Did it occur to you that those individuals probably need the scooters? Possibly because of injuries sustained in service. The other pictures in the same article portray the others - the majority - standing proudly in line to be inspected.

Also; they are all veterans. Given the average age of Chelsea Pensioners, quite a lot of them will be combat vets.

World War II vets are in their 80s and 90s. I'm sure lots of them need scooters today, even if they weren't wounded in combat.

There are plenty of reasons to despair the decline of English (and American) culture, but this isn't one of them.

Having lived in London for a number of years in Belgravia (28 Eaton Place) I actually know quite a bit about the Chelsea Pensioners. Just about neighbors, actually.

What I was trying to get across here, and evidently failing by being too roundabout, was the emblematic nature of the Image, not the specific character and situation of the Chelsea pensioners.

Do I have to spell it out? Always?

I guess I am not bright enough to see the point either.

I have been to visit the hospital, corresponded for a time with one of the residents (I've lost contact--and assume he has since departed.

But each of the several I met have earned every penny they cost, several times over.

For those that are interested, my understanding is that in order to live there, they must have no responsibility (the one I with whom I corresponded had a wife that was technically alive but in some sort of care facility that she would never leave alive) and they have to sign away all of their pension and other rites.

It is not a free lunch, and they continue to serve in one way or another.

The "Last Man Standing" is of course Switzerland.
It's focused on the well being of its citizens, has small government with no corruption and will come out of the upcoming financial collapse far better than the Empire and its acolytes like the YUK.

I suspect that Our Host has the highest respect for the Chelsea Pensioners and their service, but seeks to suggest that, in a way similar to these fine folks, Britain's (and Britons') prime has receded into the past.

Gerard,

Not sucking up here.. but I get your point clearly.

The image is iconic.

The only people left of merit are on their last legs.

Still, I have much hope for America yet. I work with youths in baseball, Church groups etc.. right now at the moment, I would consider myself a mentor to at least 20 boys between the ages of 7 - 13. Its a heavy burden sometimes but rewarding always. I find these young boys eager to learn about life and they are serious in their attentions towards manly activities. The biggest problem I have (and I believe it to be systemic in our culture) is a lack of manly mentors... fathers who have abdicated their duties to video games, public schools, peer groups and their children's mother. That my friend is the key.. men mentoring ...

PS... you would make a great mentor...

Bill Jones - Sure. And Switzerland has an economy that, to a large degree, depends on attaching itself to the economy of the larger world like a vampire. It's also an enabler for endemic corruption and misery in various Third World hellholes, particularly, but also elsewhere. How? The Swiss banks, of course.

Ezra Pound, the guy who thought that Mussolini embodied the true heritage of Jefferson. Citation error: try again.

Sorry, Eris. Not only was this particular line written long before Pound's paso double with Fascism, his insane political theories have no bearing on the aptness of the quote.

The Swiss bankrolled the Nazis.

mjazz - Not only that, they still hold some of the loot that the Nazis took from the conquered.