Patriotism.

The theme for this week's Mono-Monday challenge is "Patriotism". 
These are my father's Canadian campaign medals from World War 2. Left to right:  the 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and bar; the War Medal 1939-45.
Campaign medals are mounted, of course, with brightly coloured ribbons, but I think that seeing them in black and white emphasises the utter horror of the events that led to them being awarded. Like so many survivors of the war my father very rarely spoke of what he witnessed during the invasion of Europe. What little he did say left me in no doubt but that it was a hellish experience not to be repeated.

Wilfred Owen said it best:
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est 
Pro patria mori