I listened to this program on the radio just after the two minutes silence this morning, this is the short summary by the BBC -
Not No-one: the Story of the Unknown Soldier
Friday 11 November 2005 11:02-11:30 (Radio 4 FM)
The soldier “unknown by name or rank” was the focus for an extraordinary outpouring of emotion when he was buried, two years after the end of the Great War. Crowds lined the streets of London as the body of the Unknown Soldier completed its extraordinary journey, from the battlefields of France, across the channel by warship, by train from Dover to Victoria and then along Whitehall, past the Cenotaph, to be buried with full state honours in Westminster Abbey.
Given the scale of the casualties and the fact that so many were simply unidentifiable, the idea to commemorate the dead through the remains of one unknown soldier, who represented them all, was more than just pragmatic: as an idea it had a symbolic, almost poetic, resonance. The government had no plan to bring the bodies of British troops back from French soil, and so the tomb of the Unknown became a kind of national cypher for grief, at once individual and for all: he could be any mother’s son, anyone’s father or brother. Other Allied nations followed suit. Millions paid their respects.
As well as telling the story of how the idea of the British Unknown Solder came about, and his extraordinary journey to Westminster Abbey, the programme considers how the future of the Unknown Soldier as a timeless, abstract memorial is now open to doubt - for the reason that thanks to DNA testing, human remains are no longer unidentifiable.
God knows who this solder is regadles of what we think, and yes sir, DNA has giving us many answers, and I also find them very interesting.I watch and also try to learn. Very interresting topic. Trout may very well be involvled next…lol
This being a glaring example, there are some things that need not be revealed. Let Him rest in peace as a symbol for all those who gave their fullest measure.
It is totally incredible to stand at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and “be a part” of the honor given these fine soldiers. Then to turn around and be faced by row, upon row, upon row of white headstones, and realize the ultimate sacrifice given by so many. They are someones husband, son, daughter, wife; young and old. Be proud of them.
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
[This message has been edited by Betty Hiner (edited 11 November 2005).]
Just a personal story that relates to the Unknown Soldier…
Most never really consider everyone that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier represents. I really never gave it much thought until I was stationed in England at RAF Woodbridge (now closed). In the midst of the, then new, on-base housing area there was a very large area left unfinished. Most of us stationed there heard rumors that the contractor building the new housing units had gone bankrupt and was unable to finish after several lots had been prepared for foundations. The truth came out and it stunned most of the personnel - The contractor, in an under-handed effort to get filthy rich, hid from the architectural firm certain maps and documents which showed what the vacant area was originally. During WWII Raf Woodbridge was a “crash base.” These were airstrips which received the worst damaged aircraft when they returned from Germany. If there was a chance they would damage their homebase’s airstrip, they were landed at Woodbridge. Many of these craft were unable to land safely and crash landed often injuring or killing many crew members. At that time the vacant lot was a large pit. If possible, the unsalvagable aircraft would be cleared of the dead and then pushed off into the large pit for burial later. But, some of the dead were unrecoverable, either because they were twisted inside the wreckage or burned to ash.
The pit was to remain untouched as a memorial to the crewmen who are buried there. The contractor ignored that and began to build over the pit until someone found out. To my knowlege the site is unmarked, but still clear of any development and the land was returned to the people of England when the base closed. Hopefully, the present and future residents will continue to honor our dead and unknown.
