Without a Yesterday There is No Today and No Tomorrow

Remembrance Day - Bryan Adams

In school I dreaded history and geography classes. One teacher, affectionately known as "Turkey" made geography fun but my grades were a reflection of my limited comprehension. I passed but without a lot of pride in my C grade. It turns out that I am primarily a "hands-on" (kinesthetic) learner. When I left my hometown of Thunder Bay Ontario and started to physically explore the world and my country, I began to understand and retain the information. Suddenly I could identify more than just the homeland boot in Europe. "Turkey" would be so proud of me. I still want to do much more exploring of the European nation for there is so much I don't know still. And still hoping for my Norwegian cruise someday! ;)

Love of history came about in a very different way. There are way too many anniversaries of births and deaths that take up space in my memory that adding more numbers was not to be. And there didn't seem to be anyway that I could physically go back in time to learn my way. But all those deaths that I endured, gave me a faith in the spiritual being. That faith became curiosity and a desire to learn about time before there was me.

I didn't know my dad, I certainly don't remember my dad but I still felt his love. My dad died when I was 2 years old. I don't really know when I heard of the concept of re-incarnation but even before I knew what it was or meant I had a firm belief that the family dog, Scamp, was with us to protect us. I believed that their spirits were one - my dad and the mongrel we loved. Pretty radical thinking for a good little Catholic girl. I think my mother would have been tolerant but my grandparents would have flipped a gasket. 

Beyond that, I truly believe that my father spoke to me (yes from beyond). I was about 7 years old. Too young and too sheltered to make this stuff up. I wrote about my some of my spiritual experiences in stories that I will link to at the end of this missive.

Understanding the significance of my early childhood unworldly experiences allowed me to accept the possibility for real, and allow the sensations to come forth. And that's how history became an important part of my life. 

As a kid, Remembrance Day was a day that families of all denominations gathered at the cenotaph and watched the soldiers march. I didn't have relations that were part of the military in the wars. I stood solemnly because of the sacrifices that were made by others so that I could live free in Canada. It was important even if it didn't hit my own home.

My grandfather only shared two stories of the war. Both occurred when he lived in Italy as a young father. One was being forcibly taken from his home as his wife and young children looked on. I don't know why this happened or if he spent time as a soldier (beyond the mandatory 1 year service all Italian boys were forced to do - if that). The second story he shared was hearing a deafening noise and looking up to the sky to see it blackened with the shroud of hundreds of planes flying in formation. It was a frightening sight. I have never heard any other first hand accounts of war service beyond the anonymous veterans that used to come to school and talk to us.

At some point, attending Remembrance Day services at church or at the memorial became more than I could emotional handle. In fact, I was so overcome that I was physically removed from the midst of a service to seek comfort privately. Compassion, empathy or a feeling of spiritual connected-ness, I don't know. But something had stirred deep within my soul.

As I said, I didn't have a personal family connection to any of the wars we were supposed to learn about in school. There was no reason I should feel so deeply saddened. Yet I was.  I began to believe that maybe there was a connection - somewhere in history that I wasn't aware of. I'm still not.

But I have developed an interest in history. You can go lie on a sandy southern beach...I want to explore the trenches of France and see Vimy Ridge for myself. I want to know where my parents parents met and what their life was like. I want to know about the prostitutes and innovators of years gone by. I want to see the primitive tools and more than anything I want to know the stories. Without a yesterday we have no today and no tomorrow.

A majority of Canadians once used to live in small communities with lifestyles, professions and ideals that are all but lost to most of us today. The migration to the big cities has carved the headstone for many rural communities. It's not unusual for a small outpost to be inhabited by primarily senior citizens - the younger people having moved on to find work in less traditional manners. 

When the last of the residents passes on, who will be left to tell the stories of life.  We chuckle to ourselves when we see a post like the picture here online. But while that piece of history may be more pop culture than anything else, it is still important to remember the past. It was George Santayana that said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Sometimes I suppose, repetition can be a good thing. Do it again and again until we perfect it. But war is not one of those things. 

2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the first world war. For Canadians, November the 11th is the day we collectively stop to remember. Today, at the 11th hour I will be standing with many others silently remembering. I'll hear the 21-gun salute and with every bullet I hear, I will remember the veteran saying "You want to hear the crack of the bullets flying over your head because when you don't, you're dead"

There are many national and international projects on the go that are intent on remember those that sacrificed for our democracy. I encourage you to look some of them up. Maybe you can help.

