Friday, November 11, 2011

Caffeinated Randomness - Remembrance Day

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Today is Remembrance Day.  It is a day to remember those who gave so much for so little.  As a child I was taught to respect this day.  I spent many Remembrance Days in the cold in my girl guide uniform standing at attention in honour of those men and women who served in the Great War, World War II and the Korean War.  As an adult I may not go to the Cenotaph, but I still honour our service men and woman by purchasing a poppy.  I teach my children to respect the sacrifices that others made on their behalf.  I also talk about the war in terms they can understand.  

In all this though, I watch the world and see the disrespect of those that serve in our military.  The condemnation of the men and women who are willing to give themselves for something that many question.  It sickens me that those who like their nice cushy lives disrespect the ones who enable them to have them.  I see this day that should be so solemn become a day of commercialization through sales.   The running to grab the best deal on that new couch makes their sacrifice seem so cheap.   Is this what our veterans fought for? 


A few years ago a Canadian songwriter Terry Kelly faced this dilemma and wrote a song about it. 



You Tube description of the video is:
On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the stores PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the stores leadership role in adopting the Legions two minutes of silence initiative. He felt that the stores contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the two minutes of silence to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terrys anger towards the father for trying to engage the stores clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, A Pittance of Time. Terry later recorded A Pittance of Time and included it on his full-length music CD, The Power of the Dream.
I hope you enjoy the song and remember what so many are willing to forget.

3 comments:

kendal said...

today is our day, too. we call it veteran's day. and i justfeel so thankful. we aren't a military family, but i recognize the sacrifices that so many have made for my freedom. overwhelming. and i hate it when people show disrespect....

Unknown said...

Yes.. remembering those who have given their lives and those who have served. Beautiful!

Aritha V. said...

We only have a day on May 4. Always Imposing

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Alberta, Canada
I'm a 39 year old (oh yeah I'm telling you my age) Stay at Home mom. A former Bad Girl now reformed sinner, I'm married to my Y2K guy and raising 3 great children from God. Proudly Canadian, however, missing the West Coast, I currently live in the prairies watching the farmers fields produce as I learn how God produces the fruits in me.
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