Long ago and far away, November 11th was called Armistice Day, in commemoration of the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany. In the part of central Illinois where I grew up, it was also the first day of pheasant season. My mother looked forward to it with excitement, because her brothers would come up from the southern part of the state to hunt the pheasants who lived in the fence rows and wooded areas near our farm. They would set off at dawn, dressed in hunter's gear, and walk the fields. While the men were out hunting pheasant, my mother was preparing a huge family dinner. People didn't travel so much in those days, and she treasured the times she got to be with her brothers. I still remember those family times. Today, November 11th is still a day of remembrance, but it's called Veterans Day. It's still a time to remember all the brave young men and women who've sacrificed their lives in time of war. In central Illinois, the fence rows are mostly gone, and pheasants are seldom seen, and those days are held only in my memories.
You are a great story teller, Bev. You bring memories of your childhood and youth alive and you have a wonderful way of drawing the reader into your world.
ReplyDeleteHere in Oz we remember Armistice Day in small ways but, as in the US, we have our own remembrance day in April. That is the biggie with the street parades and such.