[This is a repost of my annual “Veterans Day” and “Remembrance Day” tribute. I hope you enjoy it.]
Today in the United States it is, “Veterans Day”; in Canada and the Commonwealth Countries it is, “Remembrance Day”. Although similar in sentiment, Veterans Day is defined as a day to honor those who have fought for the United States in all wars. In Canada and other Commonwealth countries, Remembrance Day is to remember the soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in duty to their country. I feel the day is the same, no matter which side of the border we are standing.
My family has a very deep connection to the military. My grandfather served in WWII, my brothers served in the Canadian Armed Forces, and I have worked on a number of military bases.
My Mum put together a series of poems she wrote in honor of soldiers across the world.
With her permission, I am sharing a few of them with you in this post.
ONLY THEY KNOW
“Grandpa, tell me about the war.”
Asked in innocence,
opening a well
of sorrow,
of memories buried,
too painful to recall.
But some leak through.
Faces of the past,
smiles, cigarettes
and blood –
too much blood.
The well is capped,
The present returns,
The subject is changed.
But when a veteran
greets another veteran,
even before a word is spoken,
they know.
A PLEA FOR REMEMBRANCE
They were young men once,
Eager and strong,
Proud to serve their country.
Their numbers are dwindling now.
Eyes have dimmed,
They don’t hear so well
And often they live in the past
Where glory lay.
But today
Will they be remembered?
Look beyond what you see,
Look beyond infirmity,
Don’t let it be
Out of sight
Out of mind.
LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY
Here I am in another land
Lying beneath their soil.
Hell, I didn’t even speak their language
But I had to come
Knowing the freedom I always took
for granted had been wrenched
away from them forcefully,
brutally.
The anger at the injustice,
the horrors that I saw,
the faces of my buddies faded
as I felt the peace of my passing.
And look, someone is kneeling
and leaving a flower,
saying a prayer.
I haven’t been forgotten
After all.
A PRAYER FOR PEACE
Peace!
What a wondrous word!
What a goal to strive for
by men and women of goodwill.
And when it comes,
As it surely will,
All heaven and earth will rejoice.
Is it just a pipe dream?
Will it ever be?
The way is known by many hearts
when words of peace are spoken.
But words without action
are empty promises
And so, my prayer is this:
That hearts unite
in the desire for all to have
freedom, and justice and joy
To know their world is no longer
a frightening place
And there is truly enough for all.
Enough food, enough shelter,
enough love, enough peace.
We have had our fill of sorrow,
and loss, and grief
It’s time for Peace.
The time is now.
Thank you so much, Mum. I really appreciate you allowing me to share these incredibly moving poems.
**If you would like to share my Mum’s poems, please contact me & I’ll be happy to provide you with her contact information.
Please join me and my family in honoring soldiers across the globe on this very sacred and meaningful day. And grandpa, wherever you happen to be, you know we appreciate your service; we will never, ever forget.
The Chicago Files 