Lest we forget

Last Remembrance Day, Larry and I happened to visit a building in Paris, Les Invalids, that Napoleon had built to house war veterans and those wounded in war. A part of the building had been turned into a huge war museum displaying the military history of France. The first section displayed the first types of leather armor that were used and crude swords and spears. It moved on to rooms and rooms of metal armor that knights wore and how the armor and their weapons evolved. It was crazy to think they actually wore those types of things. The museum continued to display the many types of weapons, armor, machines and so on that were used in all the wars France was involved in. It was amazing and so humbling to see. Suprising to me was their honesty in what they displayed and wrote. For the WWI and WWII displays, the museum displayed the various military clothing, gear, and weapons used by major countries (including Canada). The stuff we read was very frank on why the Germans were winning at first - because their military tactics were better. (I never thought France would admit it so openly, so it was very suprising and informative to read because we weren't taught a lot of it in school even). They also wrote brief stories on major battles and had many short films to watch.

I loved this place, and there was such a peace to the building. Peace in a war museum? I know. We in Canada recognize and appreciate our war veterans, but nothing like they do in France. They are real heros to them. Real people. I loved that we were able to visit it on such a commemorative day.

I love that we are able to have Remembrance Day as a holiday here. I love that we can set a day aside in our lives to remember those who fought in war, no matter who they fought for and what role they played. It is an emotion I could never put down in words, but one I'm sure so many people feel at this time of year as well. Deep gratitude is a very key part. Gratitude for those boys and men who fought and endured so much. They saw, experience, and felt things we can't even imagine. I also can't help but think of all those mothers who sent their sons and husbands off to war. How each day would have been spent in agony, fear, and loneliness. I can't imagine what each person felt that drove them into leaving home and family to fight a war across the ocean.

I could go on and on obviously, but I would just like to say that I am greatful for everyone that served. For the mothers that let their sons go, for the fathers that left their wives and children, and for the boys that served when there was so much to fear in doing so.