Armistice Day, Lets not forget

[lyman]

11th hour, 11th day, 11th month,

[jon_norstog]

I think I'll go out an play Taps at sundown,, maybe America the Beautiful and the 5 service songs


jn

[Mark in Ottawa]

Here in Ottawa there is normally a large ceremony attended by the Governor General, the Prime Minister, Senior military officers, representatives of the various embassies, choirs, current military, veterans and up to 10,000 other people. This year, the government asked people not to attend and there were no foreign representatives, a very small contingent of VIPs and a lot of cameramen. As always, a somber ceremony but this time it was not enlivened by the traditional parade of veterans, of whom there are now a dwindling number, mostly in their 90's. The vets always get a lot of applause and everyone knows that they are heading to the Legion for a beer (or three). For once it wasn't cold. We are enjoying the warmest November on record and nobody needed a coat. The TV announcer mentioned that last year the temperature on Nov 11 was minus 30 Celcius (minus 22 F). Unfortunately it was overcast and a planned flypast of WWII aircraft was cancelled.

[jon_norstog]

I think I'll go out an play Taps at sundown,, maybe America the Beautiful and the 5 service songs


jn

What I ended up playing was "Brother Can You Spare a Dime" and finish with Taps. In memory of the veterans of the Great War and how their lives worked out afterward.

"They used to tell me I was building a dream
And so I followed the mob
When there was earth to plow or guns to bear
I was always there right on the job

They used to tell me I was building a dream
With peace and glory ahead
Why should I be standing in line
Just waiting for bread?

Once I built a railroad, I made it run
Made it race against time
Once I built a railroad, now it's done
Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once I built a tower up to the sun
Brick and rivet and lime
Once I built a tower, now it's done
Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell
Full of that yankee doodly dum
Half a million boots went sloggin' through hell
And I was the kid with the drum

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al
It was Al all the time
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal
Say buddy, can you spare a dime?"