While today is a day to honor veterans, it is also a day to remember that 101 years ago today – “At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month” – the “war to end all wars” finally witnessed the guns cease their roaring.
“This is already the vastest war in history. It is a war not of nations, but of mankind. It is a war to exorcise a world-madness and end an age… It aims at a settlement that shall stop this sort of thing for ever… This, the greatest of all wars, is not just another war – it is the last war!”
~H.G. Wells, 1914
These songs are for those brave souls who fought in that “war to end all wars” and to the millions of veterans, living and dead, who discovered before and after that there will never be a “last war.”
Such somber music as we reflect on so many who gave so much of themselves for us ….. especially love the Irish singers – there is so much passion there …. just read another fb post about the average age of Vietnam soldiers – 19 compared to 26 for WWII. Cannot imagine what the men and women who have fought for our freedom have witnessed …. it’s humbling to know how much we owe them. Thanks Ray for bringing the music that speaks to the sad sad soul of war ….
Thank you, Barbara. I recognize the fact that today is the day we honor all of our veterans but I just couldn’t let the anniversary of the end of the “Great War” pass without paying proper respect to those long ago heroes, not only Americans, but the brave soldiers from Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand, too.
Those songs are haunting but beautiful.
I hadn’t thought of it before you used the term, Dan, but “haunting” is exactly what I was aiming for.
Wow, this was awesome. Thank you for all your work putting it together,
Thank you, Nancy, I appreciate that.