Remembrance Day in Kabul

Today we had a commemoration ceremony for Remembrance Day over at Camp Eggers.  In North Vancouver, where I'm from, it's always dismal and raining on Remembrance Day, which is apropos (but try telling the kids that).  Over here in Kabul, the temperature is definitely dropping, but it was a gorgeous day today.

A beautiful day in Kabul, in the foothills of the Kush Mountains.

The view from Le Bleu Cafe

The merchants at the local Afghan Market. 

Honey, do you want a pair of these?  The guy assures me he will give me "Special Deal"...

...because otherwise I'm bringing this home.

There was a large Canadian contingent--not surprising give that Canada has lost more soldiers per capita than any other nation fighting here (except for the Afghans of course, and their sacrifice shouldn't be forgotten either). We were represented by Major General Day, who presented the Canadian wreath.  Wreaths were also presented by the UK, Australia, New Zealand, France and Belgium.  

Afghan boys playing cricket in a derelict lot on the way to Eggers

The contingent at Eggers.  Beautiful day.  Note the flags at half-mast.

My young friend, engineer and Lieutenant Mike Ulloa.  A good egg.

My mate, Sargeant-Major Tim Ramsay of Nova Scotia, manning the Canada flag.  Exactly what you'd expect of  a SgtMaj:  Larger than life.  Likes to yell a lot.  Heart of gold.

This is why we came today.

The good Lord sent a gust of wind just at the right moment to billow the flags as we raised them to full mast.

Me and my buddies, Lt Ulloa (left) and SgtMaj Ramsey.  Thank you from Canada, boys!

A lonely toilet sitting outside Canada House.

The Americans also had a ceremony for their Veteran's Day.

American Veteran's Day Commemoration outside ISAF HQ

The table is set for the POWs and the soldiers who are MIA.

Anyways, everyone always offers up Flanders Field, which is indeed a wonderful poem.  But here's another obscure gen, from Pink Floyd's last album with Roger Waters.  The Gunner's Dream.  Going out to my friend Gunny, aka writer Sean Mac Uisdin.  You are hereby ordered to buy Sean's latest novella eBook "The Scarlet Bastards," available from Amazon.

The Gunner's Dream

     --  Roger Waters

Floating down through the clouds 

Memories come rushing up to meet me now. 

In the space between the heavens 

and in the corner of some foreign field 

I had a dream. 

I had a dream. 

Good-bye Max. 

Good-bye Ma. 

After the service when you're walking slowly to the car 

And the silver in her hair shines in the cold November air 

You hear the tolling bell 

And touch the silk in your lapel 

And as the tear drops rise to meet the comfort of the band 

You take her frail hand 

And hold on to the dream. 

A place to stay 

Enough to eat 

Somewhere old heroes shuffle safely down the street 

Where you can speak out loud 

About your doubts and fears 

And what's more no-one ever disappears 

You never hear their standard issue kicking in your door. 

You can relax on both sides of the tracks 

And maniacs don't blow holes in bandsmen by remote control 

And everyone has recourse to the law 

And no-one kills the children anymore. 

And no one kills the children anymore. 

Night after night 

Going round and round my brain 

His dream is driving me insane. 

In the corner of some foreign field 

The gunner sleeps tonight. 

What's done is done. 

We cannot just write off his final scene. 

Take heed of his dream. 

Take heed. 

Long May She Wave!