Memorial Day Video

Today is Memorial Day here in the USA. It is a time to think of the heros of every generation who have given all in service to our country. As a veteran myself, I would like to personally thank all the families who have given the ultimate sacrifices for this country.

As this holiday season gears up, please also remember both in your prayers and in your actions those still serving overseas, not only in Iraq, but in places like Korea, Macedonia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and many other places I am probably unaware of.

I know I’ve posted this video before, but it is just so apt that I have to share it again-I know it is for Veterans Day, but the sentiment fits for Memorial Day too. It is actually from a Canadian singer songwriter. Terry Kelly wrote this song after an actual incident that occured to him on Veterans day in Canada (Canada and America both celebrate on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). Every time I hear the song, it makes me cry. I could paraphrase the story, but it is written so well on his own website that I will post a quote here, with the link back to the site:

On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store’s PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the store’s leadership role in adopting the Legion’s “two minutes of silence” initiative. He felt that the store’s contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.
When eleven o’clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the “two minutes of silence” to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terry’s anger towards the father for trying to engage the store’s clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, “A Pittance of Time”. Terry later recorded “A Pittance of Time” and included it on his full-length music CD, “The Power of the Dream”.