WW2 PoW stuff:

[Joefour]

Originally Posted by Eichhornchen

Do you know the last time I heard that, I was standing in the Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch listening to a Welsh male-voice choir. I'd gone to Holland with my dad on his (as it happens) last veterans' anniversary trip.

It was unbelievable the way even young people outside in the City streets were running up to these old guys with flowers and hugs as they marched by. I really can't see us Brits demonstrating our gratitude in quite such a manner if it'd been us. We'd probably hide indoors until they'd gone.

Aktungbby gets all the credit for providing the historical contexts (see his link above, but I don't know what happened to his original reply)

You folks over in the old world still have some respect for yesteryear. Here in the States what was once a branch of european culture has been systematically destroyed and done in such a way that the populace never even noticed. Rap has become the norm; one idiot Supreme Court Chief Justice's misinterpretation of separation of church and state back in the 50's has resulted in things like grade school kids being sent home with a nasty note from the teacher because Junior said grace before he ate his lunch. In Oregon you will go to jail if you are caught swatting your misbehaving brat. Culture has broken down. I should shut up and get off my soapbox-this isn't Hyde Park. Sorry for the rant.