This Sunday, if you like living free, thank a veteran...and watch this video

[thatcrazycajun]

Terry Kelly's "A Pittance of Time" video (via YouTube)
I was introduced to this extraordinarily moving song and video two years ago by my dear friend wcg (AKA the Marine at the End of the Bar from alt.callahans and callahanians), and spent the whole next few days watching it over and over...and bawling like a newborn each time. I still do. It's been said that Memorial Day is for the soldiers who died, and Veterans' Day (Remembrance Day in Canada) is for those who are still with us; I think this should be made the official international theme song for all military veterans, living and dead. The YouTube page contains an account of the real-life incident that caused Mr. Kelly to write it...or you can find out more at his own website. Not safe for anywhere, work or home, unless you've got a box of tissues handy. It's even more poignant when you realize Kelly has been blind since birth...but didn't need eyes to hear a fellow citizen being a selfish asshat.

And on November 11th, three days from now, in the name of my paternal uncle, Ewell Leger (U.S. Army, Korean War, deceased) and my older brother, Damian Leger (U.S. Army, Israel/Panama), and all their service brethren and sistren—living and dead, past and present—I will listen again and salute all those who wore their country's uniform and served, no matter the risk, in wartime or peacetime...and who keep on doing so today, in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world. Then I will take two minutes out of my day, at precisely 11:00 AM, to observe a moment of silence in their honor...and I hope you all will, too.

"In peacetime our best
Still don battle dress
And lay their lives on the line...
It's a pittance of time."

Comments

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

thank you

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

I appreciate the thought...but I don't deserve the thanks; the vets do; that's the whole point. So thank a veteran in your life, instead—or if you can't find any near you, start with wcg, who is one and hipped me to this song.

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

The thanks was for the song. It made me cry, so you are lucky to get thanks not a whallop. (G)

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

A moment of silence for those who have gone... and the WHOLE REST OF THE YEAR MAKING NOISE for those who might yet come home in one piece.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Amen, brother.

[wolfette]

11th November is Remembrance Day in Britain too. If it falls on a weekday, there's a two minute silence at 11am (at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month) and the nearest Sunday is designated "Remembrance Sunday".

We don't have "Memorial Day" here - Remembrance Day is for all the dead and injured (military) of all the wars, but most particularly "the Great War" (WWI)(we still have a few - very few and getting fewer every year - living veterans from that one, and a lot of people still scarred by the memory)and WWII.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear. May all our grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) grow up never remembering there was ever such a thing as war.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]