by Anura Guruge
on November 11, 2022
This song, from 1971, is about WW I — & all the young men who died during that v. cruel war.
I like to bring it to people’s attention on a regular basis, around the time of ‘November 11‘, because it SO CAPTURES what it is all about.
Please listen to it. It is haunting.
by Anura Guruge
on November 11, 2022
This song, from 1971, is about WW I — & all the young men who died during that v. cruel war.
by Anura Guruge
on November 11, 2021
Unlike ‘Memorial Day‘, ‘Labor Day‘ or for that matter ‘Thanksgiving (U.S.)‘, ‘Veterans Day‘ is NOT a moveable holiday. It is always marked on November 11 (i.e., 11/11) of each year — as of 1938 (i.e., for the last 83 years).
There is a profound reason for this, i.e., marking it on 11/11. That was when what was the horror of WW I formally came to an end — the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 (11:00 11/11/1918). That was Armistice Day.
Though a lot of wars, though none probably as brutal & horrific as WW I, have come & gone, we still mark Veterans Day & Remembrance Day to mark 11/11.
We Brits, & our dear kin from the glorious British Commonwealth, can never forget the 11/11 significance because of our wonderful & SACRED red poppy tradition. When we wear (or see) a red poppy we automatically think of ‘Flanders Field‘, WW I & what all of that entailed.
The U.S., alas, does not have the red poppy tradition though I even wrote to President Obama asking him to try & make it a reality. I am, however, seeing signs that red poppies might start growing in popularity in the U.S. as time passes.
But, for now, for today, please remember, that Veterans Day is always on 11/11 because that was Armistice Day. Thank you.
Please listen to this from the incomparable ‘Eric Bogle‘. One of my favorites.