1. A FACE FOR EVERY NAME. Bringing life in stories and pictures to every name on the stark white headstones in the graves of the fallen.

2. THE MEMORY PROJECT. Ensuring that the fallen are never forgotten and keeping their memories alive.

3. Support your veterans. Buy a poppy, say a prayer, say Thank you. With the passing of time, there are very few surviving WWI veterans left. Sadly, every day we are forced to inscribe the name of another soldier killed for his country. 

Links to posts mentioned above
Something Tells Me You Are Here with Me :) 
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3


Credits:
George Santayana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Santayana
Los Angeles Times, by Henry Chu, June 28, 2014
http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-world-war-one-20140628-story.html#page=1
History Learning Site - World War I
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/sarajevo_assassination_1914.htm
World Atlas - Metropolitan Populations
http://www.worldatlas.com/citypops.htm
Costs of War
http://costsofwar.org/article/us-and-allied-killed-and-wounded
First World War
http://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm
CBC kids facts pictoral
http://www.cbc.ca/kids/the-feed/world-war-i-by-the-numbers-infographic
A Face for Every Name
https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Face-For-Every-Name/669030663155269?ref=stream
The Memory Project
https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/memory-project-joins-minister-veterans-affairs-commemorate-sacrifices-canadian-forces-year
Record breaking poppy sales
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/record-breaking-pace-of-poppy-sales-leading-to-shortages-1.2826988

FOR THE RECORD, I AM VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO WAR.

Hearts are Buried in the Cold But the Souls Live On in Our Memories

Ghosts That We Knew - Mumford and Sons

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2012

How often do you think about freedom? Your freedom? It is a time to recall the sacrifices that were made on our behalf so that we may live in a free and just world. When I think about Veterans I often think of grandfathers and old men, the Veterans of the two Great Wars - already, I need to be reminded of not only the women but all the other conflicts past and present. Fact is that there are no longer any Veterans alive from the first World War and Canada has been remembering the anniversary of the War of 1812. Long past should not equal long forgotten. Why even the commentators on the special newscasts this morning but heavy emphasis on the men who served in World War I, the Korean War and Afghanistan. But in the crowd of Veterans, I saw many women, and Canada has sent members of the military to places beyond the middle East. On Remembrance Day we should not forget anyone who selfishly sacrifices. 

It has been said that "You don't remember the bad, only the good". I am not sure how true this is - based on personal experience I can attest that some events are so traumatic that they are forever burned in your memory and form the basis of your psyche. Seeing the look on the face of many of the assembled Veterans, I would suggest that many of them would agree with me. The "horrors of war" is not just a phrase contrived from marketing executives, we can only imagine what the bad is and how horrible it was for them. My grandfather was a citizen of Italy during the second World War and rarely spoke of his experiences and never in a great amount of detail. He didn't serve, though I don't know why, I do know that he was forcible taken away from his home and family to a prison camp. The only other thing he shared was looking up to the sky when it suddenly darkened with the cover of hundreds of planes flying in formation. With this limited first hand experience of human conflict, I never quite understood why I was deeply affected during Remembrance Day services. Many times I have had to remove myself to the back of the throng of people so as to not disturb their own reflections with my uncontrollable emotions. It hurts to hear the stories, see the faces and ponder the sorrow. I feel the pain. 

My reaction is nothing to what was sacrificed on behalf of myself and the rest of Canada and the World. Lest we forget that although we are remembering the Veterans of Canada on this day, there are Veterans on the side of peace and goodness all over the world. I will take a perhaps unpopular stand and voice my opinion on the countries that use their military to exert power and control over weaker and less fortified countries. Taking a well-known figure of the past who engaged in this type of behaviour to illustrate my position that this is nothing more than bullying on a national scale. Hitler. Hitler used his power to stomp on the weaker countries around him. We had to stand up to the bully. But there are some conflicts that are perceived as unpopular. The Vietnam conflict comes to mind as one such event. My point is that maybe their is a better way to make a point than raising a gun and aiming it at our fellow humans. Okay, I don't agree with the concept of war. 

Can anyone identify the soundtrack?

This is very difficult for me because it wages a war (pardon the pun) of consciousness within myself. My empathy for Veterans and those who have suffered from war runs deep and hot. On the other hand I am opposed to the very concept of conflict. This very much parallels my life whereby I have allowed the bully to tread upon me and internally hope that their actions will be their own un-doing. I have not fought to save my own soul. But I have given the verbal tools to others who have had the need to fight the oppressor.  

