Armistice Day

Remembrance Day - also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day or Veterans Day, a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, who so valiantly risked and gave their lives, specifically since the First World War.

Whatever term we use to describe it, we are honoring those who gave their lives for peace and their country.

I think today of the sacrifices made in the Great War and the Second World War. My paternal grandfather fought in the Great War, WWI, the War of Wars, the War to end all wars, the war so romanticised in legend and in media because it is on the cusp of the memory of our current populace, and therefore engenders an almost surreal personality that defies the utter horrors that ensued.

Of lowly social status, he was confined to the rank of infantryman on the Front Line.

As stretcher bearers scurried past him trying to save those who had gone before, he ran on into the great abyss, the unknown and faced a Turk. For the briefest of moments they stared at each other, til the sound resonated in no man's land as my granddad was shot through the ear.

The stretcher bearers rescued him and he recovered. Had the bullet shot through his ear but an inch to the right, then my father and I behind him would not have been here today. It is a true miracle of life threatened and regained. We have so few stories remaining of his military experiences. He did not wish to talk of them. But he recalled to my dad his respect for the Turks on the battlefield, for their bravery.

The Turks are long since our allies again. We enjoy our holidays in the sun on its golden, sandy beaches gracing the Med.

I do not believe that people are born inherently evil. They are made so and those who were once our enemies can become our allies. I am a pacifist and do not believe in war as a means to end the world's troubles. They never have, nor sadly ever will and my heart breaks for those who give their lives, ordered by their leaders in the name of freedom, or justice or retribution, for religion, territorial or economic gain. These are my opinions and as a humanitarian I respect what your differences of opinion may be too. For I believe in free speech unless it is for the preaching of hatred or discrimination which I abhor.

I think of the poppies in the Flanders Field, the Omaha beaches in Normandy, the tombstones stretching it seems for eternity.

Oh were I to wish that the sentiment expressed in the image were true. But we cannot give up hope.

In Remembrance of all those who have lost their lives. In our minute of silence, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, through my tears, I humbly salute you.

Edit: please see this entry for 11/11 to echo my own.