The first year I went up to Ecclesall war memorial, I stood there on my own for the two minutes of silent remembrance. This year there were five other men. We didn't exchange any words - just stood there in that bright autumn morning paying our respects to those who gave their tomorrows for our today.
For the past three years, I have taken fist-sized beach stones with me. Upon them I have written in permanent marker: "Lest We Forget". I put this year's stone on the memorial's plinth, hoping it might remain there for a full year but it never has.
Close by is All Saints Church which stands proud upon the ridge, overlooking this hilly city. You can see it from miles away. Affixed upon hessian to a churchyard tree was a wreath of knitted poppies - see above. Handcrafted poppies and I thought of the goodness of the maker or makers, sending a simple message of gratitude without words to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
They did not make those wars. Those who bravely take up the call are the ones who die, the ones who are maimed, the ones who carry the ugly mental weight of war to their graves. Those who make wars tend not to die. They stand back from it. Safe behind the lines or secure in their bunkers.
I know that I am a few days late with this blogpost but homage and respect are not limited to the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Other days are ripe for remembrance too.
It's horrendous to think that after thousands of years of fighting, we don't seem much closer to peace. Humans are hard to deal with, and it's hard being human.
ReplyDeleteMen make wars. Women pick up the pieces afterwards.
DeleteSomething about the homemade poppies makes me sad. And your stones, a nice thing to do.
ReplyDeleteBy remembering we keep alive the knowledge that peace is not inevitable.
DeletewE HAVE TO REMEMBER DAILY AS YOU HAVE SUGGESTED.
ReplyDeleteWe must not turn our backs on them.
DeleteThe knitted poppy wreath is beautiful. I dread the thought of another world war. Haven't we lost enough?
ReplyDeleteWhat did we lose them for? All wars end in discussion, treaties, agreements.
DeleteI'm interested in why you first stood at the memorial alone? Are there public memorial services?
ReplyDeleteWe don't make much of remembrance day here but on Anzac day but there wouldn't be an empty memorial all around the country.
I very much like the knitted poppies
The answer is laziness Kylie. Sheffield's main war memorial is in the centre of the city. I used to go there but it is quicker and easier to just walk up to Ecclesall war memorial. There was a bigger gathering up there the day before - Remembrance Sunday.
DeleteSo many wars, so many deaths. It is never ending.
ReplyDeleteAS the song went... "When will they ever learn?"
DeleteThose who survive, with terrible injuries, seen and unseen, remember every day, as do their families and friends. A nice gesture, YP, and humble.
ReplyDeleteWe must hang on and inform the young - hoping that they might follow us.
DeleteLest we forget. Every town and village lost their loved ones.
ReplyDeleteApart from the "thankful villages". You should Google them Dave.
DeleteWe are of a generation who will remember, but what of future generations, will they honour those who fought and lost their lives?
ReplyDeleteI was born just eight years after WWII. It all seemed so close. My son was born thirty nine years after WWII. To him it might seem like ancient history. I must ask him about it all. You ask a good question Carol. Our darling Phoebe was born 76 years after WWII.
DeleteThose who die in war are innocent babes sent to slaughter and in most cases have no say in the matter and have no reason to hate the ones they are fighting who have no reason to hate them. They are told they are fighting for god and country but what does that even mean? Innocent blood spilt, lives lost, families wrenched by the losses of their loved ones and then told that the sacrifice was worth it.
ReplyDeleteNo it's not.
My son and I were talking about wars yesterday and I was feeling sorry for the poor people that suffer so much loss because of politicians, power, and greed. What a waste. "War - what is it good for - absolutely nothing!"
ReplyDeleteI do like those fabric poppies -- a nice idea. I try to always be respectful of Remembrance Day and veterans' causes but I must admit it all feels quite far from my life. No one in my family fought in either war, at least that I'm aware of.
ReplyDeleteLest - a strange word.
ReplyDeleteI used to like Remembrance Day when it was (in Australia) a relatively low-key ceremony, untouched with the weird patriotism which attends our main veteran's day, ANZAC day. I tried always to observe a silence.
ReplyDeleteThere is a tendency for all militarily-related anniversaries to become a honey-pot for the (well-funded) apparatus of recruitment and glorification of the armed services. Bands turn up; wreaths are laid; speeches made. I've seen the increase of that in Armed-Forces-sponsored ceremonies on Armistice Day at the main memorial in Sydney's CBD. I don't think it needs my encouragement.
I managed to be at a local war memorial in 2018 at the notional hour (which was really an 10-hour anticipation, given time zones) and just a few of us marked the occasion with no particular pomp, which is the way I prefer it.