a place where silence is the loudest sound

a place where silence is the loudest sound, originally uploaded by jamesburden.

I'm reading Birdsong at the moment: a powerful and sobering read. It brings home the harsh realities of war and the horror that those involved go through.

I had a heavy cold at the end of last week, so nearly didn't go to our village Remembrance Day service. But the fresh power of Birdsong inspired me to make the effort, and I'm glad I did.

So at 10.45am on Sunday morning I, and most of the rest of the village, gathered outside around the village green. The priest began to read out the names of those who had died in the two world wars. And whether it was through coincidence or immaculate timing, the roll call was completed on the dot of 11am. The police stopped all traffic driving through the village and the priest fell silent as the village bells rang out eleven times. The village hushed to an unnatural silence apart from the sudden and oddly appropriate activity of crows wheeling and calling high above the village green.

I make no comment on the rights or wrongs of war. But I pay tribute to those who lay down their lives because they believe in truth and in justice.