Yesterday I was privileged to be present at the National Memorial Arboretum for a memorial service for those who died near Smolensk on the tenth of April.
There were many veterans present and the service was predominantly done in Polish (apart from my bits of course which were broken English) and it was extremely moving at the end when after the service was completed to hear those present sing in their native language.
Some of these were members of the RAF and flew during the battle of Britain. Many had caterpillars on their lapels (denoting the fact that they've actually used a parachute in anger) and there was a far few medals, even on the chests of the flew bombers ;), denoting service to their homeland and to the allied cause.
Can I ask those who read this blog to take just a moment to pray for Poland, a nation whose leadership has been decimated by this crash, and for the people of Poland and the wider political scene.
As this flight was made to remember Katyn and the massacre of some twenty-two thousand Polish Officers it would also be fitting to pray for reconciliation between Poland and Russia.
Pax
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