Remembrance Day: Danish soldiers wearing the poppy

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Intro first in Danish, then in English - article is in English

INTRO PÅ DANSK

Denne artikel blev skrevet i november 2009, da forfatteren arbejdede som praktikant for forsvarsattacheen på den danske ambassade i London. Armistice Day, 11. november, er dagen, hvor man oprindeligt erindrede fredsslutningen af Første Verdenskrig. Det er i dag en mindedag for faldne og sårede soldater, primært højtideligholdt i Commonwealthlandene.

Siden jeg skrev teksten, er der kommet tiltag af denne slags til også i fredelige Danmark, der ellers ikke har samme krigeriske traditioner som UK. Der er flagdagen 5. september, og den gule sløjfe fra SSOP er også ganske udbredt. Der er dog den forskel, at støtten blandt briter til deres soldater er mere bredt funderet end i Danmark, hvor politiske skel i højere grad baner sig vej ned til opfattelsen af forsvaret.

INTRO IN ENGLISH

I wrote this article about Remembrance Sunday while being the Defence Attaché's intern at the Danish Embassy in London. Since then, November 2009, Denmark has introduced an official "flag day" for homecoming soldiers, so there now is some "physical manifestation of remembrance" - but still not as widespread as in the Commonwealth. Personally, I'm all right with that; Denmark has sacrificed a lot in recent years, but not by far - by far - as much as our current allies did during the 20th Century.

Danish soldiers wearing the poppy

Wherever your turn your head in the UK these weeks, you see red poppies. On suits and denim jackets, on old and young, on men and women. Such a physical manifestation of remembrance and respect for the fallen is not known in Denmark, but in Helmand the tradition is embraced by the Danish troops.

by Thorbjørn Hein, based on a Danish language article by Jeanette Serritzlev

Remembrance Day parade in Camp Price, Helmand. Everyone who can is there. British, American and Danish soldiers. The berets are out in the sun. Camp Price is normally a ‘hats off’ zone, but at parades and other solemn occasions the berets are dusted off and worn. 

- I am incredibly pleased to be part of this, says Chaplain Niels Peter Sørensen. He stands in for the regular chaplain who is currently on leave. 

- We honour and remember the fallen and I think that's beautiful.

The commander of the Danish Battle Group, Colonel Karsten Kjær, wears the red poppy, as do the Danish and the British chaplains.

The British and the Danish chaplains stand side by side at the improvised altar, the former giving out the tune. All the British and many of the Danish troops wear the red poppy pinned to their uniform, a visible symbol for the remembrance of the fallen;  immortalised in the poem ‘In Flanders field’ by the Canadian doctor and officer John McCrae. John McCrae served in Flanders from 1915 and wrote the poem after the demise of a close friend.

- When we said prayer, I lowered my head and my thoughts went out to the soldier who was hit by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device, -edit.) last week, says Leo. He is a Danish lieutenant and commander of the platoon that the IED victim belonged to. The memorial ceremony is an occasion to reflect on the fates of the killed and the wounded. An extra occasion, that is.
- The ones that need remembering you have in mind every day. In that regard today is not special, the officer points out.

Danish, US and British soldiers remember.

From behind the ranks a British sergeant major declares “We will remember them”. All reply: “We will remember them.” This is what this day is about. And we do remember them.

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Denmark, a nation of 5.5 million citizens, has lost 28 soldiers (edit 11 Nov 2011: 43 soldiers) in Afghanistan, and many have returned wounded. No other troop contributing nation in Afghanistan has had more fallen compared to the size of country population. Denmark has approximately 750 soldiers deployed in Afghanistan. Most of these operate in the turbulent Helmand province in close cooperation with troops from mainly the United Kingdom. Read more about Denmark’s and the UK’s combined efforts here (press link).

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End of the article as seen on the Embassy page three years (has it been three years??) ago. Now for something which didn't fit that official page, but which is like totally appropriate for this page: music and comedy.

First, I give you the Masters of War, BOLT THROWER, with two of their awesome songs. I haven't picked them at random obviously.

The lyrics of the first song, "... For Victory", directly quote the origin of the phrase we will remember them, namely the famous "Ode of Remembrance" by Laurence Binyon.

The second song, "Lest we forget", I picked because of the title. I shall quote the Wikipedia article on the Ode to explain why:

"The line Lest we forget is often added to the end of the ode, which is repeated in response by those listening, especially in Australia. In the United Kingdom and New Zealand, the final line of the ode, "We will remember them", is repeated in response."

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Now the comedy. Two reasons: Ricky Gervais is one of the funniest beings on two legs; and because you can here see just how wide-spread the use of the paper poppy is, with both Gervais and the talkshow hosts wearing it.