Lest . We . Forget

‘There's a grief that can't be spoken,

There's a pain goes on and on.

Empty chairs at empty tables,

Now my friends are dead and gone.

Here they talked of revolution,

Here it was they lit the flame,

Here they sang about tomorrow and tomorrow never came.’

I am writing this with my eldest, teenage son playing piano and mournfully singing Empty chairs at empty tables from Les Miserables, the musical.  It is quite an apt song and sentiment considering that today marks the 101st anniversary of the signing of the Armistice between Germany and the Allies, marking the end of fighting in World War I.

Today also marks 100 hundred years since the first Remembrance ceremony (known as Armistice Day) was held with two minutes silence observed at 11 a.m. We still observe Remembrance Day, a century on, because it has come to signify remembrance of those who died not only in the Great War, but all conflicts since.

As my family and I were travelling for six hours today, I expected that we would be pulling over at the side of the road to acknowledge a minute’s silence. Luckily for us, we managed to time it that we arrived in Nhill, located on the Western highway halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne) some ten minutes to eleven.

It was amazing to see eight large palm trees in the memorial park covered with hundreds of knitted or crotchet poppies. This was an act of true devotion, respect and love. So very beautiful.

A crowd of just over a hundred people stood around the town’s Cenotaph. The Australian flag had been lowered to half-mast. 

Mr. Henry Berry, President of the Nhill R.S.L Sub-Branch presided over the ceremony.*

At 11 a.m. we stood and observed a minute’s silence then Barry* (who had driven all the way from Horsham, some 75 kms away) played The Last Post. When I thanked Barry later he said that even though there might have been a few mistakes, “It (was) better than a recording.”

Before inviting those who wished to lay a wreath or poppy at the Cenotaph, Mr. Berry wanted to share a personal story.

John*, a friend of his, had returned form the Vietnam War on 23rd December. On January 6th the following year, the two of them were travelling in a Mini when they were involved in an accident - a truck laden with rocks hit them. John was seriously injured and remained in hospital where he died six weeks later, leaving behind his wife and family.

Gentle spoken Mr. Berry’s voice cracked with emotion as he said, “Every year I lay a poppy on Remembrance Day for my friend John.”

And that is what today is about.

Yes, there are the big Remembrances attended by politicians and royalty. But throughout the world, whether in a village in France, a piazza in Italy or an Australian country town like Nhill, there are ordinary people coming together, standing in silence and paying their respects. They are there to remember somebody they knew or knew of in their community. It is these people who will keep Remembrance Day alive. And through this, they will keep alive the memories and spirit of those who died.

Thank you Mr.Berry. Every time I pass through Nhill, I will remember you and Barry; and I will remember to say a prayer for your friend John.

Lest We forget.

*My apology for not knowing the rank of the gentlemen noted.