Remembrance Day, 2008

So, there's much to remember this year. Globally, there are wars going on where Canadian soldiers are being killed with terrible frequency. Afghanistan has brought standing at the cenotaph into a stark new perspective; instead of remembering those who fought and died in WWI and WWII, generations ago, now there are contemporaries dying. 

I was quite surprised, in a good way, at the size of the crowd at the cenotaph in Memorial Park in downtown Calgary. There were many hundreds there. Probably about 200 in uniform, and many times that were citizens come to be respectful. This year, for the first time, all 4 of us went to be there. And I'm glad we did.

Later this evening, we took advantage of the day of remembrance to light a candle for our own relatives who've died. In the last year, Dad in march, and Susan's Grandmother, Doreen, just last December.  This is the second year in a row we put up pictures, lit a candle for each, and recalled the people who we've lost. Of course, I never expected to add two more over the year, but then who knows what tomorrow brings, eh?

They live on in our memories. May that always be true.