Today marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the war which was to end all wars. Sadly, World War 1 did not end conflicts and two decades later another, even more destructive global war began. Each year Canadians gather at cenotaphs and other memorials on November 11th for what is Remembrance Day here and Armistice Day in other countries.
This November 11th is a Sunday so some will be at the cenotaph in Belleville this morning while others will attend worship services which will recognize that "there is no greater love than this, to lay down one's life for a friend." In many Mainline congregations with older structures there are plaques acknowledging those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Many congregations have faithfully held Remembrance services through the decades and in congregations I served we always sang O Canada after the benediction.
To mark this special anniversary and commemorate Armistice 100 Remembrance Day the Royal Canadian Legion has launched the Bells of Peace initiative which is designed to emulate that moment of remembrance in honour of those veterans who served. In order to create a unified remembrance action in Canada it is proposed all communities in Canada ring bells, including church bells, at sunset.
I am mystified that in Belleville the Legion and City Council asked churches not to ring bells, opting to have only the city hall bell rung 100 times. Supposedly the ringing of church bells would be overwhelming. Really? It was congregations which prayed for peace through the great wars of the past century and the bells pealed when fighting ended.
It seems disrespectful that churches elsewhere are encouraged to participate in this solemn occasion but not here. If I were still in ministry those church bells would have rung out over the city, but I'm now the retired guy!
Thoughts?
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