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Pics and slide show. Remembrance Day Chalottetown PEI
Posted By: Peter Zack, 11-11-2008, 12:22 PM

Remembrance Day is always one of those days I find has an impact. It might be that my grandfather fought for England in WW1 and for Canada in WW II. He lied about his age and was tall at 15 (over 6 feet) and fought the last year (1918) as a Black Watch (yup that's a Kilt as part of the dress uniform). Maybe partly because the other side of the family was under occupation in Greece.

I see those old vets and it can't help but feel for what they endured for the rest of us.

I go every year but this year decided to take a couple of cameras and take as many shots as possible. Many of the older vets won't be here much longer. I just wanted something of a record of their participation both today and years past.

As usual it was a cold gray and windy November day. The crowd was maybe 4000 to observe the day.

For our American friends, November 11th at 11 AM is the hour we remember those that sacrificed everything for our freedom. Same as your Veterans day. It's a holiday in this part of Canada and everything is closed as it should be.

The plus of having 2 big cameras and a monopod, is you get freedom to roam as people think you're working.

All the shots were with either the K10D with FA*300mm and AF1.7TC attached (510mm) or K20D and either Sigma 70-200 or DA16-45mm. These are just the Jpegs to save some time going through the shots (I shoot RAW + on both cameras) The RAW's will be worked on later.

The slide show is here:

Picasa Web Albums - Peter - Remembrance D...

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Last edited by Peter Zack; 11-11-2008 at 08:42 PM.
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11-12-2008, 12:28 AM   #16
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Really nice series Peter. Heroes one and all. We honour, respect and thank all who have served.

11-12-2008, 12:56 AM   #17
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Thank you for the post Peter, pictures, slide show and words. I'm home with a bad cold but from what I hear, outside of remembrance day services it was very much business as usual.
11-12-2008, 04:39 AM   #18
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These are wonderfully effective photographs, Peter. I'm a (non-combat) vet as is my dad but I'm so braced against the manipulation of patriotism by commercial interests and the political right that I have a hard time with this observance. The purity of your appreciation cut through that.
11-12-2008, 04:50 AM   #19
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QuoteOriginally posted by Damn Brit Quote
Unfortunately Miserere 'they' have learnt the lesson and they learnt it a long time ago, War is extremely good for business.
you hit the nail on the head mate. r.i.p to all who have passed whilst in service, for the stability and safety of our country(s) i am eternally greatful for what they have done. thankyou

11-12-2008, 06:10 AM   #20
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Thanks for having a look everyone. Glad you had a look and took a moment to think about this.

Gary, I do agree and the fact that business goes on as usual in much of the world does back up your comments. It really shouldn't be that way IMHO. Without looking at our history, we are doomed to repeat it.

QuoteOriginally posted by Damn Brit Quote
Peter, a very fine and poignant set of shots, this is something that should always be remembered and sadly I don't think kids in school are informed enough to be fully aware of the sacrifices that have been made in the past. I personally believe that wars are the result of not enough dialogue between nations and cultures but that doesn't lessen what the brave men in the military have done. In fact I think it makes there sacrifice more valuable because at least they were doing something they believed in. Those who sent them into battle should bow there heads in shame.
I think #3 is by far the most effective shot, The one figure in focus acts as a solid representation of all the others, the blurred figures marching in the background serve as a reminder that we don't have to know or remember what these brave men and women look like but that we must always remember and recognise what they did.

On a side note, like you, one side of my wife's family was under occupation on one of the Greek islands, her fathers uncle was one of the resistance fighters in the real 'Guns of Navarone' operation and was presented with a medal personally by Mountbatten. My father in laws mother was in a marriage with a not very nice man, she actually fell in love and had an affair with a German soldier and it turns out that my wife is actually one quarter German.

The point I'm trying to make is that regardless of sides, everyone who fought and died did so for the same reasons and we should not forget that and if necessary we and our younger generations should be reminded of that truth.
11-12-2008, 01:10 PM   #21
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On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we reflect.

Every year when I do the family calendar, November never changes and i use this image - a tribute to my papa whom, like everyone else lied about his age. Was it the excitement(?) of war or lack of employment or....

My papa was in North Africa with the 8th Army.

Peter, I quite like the third shot. It's not a Stat holiday here except for the Gov't and Bank employees and we certainly don't get anywhere near your 4000 people. I wish.

I never take the camera when I go because I want to participate in the ceremony of remembering ALL soldiers.

Thanks for sharing.
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11-12-2008, 01:39 PM   #22
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QuoteOriginally posted by JCSullivan Quote
It's not a Stat holiday here except for the Gov't and Bank employees and we certainly don't get anywhere near your 4000 people. I wish.
I don't know why it isn't a stat holiday here. As a small business owner I'd support a stat holiday even though it would cost me money, because somethings are more important than money. Alas, this year I could not get out of work and it was the first time in a while I couldn't be at our local ceremony while my colleagues in government were home with their feet up.....

