Saturday, November 11, 2006 was Remembrance Day in Canada. This meant a public holiday on Monday - which seems to occur with quite some regularity in Canada (public holidays, that is).
I went along to the 10:30am service with Nate and Leah. It was a very patriotic, stirring Service. Singing of the National Anthem (thankfully I had a programme at hand...'O Canada'). Prayer. The Last Post on the Bugle (absolutely moving!). Minutes of silence. In Flanders Field by the choir. Troops marching. Laying of wreaths. And so on. There was also a Commemorative Flypast of Warbirds.
I have to admit I shed a tear or two. Partly because of my own ignorance. In fact I don't remember attending an ANZAC Service in New Zealand (maybe something to do with the fact it's at dawn, but no excuse nonetheless). And I knew so little about the New Zealand soldiers who fought - even despite the fact my Poua fought in the Maori Batallion. So I made some resolutions - to attend services, educate myself and be ignorant no more. Yip, it was a moment.
3 comments:
Now i feel convicted. Has anybody else noticed it's only 48 sleeps until Sonya comes home? Or am i dreaming...!!
Letting you all know I'm planning to be at the ANZAC service in Chch next April. Coffee will be on me... I'll be having hot chocolate. :) (hows that for some advanced planning?)
speaking of moving - I played the Last Post for a couple of Anzac day services back in 6th form - the first one I forgot how to play the rest of the 'post', then in the second one I couldnt hit the high notes cos I was so worried about forgetting the rest of the 'post'.
46 days for me... the joys of having Sonya stop over in Auckland :) (so selfish Tim)
lest we forget those we dont remember
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