The eleventh day of the eleventh month

Today is armistice day, and it's a special one because not only is it the eleventh day of the eleventh month, but it is also the eleventh year of the century. So we had our two minutes silence at school at eleven minutes past eleven - 11.11 on the 11.11.11! During the two minutes silence I reflected on all the people who have died and are still dying during wars. I was very moved two years ago when we visited war graves in France and Belgium, including that of James' Great Uncle Hugh, who died at the age of 23 just before the 1st World War ended. We took flowers to his grave, but the next time we visit the boys want to take a heather to plant as a reminder of Scotland. Hugh's graveyard was a relatively small one but it still had two thousand graves; some of the larger ones have many thousands of graves, many unnamed. The war cemeteries were very beautiful in the autumn sunshine, but also very sad. Nearly everyone in those graves were way younger than James and I are now. We also visited battlefields and trenches, it was hard to imagine the violence even though the countryside is still scarred with the marks of war, and even the fields are still full of shells and bullets. I was very impressed with Alasdair and David's interest in the area and its history, and respect for the people who died there. As well as Great Uncle Hugh, we have had other relatives who fought in wars. My Grandpa Russell fought in the Battle of the Somme and in Greece in the 1st World War, and my Dad was in the occupying army in Italy during the 2nd World War. So I had a lot to think about during those two minutes. I just hope that none of my sons has to fight in a war.