Remember...

Today, November 11th, I was honoured to remember in many special ways...


At our school we had our Remembrance day assembly. It is truly amazing to watch a gym full of 900 kids, aged 3 to 12, sit in silence and respectfully listen and remember those who have gone before. Glee at Heart sang "Oh, Canada" to start it off. Leading the choir and watching the faces of each senior singing their hearts out brought tears to my eyes. As I watched one woman; dressed in her uniform, singing "Oh, Canada" as loud as she could, with tears in her eyes, and so clearly full of pride, I got all choked up. 


Then we sang "What A Wonderful World". I don't think I will ever lose the feeling I get when I watch the Grade 6's and the seniors join their voices to create such beautiful music, with such a great message. The song was so great because it is timeless and it is one everyone knows, young and old alike. And watching Glee at Heart sing "What A Wonderful World" I can't help but think...it truly is a wonderful world.


The rest of the assembly was filled with choral poetry read by the whole school, songs, stories, and the laying of the wreaths that each grade created. Again, I am blown away at how a whole school can come together and so respectfully remember a time that came way before them.


Next was off with the Grade 6's to the Westmount to join the seniors for their service. Well, the tears that began at the school came out in full force at the Westmount. What an honour to be a part of their service. To be in a room of people who were there, who lived it, who can remember in a way that only they can, was so completely humbling and overwhelming. I was so touched by their faces, their stories and their tears.


We sang the same songs and again...both touched me deeply. Especially since the choir did not sing alone. Every person in the room sang loud and clear right along with us and it was wonderful. In the room there were a handful of veterans and one in particular who read a poem and laid the wreath. She wore her medals proudly over her heart. Some of the Grade 6's asked what her medals were for so I encouraged them to go and ask her. 


Well, this 91 year old woman gave them (and me) an amazing talk about her experience. She was a cook - she cooked for over 300 people at a time. She told us about her medals for service. She told us about how she lost friends during a bombing that just happened to be on a day she wasn't working. She told us about numerous bombings...taking cover, in complete darkness, waiting for it to be done, only to come out after and go to check the nearby village and have to step over dead bodies because that village got destroyed. And then she looked at all the grade 6's and said "I am proud of my service and if I were young again I would do it all again." With tears streaming down my face now...she asked if anyone else had any questions. One of the grade 6 girls asked her what kinds of things she cooked. Well, her face completely lit up and she went into every detail about one of her favourite treats she used to make for the soldiers. So cute!


The walk back to the school was filled with questions from the 6's and comments on how touched they were by all they heard. What an amazing connection we have made.  Joining the young and old, creating a unique bond between the past and the present, what a gift. What an amazing day of remembering.


So today, on November 11th, I remember.