THINK I remember learning that poem or something similar during my school days. How awful it must have been for the mothers of these pilots. Dying so far from home and never having their bodies brought home. Thanks for sharing this story of Terrell's history.
I am familiar with thei poem, but i takes on a whole ne meaning with your posts this week. Have learnt a helluva lot. Great photography too, very human social documnetary pics. News journalism and I wouldn't be surprised if someone out there want to use these. Excellent work Jim.
This is a splendid post, Jim. It is proper and fitting to show this as so many of us forget about the sacrifices made by some very young men during the war.
Lots of people don't know it but when I was taking basic training, in Kentucky, during the Korean war, there was a cemetery there which was filled with German soldiers and sailors and airmen. All German prisoners of war who died in Kentucky of natural causes.
Abraham Lincoln
—Brookville Daily Photo
I'm impressed that the memorial is kept in such good shape. I've discovered many memorials in my area of the world that are neglected.
This cemetery and memorial stone looks very well-maintained, and I salute the people of your fair city who assume the responsibility for honoring these men. It speaks legends about the kind of people in Terrell. It would be wonderful if some of the families of those buried in the cemetery could see for themselves how respect and compassion is evident in that small plot of land.
Jim, this is a very nice post!
Such a heartfelt post!
Hey Jim,
Some comments (I have to catch up):
1. What the hell are fried pickles? I can't believe you said Hong Kong food looked strange!
2. Love the therapod foot prints. I've always wanted to go to that state park. Dinosaur provincial park in Alberta is pretty cool, too.
3. I don't believe you for a second about the reflection - angle wrong.
4. I hope you're going to go to your local fair and posting some pictures of it. I went to Sonoma County Fair in CA yesterday - totally rockin'. Blacksmith and hogs, barbecue and toothpick sculptures! Paradise. I may break my rules and put then on HK daily photo.
Jim, thanks for todays post. I like this poem and I had forgotten most of it so I was pleased to refresh my memory. When I read it it makes me proud of all those men that died and it gives me an emotional shiver.
Jim when you get the cahnce stop by my thursday post " ramsey rugby to the tour de france". Just a little blog award from me to you.
Hey, Jim
What a wonderful post! I think it's great that the place is so well-kept.
Thanks for sticking with me while I've been at school and trying to get my life back in order here. I appreciate it.
I agree, what a wonderful post! I really love the poem too.
I really like the green here - gives it life (and no, I'm not trying to be funny)
Nice post in memory of these pilots. So sad too.
Beautifully done, may we keep them in our memories.
poignant, thanks for sharing.
Hi - this is a great article and photos. I found this as I am researching the graves in the picture. I am a cousin of Vincent Cockman who is one of the 20 young airman buried in Terrell. I live in the UK. As a small child I remember meeting his mother - who was my grandmother's aunt. I am in Dallas TX for a wedding in mid October and am planning on visiting the Oakland Memorial Park. If anyone can help me with directions to find Oakland from Dallas that would be very much appreciated. I also plan to visit the 1 BFTS museum in Terrell. My grandmother was his first cousin. Many thanks and congratulations on this great article.
Hey BKenton, i'm a Brit living here in Terrell (unfortunately not a relation of any of the airmen who trained here, my granddads were both in the Army). Terrell is a great town to visit, there are lots of places to shop and have some of the best restaurants east of Dallas (in my humble opinion). Let me know when you are over here!!
Hi Mark,
I'm in Dallas for a wedding from 8-12 October. So planning on trying to get to Terrell during that period. Thanks for the post by the way. I'm hoping to get to Terrell for one day during my stay and going to Oakland Memorial Park and seeing the town etc. Drop me a line at BK45@ntrs.com if you like. Thanks
Ben
The graves are maintained by the British War Graves Commission. There is a service at the graves every Veteran's Day (the closest Sunday) and a "tea" afterwards at the Episcopal Church. My dad was one of the pilots that survived the training and went on to become an instructor. He returned after the war, married and eventually retired in Dallas. He never forgot the kindness of the people of DFW and Terrell. His ashes are spread on the field where they trained. I will be at the graves Sunday for the service...
thanks for the memories!
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