Poem written by a Formby school girl to go into a wreath to represent Formby branch of British Legio

Members of the Formby branch of The Royal British Legion are to join thousands on a pilgrimage of Remembrance to World War I battlefields that culminates in a parade and ceremony in Ypres as part of the end of the First World War centenary commemorations this August.

Local Legion Chairman Ken Ward and Formby Parish Councillor Bernie Prescott will represent the Formby Branch and the local community at the event, as standard bearer and wreath layer. The wreath will contain a poem entitled ‘We Remember’, written by a Formby High School Year 9 pupil named Josie. Josie’s poem was chosen as the best from Formby and she was presented with a certificate by Mr Ward, Cllr Prescott and Formby RBL President, Mrs Butterwick.

As local champions of Remembrance, the Formby Branch of The Royal British Legion is looking to work in partnership with their community to bring their unique Remembrance message to the Menin Gate, on their wreath, where it will be displayed in a wreath installation for viewing by the general public until the end of August.

Here is Josie’s incredible poem of remembrance:

We Remember

We remember them in little things

Poppies in the summer, the first bird in spring

The night’s first star that burned too bright

Fallen too soon to survive the fight.

But we do not think it is strange

How, although we think times have changed

It has always been that, in the end,

War does nothing but tear friend from friend.

An unmarked grave, a plain white cross

Is all we have left of so many of the lost

Think of all they lost, all they left

Replaced with the crushing end they had to find.

[endif]--And ion battles won and battles lost

Let us not forget the cost

And toll that war takes on us all

As it strikes down those who once stood so tall.

We remember them so we don’t forget

Their bravery, sacrifice and loss, and yet

We have not learnt from their pain

And others rise and fall again.

By Josie of Year 9

Formby High School

Wreath showing Josie's poem to represent Formby in the Remembrance to World War I battlefields that culminates in a parade and ceremony in Ypres as part of the end of the First World War centenary commemorations this August.

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