A Pittance of Time

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I was very surprised when I moved to the US that Remembrance Day/Veteran's Day was so dis-regarded. All of my life I have worn a poppy leading up to November 11; had services in school in honour of our veterans, and attended community Remembrance Day ceremonies. Here, there are no community services, and I could find no poppies so I had a friend in Canada send me some so my husband - who is a veteran - and I could wear them on November 11th.

Lest we forget . . . While we may not support or believe in the need of war - especially the wars in which many fight today - we can still honour the men and women who served their countries - regardless of their citizenship - in the many wars in which mankind has been engaged. I was told as a child that one of the best reasons to remember and honour our veterans was so we would never forget the human cost and suffering of war and we would try to find other solutions before accepting such a heart-breaking choice as war.

Last year I came across this video. As Remembrance Day/Veteran's Day draws near I thought it was appropriate to share it with you once again. It is called "A Pittance of Time".

Here is the background . . .

"On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time". Terry later recorded "A Pittance of Time" and included it on his full-length music CD, "The Power of the Dream"."

Edited November 10, 2007 by Kathryn41

[Jasman0717 9]

Veterans Day is Monday the 12th this year. I think it was more important to make it a long weekend than to remember what it was all about.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Nice post, Kathryn! ...and Amen to the 2 minutes of silence.

[almaty 19]

i 2nd that..i hope we never forget the sacrifices the vets made to make the country great..and enjoy your freedom

[Ban Hammer 13,644]

saw that video about 8 years ago, apparently right after it came out. a great moving song

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I always get a poppy hear in the states every year. lest we forget.

[Cassie 8]

to me, this is one of the most important days of the year. I'm with you on the no poppy thing, Kathryn, it feels very strange to walk around and not see any.

[MissStacey 1]

I was telling Mel about the poppies last night- he had never heard of it. It's obviously not something that is common here.

He had also never heard the poem "In Flanders Field"

[~Chad~ 0]

Freedom isn't free....

Here's another good one ....

Edited November 10, 2007 by Chad+Lira

[Welshcookie 17]

Two moving links...thanks for posting

[JeanneVictoria 55]

Still wear my poppy...

[Reba 2]

I'm with you on the no poppy thing, Kathryn, it feels very strange to walk around and not see any.

I make my own. I had asked my Mum to send me some but she keeps forgetting, so I just make my own.

I think its disgraceful that retail organizations just use the day as just another excuse to have a sale. Human lives apparently still are no contest to the almighty dollar!

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Major John McCrae, M.D.

[tweety 1]

11/11 at 11 am carneval starts in Germany Love and miss that day!

[Mags 112]

Always wore a poppy in the UK and they always brought round poppies in the schools too so the kids could buy one. You'd send in your child with a pound coin and they'd donate and buy. Don't get that here at all. Very sad, especially considering how many wars the USA has taken part in (just like the UK).

[jundp 191]

I was telling Mel about the poppies last night- he had never heard of it. It's obviously not something that is common here.

He had also never heard the poem "In Flanders Field"

Wow. I can't believe someone hasn't heard that poem!

In my daughter's school they still do a mass on the Friday before Veteran's Day and the kids take turns reading lines from the poem. They make poppies in class too. At my school, the Friday before we have 2 minutes of silence in the morning, then we say prayer as a school (both are religious schools). I live in Seattle now, but there's always a huge parade near here as well.

It does surprise me that in an age of such "patriotism" we forget our Veterans. If other countries remember theirs, why don't we? Odd.