There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13

Military and civilian
Volunteer and conscript
All faiths and none
'Good' ideology or 'bad'
'Us' and 'them'
Freedom fighters
Injustice challengers
Peace seekers
Peace keepers
Peace makers

Lest we forget - and in forgetting are doomed to repeat the worst of which we are capable.

Not my handiwork, an image found online of three poppies

Red for Remembrance

White for peace

Purple for animals in the service of humans during conflict

Whichever, if any, you choose to wear, or not to wear, it's important that we don't forget but instead allow the remembering to inform our today, and to shape the tomorrow for those who come after us..

I came across this poem/prayer which I think is worth pondering...

Lord, we give you thanks for the gift of tears:

For tears of grief, redeeming our mourning from despair;

For tears of anger, awakening our thirst for justice;

For tears of laughter, celebrating our joy in living.

May the light of Christ shining through our tears

Become a rainbow of your promise,

Shedding colours of your love's bright presence

In your grieving, struggling, laughing world.

(Author unknown)