NOVEMBER: The Month We Remember
At the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month we will remember them is the promise that has been honoured in this country ever since King George V led the first official “Armistice Day’ ceremony in 1918 at the end WWI, and at 11am on the 11th November 1919 the first 2 minute silence was observed across the country.
The wearing of poppies – symbols of the blood shed – began the following year in 1946 and the event moved to the 2nd Sunday of November, becoming ‘Remembrance Sunday’.
Throughout the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, with so many families having suffered loss through both world wars, a time of national coming together in silence was an act of reverence and respect for those who gave their lives and an opportunity for everyone to remember the sacrifice they made to ensure our ongoing freedom. Over the decades though, as generations have moved on and fewer people have family members who fought in the wars, the day can seem less personal and both the memories and the reverence have diminished, replaced in part by more current loses, international, national and personal.
Yet hard as the loss of death is, for all of us there are times when we will say goodbye to loved ones and as we create an opportunity in our busy lives to face their loss and ‘release’ them, it’s about more than honouring and respecting them, it’s a two-way exchange that will help us move on as we need to, without regret or grief but remembering their love and grateful for their blessings.
In the past 11 years I’ve done hundreds of dove releases and at each I start by saying the same thing, that for thousands of years and across cultures doves have been symbols of love, peace and new beginnings. I then explain what those gathered are about to see; why the family have chosen doves and what happens to them (they fly straight back home and usually get there before us!)
Guests are then invited to not only send their love flying on the wings of the doves as they rise and circle but to silently remember the love the deceased’s life blessed them with and that they commit to taking forward on their behalf.
A dove release at a funeral, celebration of life, wake, anniversary or birthday, whether formally in a church or chapel, or informally in a garden or on a beach, is our opportunity to both re-connect and silently remember the love they blessed us with and make, or renew, our commitment to take that love forward on their behalf.
If this is something you’d like to do to remember a loved one contact me, Viv, for a chat and let’s work out something special for you.