They gave their all

 

A solitary autumnal leaf of reddish brown

As if a visitor from the past

Fluttered along the street lined with a silent throng

Propelled by the morning wind 

It gradually settled on the steps of the War Memorial

A heavy scent of used gunpowder

Still pervaded the village from a night of bonfires

We stood silently and somberly before many names

Remembered for their gallantry and sacrifice

A distant sound of a military band

Grew closer and closer

Civic Leaders, Military personnel and clergy

Took their positions before the monument

An old grey haired lady left the crowd

She placed a solitary poppy fastened to a cross

At the foot of the obelisk

A personal tribute which we all saw and felt

It is a time to remember

A time of gratitude and sadness

For lost loves