Remembrance Day...

In Canada today is known as Remembrance Day. We pause to remember those who died to fight for the freedom of our country and other countries around the world. I have memories of going to the cenotaph in Kitchener Ontario with my mom , dad and siblings in tow. We always went as a family. At first I did not understand the meaning behind the sad faces and black arm bands. Now, years and several small wars later I remember all to well the somberness of the day. We were taught to reflect on the sacrifices those who died for us made as well as the absolute horror that war weighs on a country. It is pouring rain here which seems to fit the mood of the day. As a matter of fact, it seems to me one of the memories of childhood on this day is the sea of countless black umbrellas. Are there as many now? Do we need to awaken our youth to the need to remember as our parents taught us. For whatever reason, historically, this day seems to conjure up images of broken bodies, burned out buildings and scarred landscapes. Feelings of emptiness, horror and sorrow swirl around the atmosphere like a cloud of impending doom. Do we need to alert the rest of the world to this? There are countries in this world where to die for the country is a "get into heaven" free card. Because of this, I am convinced there will never be an end to war. We will always have war and skirmishes, so how do we comfort those who fight or live through these? We may never be able to comfort or know how or what those people feel. And that is why today, we REMEMBER THEM.