Red poppies descending!

The sight of one million red poppies tumbling down from a Lancaster Bomber into the sunny blue sky was a thrilling and emotional moment! Their target was to land and bless a crowd of at least 250,000 attending the VE Day celebrations located on the Mall at Buckingham Palace this afternoon. And bless they did!

The VE Day occasion (please click on title for link), planned for some time, commemorated Britain’s victory in World War II 60 years ago. The Queen made a grand and heartfelt speech in honour of all the veterans and survivors. Veterans were there to pay tribute to fallen heroes. Flags were paraded with grand ceremony, including the flag of the United States.

The Horse Guards headed up all the usual pomp and circumstance: the Royals were on parade; a British actor fondly noted for his portrayal of Winston Churchill intoned the leader’s wisdom and wit; a big band production, complete with male and female dancers in WWII uniforms re-enacted the dance scenes of that era. The Brits are famous for whingeing that the American soldiers who came to help out in the war effort were ‘... over-paid, over-sexed, and over here!’, but there’s no doubt about the soft spot in their hearts for the Yanks who served. That mutual admiration was on display today, sixty years later.

VJ/VE Day was a timely reminder this year. Traditionally it highlights remembrance and thanksgiving. In light of the sad events of last Thursday, it serves as an aide memoir to the newer generations who are faced with living in today’s world. If we can bear one another up through the tragedies inflicted by terror, and re-write humanity with strokes of compassion and understanding, then we will carry on the heritage of freedom men like my father invested in and fought for.

As families begin to mourn, or help injured loved ones heal, may that visage of red poppies descending in today’s sunny blue skies be a blessing to carry them forward for a very long time.
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Some prayer requests for God’s abiding love, strength, and presence:

1. The family of Jamie Gordon, aged 30. Jamie is a work colleague of some friends from our church. He is one of those listed as missing and unaccounted for from Thursday’s bombings.
2. The daughter of a dear sister in our Rochester Diocese is one of those still critically wounded in hospital. She is in her early twenties.
3. John must go for his annual company-sponsored health appointment tomorrow afternoon. He has decided to walk from Charing Cross. I told him that after the long walk, he should have a terrific heart rate to record. He replied his heart rate would be even higher if he took a bus or the Tube. Praise God for walking!