Put the evil doer in a steel box with one bullet fired, ricocheting around and piercing the one at will, leaving a scar as a reminder for each misdeed. 

REMEMBERING TODAY AND TOMORROW

There is talk in the media once again about making Remembrance Day a National Holiday. While I can see that this is a cause that should be commemorated in such a grand fashion I fail to see that this action will promote the cause. As it is right now, many municipalities seem to be transforming many current statutory holidays as just another day to shop and not work (unless you work in the retail sector of course). It points a finger of cause to the multiculturalism that has permeated this country. Rather than assimilate to the greatness that the country of Canada became in no small part due to the efforts of not only our Veterans but ancestors as well, it seems to no longer be good enough. Merry Christmas has given way to Happy Holidays. God has left the consciousness of society in favour of other beliefs. It is a big country and there should be enough room for all. But like a bully, my beliefs are being trod upon by the others who happen not to believe like I do. Yes, even our Veterans who made the country one that foreigners aspire to come to are being cast aside. To be fair, I don't know why the parents of some students are requesting that their children not be a part of Remembrance Day services in the schools, but frankly I don't care. If you live in Canada by choice (and if you don't I'll personally guide you to the nearest border so you can leave) than the respect of Veterans and the history of this country are mandatory. There have been times when as I stated I have been too emotional to fully participate in services but not once has my respect or admiration waned. 

The effort that is put into commemorating Remembrance Day within the school system is dismal at the best of times. This year because on an on-going labour dispute between teachers and the provincial government, one school opted to observe the sacrifice of Veterans with in-class announcement rather than an assembly. While this made the local newscast, I have an update for you. I worked within the school system for many years and it is my experience that this practice is norm not the exception. It takes time and effort for teachers to organize a full school assembly and no-one wants to bother. There are more professional accolades and perks to be had by spending one's time coaching an athletic team. Additionally, most schools don't even have the facilities to house an entire student body in one assembly. When I was a student, Remembrance Day was a day off of school. And without exception, we attended a service at the cenotaph. It wasn't a day off to "hang out" or shop. It was a day to Remember. We also had school related activities and assignments. It mattered and we knew it. 

Maybe the passage of time has weakened our memories and those with the stories to tell us are going the way of the wind. More than 160 Canadians have died in Afghanistan in 10 years which pales in comparison to the 1 in 10 that didn't return from duty during World War I or the 45,000 dead in the 6 years of World War II. But still they were someone's father, mother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandmother, grandfather...family. We all need to mourn the loss - great or small. 

IT'S ALL ABOUT RESPECT

Every year you hear more and more about the theft of the poppy boxes that appear on the counter of retail establishment to remind us to wear the poppy with pride while we support the welfare of the Canadian Veterans. And it was no different this year with several thefts making the news. To the credit of security cameras, alert citizens and law enforcement efforts, some culprits were caught with a backpack full of poppies and $300. Pathetic that someone can stoop so low. I'd like to "pin" a poppy on them...my way! 

After the War - Paul Gross (from Passchendaele)

The wearing of the poppy is one of my personal pet peeves. Over the years I have stepped out of my personal comfort zone to correct many people. Tradition holds that the poppy is to be worn on the left side. Close to the heart. And following the services held at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, it is removed and left as a tribute to the fallen at the cenotaph. In Ottawa, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is covered with a sea of red from the poppies left behind. Officially the Remembrance Period goes from the last Friday in October to the 11th day of November. 

Consumerism is invading the sanctity of Remembrance Day as well. Gone is the collective respect for the sacrifices made. No sooner are the Hallowe'en costumes washed and packed away then the Christmas trappings come out and the cherry "shop til you drop" music sings over the PA system in the stores. This year, Shoppers Drug Mart got a public slap in the face when they were forced by consumer outrage and complaints to shut off Yuletide Tidings until at least the observance of Remembrance Day was complete. A sage move and I applaud all of those who took a stand to remember. I recognize that retailers must take advantage of the spending frenzy of the Christmas season to stay afloat financially but please don't forget the reason you have the privileges you have as a Canadian. Thank you! 

LEST WE FORGET THE HEARTS THAT ARE BURIED IN THE COLD DARK EARTH. MAY THEIR SOULS LIVE ON IN OUR MEMORIES FOREVER!