It was supposed to be, at least symbolically, the moment of the end of civilization's last war.
It was the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918.
It was, and remains Armistice Day, although it is celebrated in addition to Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth, Veteran's Day in the United States, and by a host of local names and traditions in many countries.
This is the commemoration of the best of hopes for mankind, that somehow all the lives lost in the battles collectively called The Great War (later, World War I) should have bought us all something... lasting peace between nations.
It took only 2 months for some of the worst traits of mankind to begin to make a lie of all that.
That latter is worth remembering, too, and may we all have learned something from the mistakes then and thereafter.
***
In Remembrance:
"In Flanders fields the poppies blow..."
"Ich hatt' einen Kameraden..."
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In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
DER GUTE KAMERAD
Ich hatt' einen Kameraden,
Einen bessern findst du nit.
Die Trommel schlug zum Streite,
Er ging an meiner Seite
|: In gleichem Schritt und Tritt. :|
Eine Kugel kam geflogen:
Gilt's mir oder gilt es dir?
Ihn hat es weggerissen,
Er liegt vor meinen Füßen
|: Als wär's ein Stück von mir :|
Will mir die Hand noch reichen,
Derweil ich eben lad'.
"Kann dir die Hand nicht geben,
Bleib du im ew'gen Leben
|: Mein guter Kamerad!" :|
-Ludwig Uhland, 1809
"Der gute Kamerad" was set to music by Friedrich Silcher in 1825. I found an mp3 of the song originally recorded by the French Foreign Legion some time ago. It's very stirring to listen to, especially today.
Thank you Mr. Bill, especially for the mp3 file.
@All
If you've never heard it sung before, please make the time.
That was beautiful - thank you
I remember as a child in Brownies and then in Girl Scouts handing out poppies to all that came our way.
I have to admit a bit of selfish interest in the day. Were she still alive, 11NOV08 would have been my maternal grandmother's 130th birthday. She was my youngest grandparent, the only one I ever knew -- the other three having died before I was born. As it was, she passed away when I was all of five years old. But, thinking about her, and about all that she lived through, it astonishes me still that she was 40 the day of the Armistice.
And no, I'm not ancient; events in the lives of my ancestors have periodically extended the time between generations throughout the genealogical histories of both my maternal and paternal family lines.
Armistice gave the right away for Veteran's Day--- this is was what made Veteran's Day--
God Bless those three who are still standing to remember WW1---
106, 110, 112 years of age.
Imagine that? These guys made it to live to honor Armistice Day!
thanks LDG-- You made it possible for me to remember....
xxxx
mr bill-
November 6 is my bad day-- My father was born on that day and my friend's father died on that day--
very mixed emotions when it comes up-- whether to rejoice or just cry- LOL
and what was all that gute?
I see German, ? -- was that a poem?
Ich hatt' einen Kameraden,
Einen bessern findst du nit.
Die Trommel schlug zum Streite,
Er ging an meiner Seite
|: In gleichem Schritt und Tritt. :|
Can someone translate for me?
Hello!! Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Mr. Bill, especially for the mp3 file.
@All
If you've never heard it sung before, please make the time.
November 11, 2008 11:19 AM
Please post the link so I can hear it?
@Susan
Here is a version, in English
I once had a comrade,
you won't find a better one.
The drum was rolling for battle,
he was marching at my side
|: in the same pace and stride. :|
A bullet flew towards us
for him or meant for me?
It did tear him away,
he lies beneath my feet
|: like it was a piece of me. :|
´wants to reach his hand to me,
while I reload my gun.
"Can't give you my hand for now,
you rest in eternal life
|: My good comrade!" :|
h/t: wiki-p
***
re: the song version
The mp3 in mr. bill's comment is an active link. Please click on it.
thank you--- that poem did hit me-- very pretty and sad-
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