Memories Of Past Remembrance Days

Sound of a bugle

Playing "Last Post"

Brings back memories

Of Remembrance Day past

For me.

A young child

Of 6 or 7 years old.

Marching

In a local Remembrance Day parade

With other members

Of the Scouting movement

Boys and girls

Beside the village veterans.

Braving

The bitter November weather

As rain/snow fell

Upon us.

Starting at

The local Legion Hall

We march up Main St

To the Cenotaph.

Where wreathes were laid

And the moment of silence

Observed.

Before turning back

To the local Legion

For hot chocolate

And cookies.

To this day

Whenever I heard this

A lump grows

In my throat

As I fight back

Tears.

Wondering

What struggles

Did the soldiers face

In liberating those

Oppressed by

Barbaric regimes.

For which

They have

My eternal gratitude

In liberating my dad's family

From Nazi rule

On May 5, 1945.

A week before

My dad's ninth birthday.

Reviews

[TL Boehm]

wow, a poignant tribute indeed.

[MomzillaNC]

Very moving remembrance and a strong reason for gratitude.

[therisa]

Thank you, Momzilla. Only wished, my dad had talked more about his experiences, during and after the war years.

[MomzillaNC]

I've often wished the same about my Grandfather. But, I also believe he felt he was insulating us from the horrors he faced to protect our freedoms.

[therisa]

Possibly, Momzilla.

[Lyn Anderson]

A powerful write. Very emotional, and beautiful.

[therisa]

Thank you, KL. Am finding myself, thinking more about my dad, and his final years, which the Remembrance Day ceremonies, became a large part of his Novembers. He served with the RCAF, during the 1950s and 1960s, doing two tours with UN forces, in the Middle East, during the early 1960s. Thankfully, he was too young, to have served, in Korea.