In Canada Thanksgiving falls annually in early October, and while I am always delighted to give thanks for the abundance of blessings in my life, family, and country then, another day during which I take time to reflect upon all that I am thankful to have is Remembrance Day.
Growing up, the words “lest we forget” – commonplace in speeches, poems, and odes to those who served and fell for their country, given on November 11th – resonated with me in a profound way. As this very blog itself attests to, I believe with all of my heart that the past should be preserved, learned from, cherished, and – no matter how good or bad – remembered.
As a youngster the notion that somehow my country – or the world as a whole – could forget the atrocities of two world wars was a sobering thought that imparted a reverence for this solemn day in me. I swore to myself at a very early age that I would never forget, never take for granted, never downplay the significance of this important day nor the memory of those who fought (both on the battlefield and as part of the invaluable home front war effort) so that, decades later, I could live in a land of peace and freedom.
I am thankful that many other people out there share my desire to preserve the memories of the past, including documenting the types of events that are facets of Remembrance Day. Today’s Flickr group of note and merit, is one such collective effort. The World War II Flickr group is devoted solely to preserving images (such as the four photos below which hail from this group) of soldiers, the battle front, civilians, and the world as it looked while in the throes of a global conflict. This groups really worth spending a few reflective minutes visiting this week as we mark Remembrance and Veteran’s Days.
{1. Bruce with comrades, 2. Victory day Paris 1945, 3. ROMANCE DURING WORLD WAR TWO 1942, 4. Taffy pics}
May we all know peace, may the world never again turn into a collective battle field, may all who gave and served, lived and died during WW1 and WW2 never fade from our memory; may the words "lest we forget" always hold true, and may you each, dear friends, have a serene and pleasant Remembrance Day on Thursday.
