This Christmas Weekend

With the onset of Christmas this weekend, we would be amiss not to think of all those with friends and family overseas, specifically our servicemen, who cannot come home to their loved ones for the season.

To all our Servicemen overseas, wherever they are, we haven't forgotten you this Christmas.

And just to stop this becoming maudlin, have a look at this wonderful film. Most of my English readers have probably seen it, but it may be new to my other blogbuddies.
This was made by a British Army unit in Basra during a quiet period in their duties last year.
From the BBC:

They e-mailed it to Army friends in London, but the MoD server crashed because so many tried to download it.
Among those to praise their efforts has been Defence Secretary John Reid.
Mr Reid paid tribute to the Royal Dragoon Guards when opening the
Queen's Speech debate on defence in the Commons.
"Her Majesty's armed forces never cease to amaze me. To be able to carry out such acts of determination, sacrifice and heroism in so many spheres of the world and, at the same time, to be recording hit videos is a measure of the quality of the British Armed Forces," he said.

So, thank you to Staff Sergeant Roger Parr ('singer'), Sergeant Andy Stokoe (the brains in the towel) and Captain Mungo Ker (behind the camera) of the Royal Dragoon Guards - for creating something permanent to highlight the reality of Our Boys overseas.

You want more? Well, spurred on by the above effort, the British Navy made their own extremely ambitious and touching video - watch out for the (brief) Waynes World bit in the helicopter.

I have worked with the Services for years, and the indomitable spirit still get me right here [thumps heart]

cq