Pace on Earth

Don't Forget To Remember

Rememberance Day

A few years ago I was preparing for a rugby game in Ottawa. The game was a Canada East game vs the NZ Maoris and the coach had some team building planned. One of these exercises was a trip to the Canadian War Memorial (which is a wonderful monument). The coaching staff had us walk around and take all the info in and then picked out a figure in the memorial to relate to our rugby team. All the guys did their best to equate these soldiers to positions on a rugby field thus equating our game to a battle. When to coach called on me I had a couple of things on my mind: 1) My great-grandfather died in the war that this monument was erected for and 2) He died fighting under the flag of the country we were about to play against. I mentioned those two things first and that we should not make the mistake of compairing sport to war. War is hell and sport is fun and the memorial we were sitting under was to honour the people that fought for our freedom to do things like run around smashing into each other. They appreciated my point. Excuse me while I descend from my high horse....
So, this morning, we gathered once again to honour all those soldiers, past and present, that have fought for Canada. There is now only one First World War veteran with us and the numbers of WWII vets dwindles from year to year. But those men and women that march on Rememberence Day still do so with chins held high with pride. That makes everyone applauding them along the parade route, current soldiers included, mirror that pride.

This afternoon, after the ceremonies ended, there was some rugby to be played. UNB was hosting the Maritime University Championships. Both teams were at the Cenotaph before the game in a good show. The Ironmen then squeeked by Dalhousie in an epic rugby battle. It ended 14-13 and after the game they shook hands and went for a beer. Most importantly no one died in this battle.

Pace out.

Labels: Freddy Beach, Rememberence Day

posted by Vitamin S @ 7:21 p.m.