Monday 28 May 2007

Memorial Day

The month of May contains Memorial Days for many countries in Europe. On May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe signalled the end of the suffering for millions under the Nazi jackboot. Six millions Jews were dead because of their religion, twenty million Russians were dead as a result of the German invasion in 1941. The UK remembers its war dead in November, at Armistice Day on November 11th. In Holland, Memorial Day is May 4th, the eve of liberation on May 5th, 1945. Russia celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany on May 9th, if memory serves.

Over the past few weeks, I've been collecting portraits, names and addresses of some of the 1,167 men from Lewis who lost their lives in both World Wars. Four hundred portraits now gaze out from that page on the Internet (have not completed the work by a long shot), and it makes it ever more sad. You can remain distant if you read about 1,167 people. Doesn't mean anything, really. But if you read that someone lived at an address, perhaps just a few doors down from where I am typing this. You notice that two or three of his brothers also lost their lives, maybe his father or an uncle. And then you see a face looking up from the page, very recognisable, as his grandchildren or greatgrandchildren still walk the streets of Stornoway. One struck me as an ancestor of someone who often comes for coffee with mrs B.

It may be 90 years ago that the First World War ended, and 60 years ago for the Second. But for many people it seems like yesterday. And for some, war is today.

Celebrate the heroism of the men who laid down their lives for your country, wherever you are. Let their sacrifice not be in vain.
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9 comments:

  1. Anonymous28 May 2007 at 18:48

    Well said Guido...we get so caught up in our own "stuff" sometimes we forget that we live and have so many freedoms, all at the sacrifice of others. Linda in Washington state  

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  2. Anonymous28 May 2007 at 19:02

    Wonderfully done.
    Sugar

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  3. Anonymous28 May 2007 at 19:06

    Again...thank you.
    Lisa

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  4. Anonymous28 May 2007 at 19:19

    Thank you Guido. You should have been a teacher.
    Pam

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  5. Anonymous28 May 2007 at 20:40

    I think the memorial task you are undertaking is wonderful, and I would love to see it when it is finished.
    Lori

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  6. Anonymous28 May 2007 at 21:12

    One of my pet peeves is when people say there is no point to voting or that all American flags should be at half-staff until the military comes home.  COUNTLESS fighters have sacrificed and died for the right to vote and for that flag to fly high and proud.  The best way to honour those who sacrifice is to excercise the rights they fought for and fly the colours high and proud.  THANK YOU TO ALL MILITARY!!!!!!!
    -Kellen

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  7. Anonymous28 May 2007 at 21:39

    I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THIS MEMORIAL GUIDO.My Dad was a POW in WW2 but fortunately made it back home to live a long and happy life.Remembering those who were not so fortunate. Shauneen

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  8. Anonymous29 May 2007 at 04:05

    What a great thing to do.   With portraits, they will be remembered more easily.  
    Good job!     Dawn

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  9. Anonymous29 May 2007 at 04:31

    What you say is true... the face to the name and the address... makes it so personal.  You are doing a wonderfully good thing.

    be well,
    Dawn
    http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/

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