Thursday, November 10, 2016

Love and Remembrance


November 11th, 2016

Remembrance Day



As I prepare to attend Remembrance Day services
in the morning

I remember especially with love

My father
who squeaked into the lines
of the 31st Battalion
despite his young age,
and was wounded at Cambrai
on the 11th of October, 1918

My darling husband,
and the band of brothers
who were his crew -
those men who kept the bond close
for seventy years
until death came to each of them.

My two brothers-in-law
who I never met,
and who left a void in their families' lives
when they were killed;
one at Falaise,
and the other in the Hochwald Forest.

We visited their graves when
we traveled to Europe in 1995...
Charles carrying a small rock from the
hills of home which he had 
embedded in a plaque and
attached to their graves
 - a bit of home to keep them company
as they lay at rest far
from those who loved them best.

As the service progresses, and we come to the 
Reading of the Names of the Fallen
my heart catches
and I hear echoes of my 
dear one's voice
as he called the names over the years...

I am grateful that there are no sons' names
to add to the list of
the bravest and best.....





2 comments:

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

We remember - but we don't seem to learn.

David said...

I too hear his voice over whoever reads the names of the fallen and declares our continued love and respect... a tough day for us all, but especially for you ... Much love Mom. ❤️