Comments on: November 11, 1918

By: David Foster

David Foster — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 02:12:41 +0000

It’s difficult for us Americans to realize just how shattering WWI was to European society.

In the chapel at St-Cyr (French military academy), there was a plaque listing the names of those graduates who died in France’s wars. For the class of 1914, the inscription was very short. It said:

“The class of 1914.”

By: Lex

Lex — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 16:36:12 +0000

SDB, it is a pity that these comments cannot capture inflection of voice. I did not think you were criticizing. I did not want to let 11/11 slip by without some commemoration. There is so much one could do.

By: Steven Den Beste

Steven Den Beste — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 16:00:18 +0000

Lex, I didn’t mean to criticize.

By: Lex

Lex — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 14:24:12 +0000

SDB — Will not forget Wilfred Owen, ever. I recently read the Eddie Rickenbacker book, so I had that passage in mind.

Sandy, everything can’t be about how awful the French are!

By: Sandy P

Sandy P — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 07:01:44 +0000

Boy, that 1st line had me fooled, just looked at 11/11 – not 11/11/18.

I thought Chiraq had made a statement.

By: Steven Den Beste

Steven Den Beste — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 05:41:45 +0000

The poems of Wilfred Owen. This one is particularly poignant. When Benjamin Britten wrote his War Requiem in honor of the reopening of Coventry Cathedral, he included several poems by Wilfred Owen in it. It's an extraordinarily fine piece of music, if you ever get a chance to listen to a recording of it.

By: Steven Den Beste

Steven Den Beste — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 05:35:24 +0000

Spare a thought for those who came so close, and yet didn't make it.