Armistice Day

Tomorrow is November 11, and all of my siblings will be here, along with 2 of my daughters, for sure 2 neices, perhaps one nephew, one sister-in-law, one son-in-law and 3 grandsons to attend the Service with my Dad. Dad is 86 and a veteran. He is giving the toast to the Fallen Comrades this year. He will march in the parade to the Cenotaph, stand at attention during the service to honor and pay respect to many, many veteran friends. There are only a few veterans left in Weyburn who are able to attend this service never mind march in a parade. Dad has a bad knee(injured while he was in the Airforce) and his back bothers him quite a bit these days but on Remembrance Day he marches!! Dad has been a member of the Legion here in Weyburn for 66 years....he holds the distinction of having the oldest membership. The Presbyterian and United Churches have cancelled their regular service this year and will all attend this service. After the Cenotaph we will move in doors at the Legion for a church service. Then we will go downstairs for lunch and awards. This years war mother is from Lang and she is 100 years old. I have not missed a Remembrance Day Service here for a long time...but it has been a long time since we all attended together....so it is somewhat of a celebration to honor the many men and women who gave of themselves so that we might enjoy.

So I say...whoever you are....whereever you are....at the 11th hour...on the 11th day ...of the 11th month ...stop for a moment to praise and ...give thanks for the peace and freedom we all enjoy! Also pray for those men and women who are in the midst of war attempting to procur the same rights and privileges for those less fortunate.

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... It is a day for remembering .....I remember my Dad's very good friend telling me how he was sick of school and decided he would join the Army. So off he went...it was going to be a great adventure...no more school for him....he lied about his age and he ended up on a beach in France with bullets flying and bombs going off all around him. So he and another guy took refuge in some sort of dugout affair. Presently they were found by their commanding officer. My Dad's friend said he stood up and saluted and said "Sir I am ready to go home now". His commanding officer did not like that comment at all and told them in no uncertain terms to get out there and fight, that they were in the army now. My Dads friend said school had never looked so good!! and he had never been so scared. He was just 17 years old.

No doubt everyone knows someone who has a story like this to tell, but it is of utmost importance that we never, never forget......so that we never have to make the ultimate sacrifice again.