Remembrance Day

It has been two weeks since I last wrote! Where does the time go so quickly?
I have been going to my sister and brother-in-law's each Wednesday for five weeks now, and I plan to go tomorrow. Last week the kinship group surprised my nephew and me with a birthday cake and a card for each of us signed by the group. Both of us have a birthday this month.

The past few days I have been busily working on Valley Sunshine, the Christian publication I publish quarterly. (I don't have a website for it, but if you want to ask about it you can write to me.) I have to get this issue completed, put together and into the mail before the end of this month to keep up with subscription dates.

Today has been a somewhat sobering day. Remembrance Day - or Veteran's Day in the US - always does this to me. My dad is a WWII Veteran and I am so proud of him. On this date each year we gather with hundreds of other people for a long but meaningful service at Acadia University. The service is conducted by the local branch of the Legion of which Dad is a member, and Dad is in charge of the many memorial wreaths that are laid by family members and other representatives. He has a lot to keep track of, but does it so well, keeping things moving along.

The service consisted of singing by the Annapolis Valley Honour choir, music by Acadia University symphonic band, Scripture readings, prayers, reading of the Honour Rolls which contain the names of our local soldiers lost to World War I, World War II, Korean War/Conflict - and then comes the laying of wreaths. This is a long process but so good to do as part of the remembering.

Of course the two minutes of silence near the beginning of all this sets the mood. For me it is a time of contemplation, prayer, thankfulness, and some emotion welling up. War is horrible! How wonderful instead to be at peace and not lose anyone to such travesties, but unfortunately our part as a nation is sometimes necessary. For that reason it is not sensible or beneficial to condemn anyone sent on deployment. I have, in fact, been thinking today about some way I may personally support a deployed Canadian soldier so far from home and loved ones. I will have to look into that. Many will not get home for Christmas and I am sure they can use some cheering up.

Following today's memorial service, certain friends and family members of the Veterans who belong to the Royal Canadian Legion met at our local Legion hall, the Dr. C. B. Lumsden MM Branch No. 74 in Wolfville. There we were served a tasty meal and our Vets were awarded medals and certificates. And, did I say? - I am so proud of my dad. :)

Please feel free to be in touch. I would love to hear from you.
** If you know of any organization that sends care packages to deployed Canadian soldiers I would be very interested in knowing about it. **

Thanks for reading and ... Blessings on your day! :)