11th hour, 11th day, 11th month

Armistice Day, now Veterans Day in the US and Remembrance Day in the British Commonwealth, marked the end of WW I in November of 1918.

It has always had a mixed message for me–perhaps because it originated at the point of peace-making in 1918, I think of it as a holiday of hope (for world peace). And, of course, it recognizes the veterans of all wars fought by this country. That’s the bittersweet part–often, the memories come from soldiers or the family members of soldiers lost to war. In today’s NY Times, a moving collection of memories from vets of WW II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf Wars, as well as their survivors.

Coincidentally, I just finished reading a powerful piece of fiction about the Vietnam War–from a Marine grunt perspective. It’s a novel by Karl Marlantes, Matterhorn. Like Tim O’Brien in The Things They Carried, Marlantes puts us simply, directly and unequivocally in the boots of the combat foot soldier in the jungles of southeast Asia. It took the author 30 years to write this book. I recommend it. Highly.

Perhaps what makes Matterhorn so powerful is the protagonist’s realization that, in spite of his tested and abiding loyalty for and love of his comrades, he is also able to look the ugliness and evil of war right in the eye.

My hope for peace–is it childish? wishful thinking?–continues even at this point in my life. My friend Phil asked me to play Harry Manx’s song, “Only Then Will Your House Be Blessed,” on The Blue Note earlier this week, as I paid tribute to Veterans Day. Here’s Manx in a performance of that song:

Tags: Veterans Day