Morning has broken

Just back from a very hectic weekend at the conference but more of that later when I get round to my backblips. (all good!)

This morning I was up very early  and went to the 40th anniversary of the Air India disaster, joining Finola on the way. 
On the 23rd June 1985 at precisely 8.15am, Air India Flight 182 exploded around 100kms over the sea near the Cork/Kerry coast.  It had been travelling from Montreal to Delhi and was heading to Heathrow for refuelling. 329 people were on board, including 83 children - some of them unaccompanied as it was the start of the school holidays. It was later discovered that a bomb had been placed on board by Sikh separatists.
A garden of remembrance was later made in Ahakista and has provided much solace to the families of those murdered, as well as local people who opened their homes at the time - and still do.   
Every year there is a service in the garden,  at the exact time of the disaster. Today was no exception but as it was the 40th anniversary was exceptionally well attended by An Taoiseach, diplomats, ministers, naval officers, first responders and the local community. A siren sounded from a naval vessel out in the bay at 8.13 and there was a minute's silence.  All the dignitaries gave very moving speeches but for me the most heart-breaking was from man representing the first responders. Just 20 at the time of the event, he was on a cargo ship in the Atlantic when they got the SOS call. They were told to get ready for a rescue only to find scenes of complete devastation.  It obviously hugely impacted on and changed his life.  The families then spoke, one couple have come every year, their two sons, travelling to meet their parents for the school holidays,  were killed. Their pain has not eased. 
The children from the local primary school played Morning has Broken on  tin whistles, and then sang Let it Be - that was my undoing and I suddenly found myself being hugged by a Mountie!
Towards the end one of the speakers spoke of the utter futility and horror of terrorism and urged us to look around  - here he said was what it was all about -  kindness, goodness and love. I looked - a very multi-cultural gathering, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Indian, Canadian, British, Irish from all walks of life-  all joined in sorrow and support, humanity at its best.

The backs were aching and the bones chilled after nearly 2  hours standing and we returned home where himself had prepared a delicious breakfast.

Morning has Broken