Beyond our resources

This morning I posted to The Word Guild professional blog, Canadian Authors who are Christian, as I do once a month.

Today, being Remembrance Day, I wonder how many of the returning or wounded soldiers relied on resources beyond them to get through active duty. It certainly would not be an easy place to be, despite claims of heroism and passion to serve one’s country.

To appreciate their effort and sacrifice, I dedicate my blog piece today to all members of the Canadian military in whatever role they played, whether front line or behind the scenes, such as mechanics and chaplains.

Here’s the opening to that post:

It’s rare that I go to the movies or even watch one on television, but recently I went to see one at the theatre with a friend, 3-D glasses, giant screen—the whole deal, except for the popcorn.

The Martian opens with a group of astronauts on the planet of Mars. The captain decides to abort the mission when a sandstorm comes up, and the team is in agreement—except that one of the six was hit with flying debris, and they believe him to be dead. The remaining crew members leave the planet without him.

On their return to Earth, the chief scientist at NASA announces sombrely that the crew has returned from the mission to Sol except for the sixth member, Watney (played by Mark Damon). They hold a funeral service for him back home and the other members of the crew go back to their duties. Sometime later, as NASA explores the planet by satellite, they discover movement at Sol and discover that Watney is very much alive, proven when he begins sending messages back to Earth.

Read more here.

Photos on this blog are copyright to C. Wilker, unless otherwise noted.

In Flanders Field— by Adele Simmons

With Remembrance Day coming so soon and cadets and veterans selling poppies, it’s the perfect time to listen to Adele Simmons’ beautiful tribute. She’s humble and would want the focus on the reason for our remembrance.

To those who fought and those who died, ungloriously, to preserve our freedom that we often take for granted, a beautiful adaptation of the poem, In Flander’s Fields, by Colonel John McCrae set to music.

Remembering the sacrifice

Fellow writer Glynis Belec writes about her father and his comrades  from the Royal Marine Association.  Charlie, one of the men in their group who has lived in a nursing home for years didn’t know them anymore though his fellow comrades visited him whenever they could. 

 We who have never been through war may never know just how hard it was for the men who fought, how they would have had to stick together just to make it through a day of battle.  Glynis says,

I am so moved by that dedication and love for fellow man. It didn’t die on the battle field or surface once a year…these valiant Royal Marines (yes dad, I am saluting!) kept on giving and making time and caring for their comrade to the end. What an example.

Go here to read the rest of her post and to listen to a song dedicated to the men who died that we might be free.