11-12-2008, 07:17 PM   #23
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it should be Leaf Fan. I wish there was more focus on this at least for one day. I think it used to be that in Canada, everyone was off till at least 1PM and that should be the minimum standard. Particularly since there are a lot of new vets coming from places like Afghanistan.
11-12-2008, 07:18 PM   #24
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That's a great image JC for the calendar. Glad you posted it.
11-12-2008, 07:32 PM   #25
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My cousin was luckier than most: he was the captain of a cruiser (CDN Navy) shelling the Normandy coast. I've met many folks who served in WWII, and many of them refuse to recount the grim realities they faced daily. I agree that it's important to remember their sacrifice, regardless of politics, opinion, etc. on any side. Remember that many of the friends they made were often lost in battle.

One thing that still sticks in my mind is the brief recounting of my neighbor while living in Ottawa. I spoke with him about it as a young teenager. He was a former mechanic in the US Army Air Force in WWII. He said the hardest part of the job was cleaning out the badly shot up B-17 bombers after they returned from a mission. They used fire hoses for a reason.

This brings back memories of Confederation Square and the ceremonies at the War Memorial. Very difficult watching those men remember.

Very thoughtful series Peter. Nothing needs to be said that wasn't already said - #3 is poignant and moving.

Regards,
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11-12-2008, 07:53 PM   #26
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Peter,
Thanks for helping us remember. My Dad was in the navy on North Atlantic convoy escort duty during WWII. He was one of the lucky ones. He still won't talk about it, nor will my Uncles who served in WWII. I also have a number of American cousins who served in Vietnam and they have been indelibly impacted. As the torch passes, it is on us to appreciate the sacrifices made for us and to help our children understand as well. Dave
11-14-2008, 02:43 AM   #27
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Thanks Peter.

My papa NEVER spoke of his WWII experience and according to documentation they had it pretty bad in the 8th.

Anyway, should it be a Stat? My answer is NO. For the simple reason that MOST would stay at home with their feet up - as said above. The reason it started as a stat in the gov't was because many who returned from duty would get public/civil service jobs and so the administration was full of vets who would commemorate that day.

Today most wouldn't give an F if they even knew what the heck it was.

Peter, my apologies if i hijacked this thread. I do not mean to take-away from the imaging showing faces of those remembering their friends, families and buddies or their own experiences.
11-14-2008, 03:50 AM   #28
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Peter, Thanks for sharing these. They are all very good but the 3rd one just pops out.

QuoteOriginally posted by Miserere Quote
...
Being a pacifist at heart I have mixed emotions on this day. On the one hand I think we should definitely remember and pay tribute to the soldiers that fought those great wars, but on the other hand I wonder why it is that we haven't learnt the lesson and continue creating new wars to fight. ...
"Honor the soldiers that must fight the wars and chastise the politicians that were unable or unwilling to find other recourse."

I don't know where I heard that but it sums up my viewpoint. Veterans and Rememberence Days are not about remembering or glorifying the wars, they are about remembering and honoring those who served.

I often wish our politicians had to be on the front lines when they get us into a war. They might work harder at avoiding war in that case.
11-14-2008, 09:41 AM   #29
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Yes Marc it is. I've been to these every year since being a kid. I've see more than one of the old vets shed a tear and it really makes you wonder what stories are locked up inside.

Not surprised DaveF. Being from Nova Scotia and living (and working) around the ocean gives me some idea and appreciation of what these guys endured. If you've never been, visit Halifax someday and have a look at the HMCS Sackville. A little corvette (last one) that did submarine/convoy duty in the North Atlantic. How those little 'ships' (not much bigger than a fishing boat) did that 12 months of the year is astonishing.

But then that's the whole point of democracy and what they fought for itsn't it JC. You and I can disagree because we are free as a result of what they did.

Mike I couldn't have said it better myself.

I'm going to float this little trial balloon. I was in contact with DeJong (misrere's link) and this is very peliminary, but if you guys and others are interested in photographing WW2 vets, he is interested in putting a project together. It would be over some time and my suggestion to him is that we each cover some of the areas we live, visit the vets, take a couple of good quality portraits and if possible a short bio/story about each. Send them to him. The idea might be to publish a book. I wouldn't expect to be paid but credits to each in the book.


Any thoughts before I write him back?? Here in Canada we can find the people through the legions. I would assume that's possible in the US through a local VA. Not sure about the UK. AU and elsewhere.
11-14-2008, 10:01 AM   #30
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QuoteOriginally posted by MRRiley Quote
Peter, Thanks for sharing these. They are all very good but the 3rd one just pops out.



"Honor the soldiers that must fight the wars and chastise the politicians that were unable or unwilling to find other recourse."

I don't know where I heard that but it sums up my viewpoint. Veterans and Rememberence Days are not about remembering or glorifying the wars, they are about remembering and honoring those who served.

I often wish our politicians had to be on the front lines when they get us into a war. They might work harder at avoiding war in that case.
I like the saying I heard not to long ago about our Canadian Forces serving in Afganistan, "If you don't want to stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them."
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