Early this morning I dropped my son off at The Reserves.
A bright red poppy stood out against his green military uniform.
His unit is participating in the Remembrance Day ceremony.
On the return in the car, Terry Penney sang "Normandy in Newfoundland Tonight",
a powerful and vivid song inspired by a Newfoundland solider (Mr. Les Ginn) reliving the nightmare of his time in the Second World War.
"In some ruined Catholic Church- just beyond the walls of God was hell and blood and hate ... and as the moon lit up the foreign sky, he heard himself say to a comrade, ... I wish Normandy was Newfoundland tonight."
http://www.myspace.com/terrypenney/videos/normandy-in-newfoundland/46739007
"I see his face reflected by the light ... and sixty years haven't killed what is in his eyes, it's Normandy in Newfoundland tonight..."
The specialness of the day finally settled deep down inside me.
Mixed with the poignancy was a deep realization
- no, we are not suppose to ever ever forget,ever ...
To those who have served and those now serving,
no amount of gratitude and acknowledgement can repay the debt,
but each year on November 11th, it doesn't stop us from trying ...
And in other ways, we honour your sacrifice and fight any attempt to dilute the gifts of freedom and democracy left with us to protect.
That is why we all should
ask questions
engage in debate
demand information
probe into the hidden
protest against injustice
speak without fear
stand on principles
seek a truth beyond just the facts
So there will never be any more Normandies in Newfoundland.
On this day and evermore,
the Power truly is in our Hands
to both never forget and ever protect ...
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