Learning the lessons of history

In 1996 the tradition of holding an Act of Remembrance on 11 November each year (as well as on Remembrance Sunday) was reinstated in the village of Glenfield, where I live.  This takes place at the War Memorial which is situated in the grounds of the local Parish Church of St Peter’s.  The Rector of St Peter’s retired a few months ago, and as the church is still awaiting the arrival of a new Rector, I was asked to lead the service.

One of the difficulties associated with observing the two minutes’ silence is in trying to arrange the service so that the silence falls at the correct time of 11am.  It was especially important at St Peter’s, as the church clock strikes on the hour.  I was hugely relieved, therefore, when within a couple of seconds of the bugler finishing his rendition of the "Last Post", the clock began to strike 11.  It was a poignant moment.

Research undertaken by the Royal British Legion suggests that there are still considerable numbers, particularly of younger people, who do not realise the significance of Armistice Day; that it was on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 that the guns of Europe fell silent.  After four years of bitter fighting, The Great War was finally over.  The following year King George V issued a proclamation which called for a two minute silence at 11am on 11th November, and Acts of Remembrance were conducted throughout Britain and the Commonwealth.  It came to symbolise the end of the war and provide an opportunity to remember all those who had died

In cities, towns and villages up and down the country, memorials such as the one at St Peter’s were created to commemorate the sacrifice of those local people who lost their lives.  Such memorials usually have inscribed upon them a list of the names of those who died.  To some, the memorials may appear simply that: a list of names.  In reality, each name represents a family torn apart, a precious life lost, hopes and dreams brought to a premature end.

There are some who say that human beings have no need of God and that we can manage perfectly well on our own.  It seems to me that one only has to look around the world today and see what horrors we continue to inflict on one another to see how false that idea is.  Wars still go on; men and women still engage in untold violence; injustice and oppression continue.  It is right to give thanks for those who gave their lives for others, but we must not let their sacrifice be in vain.  Let us learn the lessons of history.

On Remembrance Sunday I put a verse from the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah on my Facebook page:

'He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into ploughshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war any more.' Isaiah 2:4

A friend commented: “May it be soon.”  To that I say: Amen!