It was different this year. Generally, I try to make it to the local service for Remembrance Day. The weather is usually pretty nasty, but that’s okay. A cold wind and maybe a bit of dampness for an hour or so is hardly putting up with what many others had to endure in the past. But this year the day was beautiful, but we were asked to stay away.
It did not stop me from thinking of some of those that I have met through my life. Those of an older generation who lived through World War II. Others who served in Korea. Still more who were on peacekeeping missions and those who have served fairly recently. When you take the time to think of it, I have known quite a few.
And that’s what yesterday provided. A few minutes to think of it.
My father was a few months too young to see active duty, but many of my uncles and his friends did. Not that they ever really talked about it. That was something that did not usually happen. They might sit around the fire and sing old songs. Some stories would be told about things that might have happened while they were on leave, but little was said about what happened other than that. And even those stories were carefully edited. I’m sure for very good reasons.
Some of these people I know were on active duty and likely saw things that Hollywood movies are made of, but it was never really discussed. Just the occasional comment. Like at a Christmas dinner several years ago when an uncle was asked what he had for dinner during the war. His comment was, “I don’t exactly remember, but I’m pretty sure it came out of a can.” He was a much bigger fan of what was on his plate at that moment. Or those who served in the Navy saying that sleeping in an ice covered hammock on board a ship at sea was not much of a rest.
They never said much, but they remembered. Many of them are gone now, and we have to carry those memories for them, without really knowing what they are. But it can be done. Remembering them for keeping the horrors of war from us should be enough. Hopefully, it is.
