Remembrance Day
Veteran’s Remember
A blue sky shines bright overhead
incongruent with the death below.
Memories buried with bodies,
painful excavation leads to blunted emotion.
An immemorable moment in time
must be remembered forever.
Last year on Remembrance day, we woke to grey skies and slick streets. Remembrance day has been an event we’ve attended for as long as I can remember. Even back to age five in my slick new red velvet coat. Sometimes it’s been cold, sometimes warm, sometimes there is snow, sometimes there isn’t.
Traditionally the ceremonies have been held outdoors. City Hall, and the Cenotaph is just half a block away from my home. We would stand in rain or shine and pay homage to the veterans, and to those still fighting. We would peer to find grandpa in the group of marching veterans. Grandpa was quiet, but revelled in his family. He spoke little of the war, perhaps feeling that he needed to carry the burden alone. But Remembrance days were always jolly…we ate too much, and we drank too much, and we laughed…and remembered.
About six years ago, they moved the ceremony indoors. A testimony to the aging of the veterans. In 2008 we woke up morning to shiny streets, slick with ice, and thoughts of how this wasn’t going to be good for all the elderly folks who would be about. Sure enough the Remembrance Day Ceremony garnered about half the attendants that it usually does. But you can bet that most of those who had to stay home were observing thier moments of silence at 11:00.
Since Grandpa died in 2004 a few more tears are shed each Remembrance Day in our family. We bring pictures of grandpa and put them on the table and we still do all the things we did before, eat, talk, drink, and remember. Most essential in all of this is that the young adults in our family feel it’s important enough to return home for Remembrance Day. And that’s important. We all need to stop and remember and think about the return of peace.
Tomorrow my family will meet again to remember pain, to thank the remaining veterans one more time – and to understand that our pain is less because their pain was greater.
Posted: November 10th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
Comments
Comment from kariusk
Time November 10, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Thank you so much for reading and passing on the blog post Mary. I’m lucky to be a part of a family so strongly steeped in relevant traditions!
Comment from Bob Flenner
Time November 10, 2009 at 8:33 pm
You are a beautiful soul, Kelly. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Comment from kariusk
Time November 11, 2009 at 12:29 am
Thank you, Bob. Keep well, and a good Remembrance Day to you.
Comment from John Casson
Time November 11, 2009 at 4:54 am
Hi Kelly, thanks for sharing your thoughts, it’s very touching. John
Here’s my poem re loss:-
New Psalm.
Human smiles and loving laughter, our love’s mirrored in your own.
As the shadow of clouds passing over the bay
In silence touching hearts along your way.
And if the sickness eats me up, then remind me to accept it as your will.
In the quiet morning moments between night and day
Paused between life and forever you will say.
Come home sons and daughters, who live separate and alone;
Your cries echoed by the whales from out the deep.
Rest your several hearts in my heart, in the bliss of endless sleep.
From “Beautiful Illusions” © Louis J. Casson , Cryptic Furnace Press, 2006
All rights reserved.
Comment from kariusk
Time November 11, 2009 at 9:38 am
Sadly beautiful John, Thank you.
Comment from ReloMary
Time November 10, 2009 at 4:27 pm
What a great personal story about Veteran’s Day, Kelly. I thoroughly enjoyed that and was picturing you in your red velvet coat. :-}