A Day of Rememberance

Had a very good day today…. Traveled to Gabriola Island to attend the Remembrance Day Ceremony there. My mother’s family has quite the history on the island, and are one of the pioneer families there. Silva Bay is named after them. Four Silva’s served in the World Wars… 3 in the 1^st one, and 1 in the 2^nd. It was an honour to be on their island to honour them. It was a really nice ceremony as well… everyone was invited to participate in singing some hymns in the service, so it felt a lot more personal.  Here are some of the pictures I took. Sorry, no selfies!

There was a log boom sorter going past the ferry berth on the way over… couldn’t resist taking a picture. I love the west coast and the logging history… combine that with the life on the water, and how much better could it get than that?!!!

A picture of the cairn after the services.

The next two pictures are of the family plot at the Gabriola Island Cemetary. First is the view from where the plot is … the trees are oaks. It was a beautiful day, and the sun was shining just right! It was nice to see the family has put a marking stone down as well. 

When I get a chance to download the pictures I took on my phone, I will update this with the picture of Henry Silva, who served in WW2. I can see the family resemblance in some of the Hall’s I know.

Right now I’m listening to Belleau Wood by Garth Brooks… so suitable for this day of remembrance! I know it’s a Christmas song, but I think of all the hardships and hope those soldiers had, and the peace they must have felt that night.

"Belleau Wood"

Here are the lyrics from http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/garthbrooks/belleauwood.html

Oh, the snowflakes fell in silence

Over Belleau Wood that night

For a Christmas truce had been declared

By both sides of the fight

As we lay there in our trenches

The silence broke in two

By a German soldier singing

A song that we all knew

Though I did not know the language

The song was "Silent Night"

Then I heard my buddy whisper,

"All is calm and all is bright"

Then the fear and doubt surrounded me

'Cause I'd die if I was wrong

But I stood up in my trench

And I began to sing along

Then across the frozen battlefield

Another's voice joined in

Until one by one each man became

A singer of the hymn

Then I thought that I was dreaming

For right there in my sight

Stood the German soldier

'Neath the falling flakes of white

And he raised his hand and smiled at me

As if he seemed to say

Here's hoping we both live

To see us find a better way

Then the devil's clock struck midnight

And the skies lit up again

And the battlefield where heaven stood

Was blown to hell again

But for just one fleeting moment

The answer seemed so clear

Heaven's not beyond the clouds

It's just beyond the fear

No, heaven's not beyond the clouds

It's for us to find it here