This early afternoon I headed down to Churchill Square here in Edmonton's Downtown core to observe the Remembrance Day Ceremony at City Hall. It was a moving experience seeing everyone coming to pay their respects despite the frigid weather.
To watch community leaders and the family members of fallen soldiers laying wreaths beside the cenotaph was something I find difficult to place words to the emotions it stirred up. As I watched one of the families lay their wreath I realized I had seen them dozens of times walking past the transit center and the local grocery store when I lived on the North end of the city, it really hit home at that point. I couldn't begin to imagine what it would feel like to loose someone in a way like that, to have someone in your life where you know that they are willingly placing their lives at risk in the protection of others and knowing that their death is a very real possibility which could happen on any given day. As much sadness, anger, remorse, or loneliness that those families must endure I only hope they know how truly grateful this Nation is of their loved one's sacrifice.
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
Thank you to the Men and Women of the Canadian Forces who are serving currently or in their past.
And thank you especially to the ones who did not make it back to their families and their homes, you are truly heroes.
Lest We Forget,
Tye Eldridge