Remembering

Each Remembrance Day brings a different meaning to my experience with my conception and perception of war.

Last year I was able to attend my local Remembrance Day ceremony on a bright, beautiful Fall day. This year I wanted to work. I was going to take a vacation day off to go to the ceremony in person but some personal commitments used some of those most valuable days and I thought better of it. I awoke at 5:30 AM and entertained the idea of getting up that early and get dressed and head out and add some more of “my guys” – the men of the 18th Battalion – to my blog. Entertaining such an early start turned into a compromise and I was at Tim Hortons logged into their Wifi at 7:30 AM and was able to add 3 soldiers who died in the war before 8:30 AM. It was satisfying to be able to do a small part in extending the memory of those who fought for Canada in the 18th.

Then, looking for material to write about regarding the soldiers of the 18th I reviewed the service record of Private Oliver Ellis who served with the 18th and was wounded in the jaw quite severely and loosing an ear in the process. That was in April of 1918. He returned to Canada and in June of 1919 he was operated on in an effort to correct or mitigate the terrible physical wound he suffered. As a result from that operation he developed tetanus and died June 1, 1919 at 6:40 AM after becoming mentally irrational.

It was later that day at 5 minutes to 11:00 I pulled over and watched the Remembrance Day Ceremony on my phone and took a moment to reflect and honour those that serve. A feeling of melancholy overcame me and I thought back to Private Ellis and all the other members of the 18th Battalion who served. So many were wounded physically and mentally. So many died. One does not want to dwell on how they died.

Work beckoned and I went to my service call and was able to watch the balance of the ceremony until noon. I thought about my family then and specifically about my daughter wishing I was there, in Ottawa, sharing the experience of honouring our veterans. I saw the eyes of men rimmed red in sadness for their comrades and I saw young children who can not even really have a conception of what they were watching. Their parents thought it was important they attend.

I was wondering if my daughter had attended the ceremony and remarked to my client that perhaps I would see her in the crowd, but no, she was student and it was a school day. She was an adult now making adult choices.

She did. She attended the ceremony in Ottawa. She took the time to remember, like many today. I was touched and proud. Perhaps she thought of her Great Grandfather or other relatives that had served. It would have been good to share the day with her. I found comfort in a shared experience even though it was in different cities. No one can have my experience but to have some portioned shared is comforting.

It is good that Canadians are becoming more interested in Remembrance Day. It is appropriate that they think on those that served and sacrificed at least once a year. We all take that moment to remember. All in our own way and our own time.

In many ways, that what THEY fought for.