There is no need to remind us all what day is today. As we get on with the daily life, we tend to take it for granted. And we do not give a thought to the most precious asset of life – Peace. Without peace life is turned upside down, there is no future and there is fear of the present. Peace is what gives our life a sense of stability, even with all the financial crisis and everything, there is still hope that it will get better…without peace there is no hope.
I find it so moving that at least one day a year the whole World gets to think about it. To remember those who gave their life for us to have ours. And despite of everything that goes on in modern World, despite of wars, just and unjust, the meaning of Remembrance Day is – Honour of what 's humanity have managed to achieve in a course of history.
I’ve been watching over the Remembrance Day events around the Globe. It is emotional. It was also no less emotional at the Memorial Service in the town I live. It was on Sunday: a small sized march along the main street, then service ceremony by the War Memorial. It was amazing how many people attended, despite of the heavy rain – the skies seemed to cry with us, the wind joined us in hymns…I watched the faces of those who came to honour the occasion. There weren’t any “passers by”. Those who came did so with purpose. In a way it felt like people came to express their personal views, somewhat to protest to whichever threatens the Peace…like I said, it was wet, chilly and very inspiring.
And this is a window of one of the charity shop in my town, dressed to the occasion:
There are so many various traditions of celebrating Remembrance day in various countries. In Britain, for example, a week before the Remembrance day people on the streets start wearing poppy badge. The idea is that the wearing of a poppy signifies a shared, public act of remembrance...
Speaking of the acts of remembrance…I didn’t know this before, but came across this in my www wanderings…in Belgium, in the city of Ypres (remember – Flanders Fields?) - these days it has the title of "city of peace". EVERY EVENING since 1928, traffic around the imposing arches of the Menin Gate Memorial has been stopped while the Last Post is sounded beneath the Gate by the local fire brigade. This tribute is given in honour of the memory of British Empire soldiers who fought and died there. EVERY DAY for the last 80 years! What does it say?
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
by John McCrae, May 1915
The greateness of on line blogging is that one can take a "snapshot" of the Everyday in life of the Every Person in almost Every Corner of the World. I wonder how many will mark their day with a brief thought of Remembering....
I find it so moving that at least one day a year the whole World gets to think about it. To remember those who gave their life for us to have ours. And despite of everything that goes on in modern World, despite of wars, just and unjust, the meaning of Remembrance Day is – Honour of what 's humanity have managed to achieve in a course of history.
I’ve been watching over the Remembrance Day events around the Globe. It is emotional. It was also no less emotional at the Memorial Service in the town I live. It was on Sunday: a small sized march along the main street, then service ceremony by the War Memorial. It was amazing how many people attended, despite of the heavy rain – the skies seemed to cry with us, the wind joined us in hymns…I watched the faces of those who came to honour the occasion. There weren’t any “passers by”. Those who came did so with purpose. In a way it felt like people came to express their personal views, somewhat to protest to whichever threatens the Peace…like I said, it was wet, chilly and very inspiring.
And this is a window of one of the charity shop in my town, dressed to the occasion:
There are so many various traditions of celebrating Remembrance day in various countries. In Britain, for example, a week before the Remembrance day people on the streets start wearing poppy badge. The idea is that the wearing of a poppy signifies a shared, public act of remembrance...
Speaking of the acts of remembrance…I didn’t know this before, but came across this in my www wanderings…in Belgium, in the city of Ypres (remember – Flanders Fields?) - these days it has the title of "city of peace". EVERY EVENING since 1928, traffic around the imposing arches of the Menin Gate Memorial has been stopped while the Last Post is sounded beneath the Gate by the local fire brigade. This tribute is given in honour of the memory of British Empire soldiers who fought and died there. EVERY DAY for the last 80 years! What does it say?
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
by John McCrae, May 1915
The greateness of on line blogging is that one can take a "snapshot" of the Everyday in life of the Every Person in almost Every Corner of the World. I wonder how many will mark their day with a brief thought of Remembering....