[shillelagh]

My uncle died in WW2 and is buried out in Burma. I found his name on the commonwealth graves commission website and you can see where he's buried. Every 11th November at 11am i stop what im doing and shut up for 2 mins. To me that is giving respect to the people who fought and either died or came home from the war. I didnt know my uncle - i wasnt born until 22 years after the war had finished. Ive got one photo of him and thats of him in his uniform. My dad didnt go to war - he was in a reserved occupation - he was a farmer - and then he was brought over here to work in Liverpool on the docks. My mum told me stories of what it was like to live in northern ireland during the war and not far from the border to Eire - they could nip over the border and get stuff that was rationed in the north but because the south was neutral they still could buy it but would have to smuggle it across the border.

But soldiers, sailors and airmen/women should have something to show for being away from their families and for fighting in a war. Something to show that they were there fighting for our freedom. Dont you get something to show for your hard work in your exams well then why cant they have something to show for their hard work - maybe a disability or illness?

Like the story Eric reminds me of what my mum did to me when she found out i'd took my uncles medals to school one day - she went mad. Thank god i didnt lose them otherwise i think my life wouldnt have been worth living!!!! lol