Remembrance Day

Dear Diary,

Although we celebrate Veteran's Day on November 11th, today I am joining with the UK in commemorating Remembrance Day, the day the "war to end all wars" ended.  I bought these two poppies in Glasgow at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum where I had gone to see a fabulous exhibit of art, Brushes with War, done by soldiers and war correspondents during WWI.  It was so powerful.

I've worn them since I returned home.  Veteran's groups here usually sell poppies around Memorial Day, in May, so I got a few looks.  As far as I know, I had no family members in that horrific war.  My mother's father was a farmer and exempt and my father's father was too old and in poor health.  Unfortunately, as we all know, it was not a war that ended all wars so I wear the white poppy too.  There just has to be another way.

I’ve learned that there are also purple poppy displays in the UK to honor the 6 million horses and countless donkeys and mules killed during the war.   I had no idea the numbers were so high.  It is well we remember all who suffered and died in that devastating war.