100 days – Day 67: Armed Forces Day/Bannockburn

100 days – Day 67

Today – Saturday, 28 June 2014 – is Armed Forces Day.

It’s an opportunity to do two things. Firstly, to raise public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, Secondly, it gives the nation an opportunity to Show Your Support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families and from veterans to cadets.

Across the country people are getting involved: communities hold local events and business show their support.

The National Event will be held in Stirling, but many more events will be held up and down the country in support of Armed Forces Day.

 

 

Also in Stirling,  thousands of people will be gathering to attend a weekend of re-enactments and historical recreations at the site of the Battle of Bannockburn

Hundreds of actors will recreate the 1314 battle three times a day throughout Bannockburn Live.

The event is being held at the site of the decisive conflict, where Robert the Bruce defeated the forces of Edward II.

It is surely no co-incidence that the Referendum on Scottish Independence is being held in this 700th anniversary of this Battle.

 

 

Let’s try and combine these two strands of thought:

 A story ……..

 

A newly appointed Army Chaplain was being shown round the barracks by the Commanding Officer.

They came to an old dilapidated hut.  “I’m sorry, Padre, but this is all we have for your worship services, but some of the squaddies were painters and decorators in civvy life – they might be able to spruce things up a bit for you”

And that was true.  The Chaplain sought out two or three of them and they gave the place a lick of paint.

After this was done, one of them (who had been a sign writer in his previous incarnation), was approached by the Padre.

” You know”, said the Chaplain, “We could do with something eye-catching on the chancel wall – some symbol or design or something”.

“Leave it with me” said the squaddie, “Give me a few hours and I’ll see you right, Sir”

So, a while later, the Chaplain came back and this is what he saw:

Now, not wanting to upset the Private, who, after all, had done a magnificent job, the Chaplain congratulated him – and then added, “That’s excellent – but I was thinking of something perhaps a bit more religious”

“Leave it with me, Sir; come back in an hour and you’ll love what I’ve got in mind.

So that’s what happened…..

…. and the sign now read “Scotland forever and ever  AMEN”