this is the first ship my father served on. this has always been the most poignant image of Remembrance Day for me. I’ve seen other pictures of him in the Navy, but for whatever reason, this one has always stuck out in my mind.

It’s also, I find, a simpler and more personal way to show gratitude. Also, looking at a picture and trying to think what it would have been like to stand on it avoids the problem of the idiots in the crowds at public ceremonies.

When I was in Ottawa, three of use were given then opportunity to lay a wreath at the national war memorial. two things about that day really struck me; first, it’s not a holiday in ontario. Simon and I had to let our first year philo prof explain to us that in Ontario it’s not a holiday and we were expected to be there for an exam that day. However, in our defence, you can’t really say no when your students say “actually, we won’t because we’re laying a wreath at the memorial.” I mean, I guess you could, but then you’d be a complete and utter dick. Second, at the ceremony itself, there were two teachers behind us filming the ceremony for their students. They talked through the whole thing. During the minute of silence they were describing the sandstone on the Parliament and why it looked dirty. I always hoped that when they showed it to their class, they felt shamed when some kid piped up asking why they never shut up.

In Vancouver, Everett and I always made a point of going to the ceremony at Victory Square. Every year we questioned our decision after having to put up with people screaming about rape and pillaging, or guys who gave their kids toy guns and let them pretend to shoot people there.

I appreciate the efforts that people make to have public ceremonies, and usually I’ll go, but today, this picture is all I need to be thankful that my dad is still here and, in his words, grateful that I never had to go through what he did.