Ascension : News From The Grotto - Thought For The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 13.11.2008 (Article Archived on 27.11.2008)

This week we held Remembrance Day ceremonies at St. Mary’s Church.

This week we held Remembrance Day ceremonies at St. Mary’s Church.  This is a tradition that has been going on since the end of the First World War.  It is a tribute to those fallen soldiers who gave their lives in the cause of freedom in all wars.

As well, it is a time to remember those soldiers who survived, but came home with injuries, not only those that can be seen, but those that are unseen.  War is a horror to all who take part.  No one escapes unscathed.  It must alter the perception of all those who live through it, both soldiers and civilians.  And yet it continues is so many corners of this wonderful planet that God gave us.

This past week, I have been reading about the German U-Boat sinkings that were attributed to aircraft assigned to Ascension Island.  I looked at pictures of the demolition bombs dropped from the aircraft as they exploded in the water, and saw one moving picture in which you could see German submariners cowering on the conning tower while being attacked by our planes.  It is a sad reminder that no matter what side they were fighting for, these were men who thought they were on the side of right, the side of their country.  They were men sent to fight a war between nations.  But they were just men, and mostly young men at that.

Our air crews were doing what they had been trained to do, seeking out and destroying the enemy.  However, when the submarine had been destroyed, and survivors were seen in the water, they dropped life rafts to them.  They then radioed for a nearby ship to pick up the survivors.  Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, this didn’t happen.  One lone survivor was found almost a month later, suffering from extreme exposure.  Despite being flown to Recife, Brazil the next day and receiving medical care, he died the day after he arrived in hospital.

What happened next is a story that shows that even though he was an “enemy soldier” all soldiers have a respect for their brethren.  He was buried with full military honours in a cemetery in Brazil, with American soldiers and sailors in attendance.  He may have been a German submariner, but he was a fellow military man.  It shows that in the midst of the madness of war, humanity can be found.  And in this humanity, there is hope for mankind.

As part of the Remembrance service, there is an Act of Commitment, in which the congregation pledges to renew their service to God.  On this day, as we remember all those who fought, suffered and died in the service of our country, let us show humanity to all those who have suffered as a result of conflicts, from all sides.  Let us show that we indeed have the humanity that God instilled in us, and let us pledge to live our faith, and this promise, each and every day.

“Lord God our Father, we pledge ourselves to serve you and all your people in the cause of peace and the relief of want and suffering.  Guide us by your Holy Spirit that we may have the wisdom to know what is right and the courage to defend the same.  Help us to live your law of love, compassion and kindness to one another, and be faithful to him who is the Prince of Peace.”