Monday, November 11, 2019

Remembrance Day

"They went with songs to the battle, they were young
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them." 

~ Laurence Binyon, For The Fallen


Today is Remembrance Day in Canada. November 11th, 1918 marked the end of the First World War in Europe, and the date remains a day of commemoration here and in other parts of the world, even with other names, for the fallen of war. These shots are from Guelph, taken in July at Woodlawn Cemetery. A section of the cemetery is designated a military cemetery, with the stones in the traditional Commonwealth War Graves style that dates back to the Great War.


Guelph is where my father lives, and when I visited this summer I took photographs that I decided I'd hold onto for this date. This is the main war memorial in the city's core.


During my time there, I paid a visit to the Guelph Civic Museum, where among the items of local history was this hockey jersey for the Guelph Storm. On it is inscribed the poem In Flanders Fields. The author, John McCrae, was born in Guelph and grew up here. As a doctor, officer, and soldier, he went to the battlegrounds of Europe when the Great War broke out. He never came home, dying of pneumonia in France, where he is buried.


McCrae House is where he was born. The house has been turned into a museum in its own right, and it seems this is a place of pilgrimage for locals on November 11th. Here we have a view of the outside gardens with a memorial.


The interior features displays, artifacts, and panels on McCrae, his life, and times.


Back outside, here are two more views.


For my last shot today, a more recent shot of the War Memorial here in Ottawa, in silhouette. I will be down here today for the national services, and planning on visiting the War Museum afterwards. 

38 comments:

  1. It is really a shame how you remember and in the South of Germany they start carnival. I feel ashamed, even though I live in the North. How dumb and ignorant are some Germans, I wonder.

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  2. Such a waste of human life. I watched the village children returning from the service which is held at the war memorial yesterday and tried to imagine that many of the young men who died in conflict were only a few years older than them.

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  3. ...William, a wonderful poem and images for this solemn day.

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  4. We need to remember our freedom for ever.

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  5. The Netherlands remained neutral in the First World War, so we don't really know this Remembrance Day.

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  6. i enjoy the shot through the fence ... with that greenery ...is it ivy? very like the "secret garden" movie/book. very great shot. have a super great week. i find it interesting that we both have a day of thinking of our service folks. so special, kind and honorable. ( :

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  7. Happy Remembrance Day. Those tombstones remind us of the reality of war and the need to remember.

    Janis
    GDP

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  8. A lovely tribute. Clever to save them for today.

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  9. Hello, a wonderful tribute and Remembrance Day post. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

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  10. Excellent to have shared a visit to the McCrae home, and the poignant poem about the poppies. I love those flowers, and have used their image on many of my pottery pieces. Life is certainly fragile.

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  11. We will never forget. And thank you for Flanders Fields today.

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  12. @Maywyn: we do.

    @Iris: it's different there.

    @Sami: it is.

    @John: that's true.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Nancy: it is.

    @Ella:: indeed.

    @Tom: I thought so.

    @Revrunner: you're welcome.

    @Marianne: I agree.

    @Jan: it is different here.

    @Beth: it is ivy.

    @Janis: they do.

    @Magiceye: thank you.

    @Jennifer: I thought so.

    @Eileen: thank you.

    @Barbara: it is.

    @DJan: thank you.

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  13. Nice post on something we all know about and should hear over and over again.

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  14. A wonderful post for the day, William.

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  15. We should always remember to thank those who served and were able to return home, and also those who did not. Thanks for this timely post, William.

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  16. Thank you for the poem and remembrance.

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  17. My one Grandson marched for Remembrance day Sunday. It was very emotional . The do pay the price for there Country.
    Some make it and others dont. Lest We Forget.

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  18. A nice post for Remembrance Day.

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  19. You have great foresight and patience to plan and save a post like this.

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  20. @Sharon: thank you.

    @Red: definitely.

    @RedPat: thanks!

    @Marie: indeed.

    @Beatrice: you're welcome.

    @Bill: thank you.

    @Kay: you're welcome.

    @Carol: it was emotional today.

    @Lois: thank you.

    @Anvilcloud: I decided to do so at the time.

    @Gemel: thanks!

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  21. Remembering and honouring all the serviceman and women who have served in the past, and who are still serving in our country.

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  22. Wonderful post, we must never forget those brave souls who fought for the freedoms we have now:)

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  23. Wonderful tribute to our fallen ~ war is always so sad but we have freedom ~ thank you military people.

    Lovely recap of your trip ^_^

    Happy Day to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  24. I wondered if and hoped you would post about Guelph and John Macrae and the poem and all. One of my favorites. Truly a lovely post William, and one worth saving for this day.

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  25. Appreciated the poem and pictures for this day.
    We will remember them.

    All the best Jan

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  26. @Shammickite: well put.

    @Italiafinlandia: indeed.

    @Rosie: definitely.

    @Carol: thank you.

    @Jeanie: it was my first time visiting the house. I'll visit again down the line.

    @Jan: thanks.

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