Eleven eleven

November 11th

Pardon, please
remember.
Flanders poppies
do recall
veterans
fallen, fading faces
footsteps lost
to time
marching on
for peace


This is my paternal grandfather, Clare Emerson Josselyn. He fought in France with his older brother, Leon who gave his life and two future brother in laws. They are pictured in the link above, a foursome captured for time in a long regimental photograph of Company K, 101st Massachusetts Regiment, taken at a training camp before leaving for the front in France.

Grampa never talked about the war but once to my memory, a haunting story of being separated from his unit for a long and terrifying night in No man's land. His brother Leon died in his arms in an aide station, September of 1918.

We will never forget.

For the Record,
This day came in clear and gorgeous. Happy Birthday to my sister in law, DJ.

Later in the afternoon we had a surprise drop in visit from someone we both have missed and dearly love. Sitting at the table with Milton this afternoon and feeling the special bond we have rekindled, was added to the list of wonderful things that have happened recently. There is much to be thankful for.