VOA标准英语2009年-Britain Remembers Fallen in Old and New Wa

By Jennifer Glasse
London
09 November 2009

November 11 marks the anniversary of the end of World War 1. In Britain, a nearly 90-year old charity campaign originally started to support troops coming home from the 1st World War has taken on new life, with recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The British Legion poppy appeal will distribute more than 30 million paper poppies, raising $50 million in aid of lost and injured servicemen and women.

 
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II lays a wreath at the cenotaph during the annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony, London, 08 Nov 2009
It is an annual event. Britain's Queen Elizabeth, the prime minister, military chiefs, diplomats¹ and war veterans gather to lay wreaths of red paper poppies at the foot of the World War 1 memorial known at the Cenotaph. Its inscription² reads: "To the Glorious Dead"

The Remembrance Day events commemorate³ all those lost in war. In recent years it has taken on particular significance.

A piper in full Scottish regalia is trying to attract attention for the poppy appeal. In the weeks leading to Armistice⁴ Day on November 11, volunteers blanket the country distributing red paper poppies for a donation. The symbol comes from a World War 1 poem by a Canadian military physician, lamenting⁵ the death of a friend, citing that on the battlefields where the dead lay, poppies still grew.

Thirty six-year-old Michael Newcomb sports a poppy on his lapel like millions of other Britons.

"It is an important tradition. A lot of people died. It is important to remember them and I think it is a very nice tradition," he said.

Across the capital, outside Westminster Abbey, a field is dotted with wooden crosses and giant wreaths of poppies in remembrance of 60,000 who died in wars in the past century; not just Britons, but also forces from Canada, Asia, Africa, and the Far East.

Author Kusoom Vadgama says soldiers and civilians⁶ from India played a huge role in the World Wars.

"Indians have contributed a tremendous amount of money, manpower, womenpower and dedication⁷, and loyalty⁸ to the British people," said Vadgama.

World War 2 veteran Phil Berry landed on the beaches of Normandy, France 65 years ago. Phil Berry says the poppy appeal has long been part of his life and has new importance today.

"It is something that I have supported since I joined the army in 1942 to commemorate then those killed in the first world war, and then the second world war, and now again in Afghanistan," he said.

 
British Min. of Defense⁹ photo shows British and coalition¹⁰ forces taking part in Remembrance Sunday service in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, 08 Nov 2009
There are about 9,000 British soldiers serving in Afghanistan. A total of 230 have died since 2001, making many question whether British forces should remain there. Normandy veteran Les Birch says he would like to see the troops come home.

"No you never win in Afghanistan, never ever. Even in 100 years, you will never beat them," he said.

Britain is getting ready to welcome home its latest war dead from Afghanistan. The bodies of five men killed by an Afghan policeman they were training and that of a 6th, a soldier killed in an explosion.

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 inscription   

n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文

参考例句：

• The inscription has worn away and can no longer be read.铭文已磨损，无法辨认了。
• He chiselled an inscription on the marble.他在大理石上刻碑文。

3 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

4 armistice   

n.休战，停战协定

参考例句：

• The two nations signed an armistice.两国签署了停火协议。
• The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap.意大利的停战不过是一个笨拙的陷阱。

5 lamenting   

adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Katydids were lamenting fall's approach. 蝈蝈儿正为秋天临近而哀鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Lamenting because the papers hadn't been destroyed and the money kept. 她正在吃后悔药呢，后悔自己没有毁了那张字条，把钱昧下来！ 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

8 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

10 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。