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Lives Dashed - All gave some, Some gave all.

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Sage Executive Group Real Estate

The lump in my throat was threatening to choke me, as I sat on November 11, 2010, and watched the ever increasing line of names, and dates scroll down the screen.

Remembrance Day in Canada, known by our Southerly neighbors as Veterans Day, is a day to Remember and Honor our heroes and soldiers who struggle valiantly for peace on a global scale. This year I thought about all of our soldiers, not only those in known war zones, but the men and woman on our streets, in our ghetto's, at religious sites, and called out to clean up after acts of terrorism.

And I reflected once again on that dash, the space between the dates, that represents all they did. And I gave thanks, for their lives, dashed.

All Gave Some, Some Gave All.

 

Posted by

Sharon Lancaster

Real Estate and Marketing Professional

Homes From the Heart

Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Sharon - there are more to remember than just those who went to war there are many who put themselves in harms way for us every day here at home.

Here is a story that came to me in an email with a request to pass it on Very appropriate for the day

November approaches with a Lesson

A lesson that should be taught in all schools . . And colleges

Back in September, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School , did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom.

When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. 'Ms.. Cothren, where're our desks?' She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.'

They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.'

'No,' she said.

'Maybe it's our behavior.'

 She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room. The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

 At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it.

Twenty-seven (27) War Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall... By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned..

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

By the way, this is a true story.

Please consider passing this along so others won't forget that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by War Veterans. 

LEST WE FORGET - Wear a Poppy to show your respect on Remembrance (Vetrans) Day

Nov 12, 2010 03:58 PM
Sharon Lancaster
Sage Executive Group Real Estate - Kelowna, BC
SRES, Realty Executives Okanagan

Beautiful story. One day I was in Eliat, Israel - I think it was 2006. I was sitting at a window with a spectacular view of Jordan on the left, and Egypt on the riight. Behind we was a spread of exotic fruits, rich cheeses, breads, jellies - a breakfast spread from a 5 star hotel.

The morning headlines talked again of Hamas missiles being fired into Sderot, some reaching as far as Ashkalon, and how the Israeli Military was considering a war strike. I was unable to eat, unable to feel joy, thinking of the soldiers on the line that morning, the war zone only a few miles from my chair.

My dining partner admonished me - stating that it was my responsibility to live, feel joy, and partake of the freedom and beauty of the day - other wise I was disrespeicting the soldiers who were watching my back at that very minute. They gave - so I could play. And if I did not play - what joy could they have?

It was a strange lesson, but in a mixed up way - similar to the chairs - it tells the story of our heroes.

 

Nov 13, 2010 06:04 AM