The 11th Day of the 11th Month in the 11th Hour

 

I have many memories of Remembrance Day.  Dressing in first my brownie uniform and then my guide's and taking my place with my grandfather and my father and walking in the parade to the park to put the wreaths.  

Papa was in the first world war but other than the one story of his escape from a prison work farm he never spoke of it at all.  Dad did a tour in the British air force before he came to Canada.  

I remember when the government decided kids had to stay in school and take part in school services instead of with their family because they thought we would forget and it would just become a holiday.  I missed walking with my family on Remembrance Day.  

I remember Bobby, our doctor's son playing the trumpet over the PA in our high school at 11 o'clock.  It wasn't the same though.

I remember standing on a snowy day at the war memorial in Ottawa, shivering and being there for the ceremonies in our capital city.  It still was not the same as the those moments spent with father and grandfather in my little uniform walking from the legion to the memorial park to place wreaths.  My girls never had those moments and I wish they had.  Sure they were at school and they took part in ceremonies in their gyms but it wasn't the same as three generations walking together.  

Today we shall watch the ceremonies from the War Memorial in Ottawa on CBC Gem because standing in the cold wind isn't something hubby and I can do anymore and I will remember my grandfather and his story of escape and the sad look in his eyes as he remembered people that he lost and memories he would never speak of and I will not forget.