The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #70206 Message #1197714
Posted By: Wilfried Schaum
31-May-04 - 01:28 PM
Thread Name: BS: What's Memorial Day mean to you?
Subject: RE: BS: What's Memorial Day mean to you?
In Germany, second last sunday of November. Widows and orphans assemble, growing fewer and fewer every year, accompanied by some younger friends, and the Town Magistrate. When the band plays the "Good Comrade" I can't stop the tears remembering my dear father KIA half a year before my birth (thanks to god and the Army authorities who granted him a leave before going into his last actions).
During the Eurogathering 2003 in Groningen I happened to be there at their memorial day. A church band played chorals, some with German tunes, and then the drummers came beating the death roll on muted drums covered with black. Behind them a real mass of mourners, some very young people among them. Couldn't stop shedding my tears again thinking of the great nonsense of war - and all those unnecessarily sharing the fate of my father, the fellow orphans, the widows.
I don't know whether I should cry when hearing the last post, but it just could be.
Wilfried