On most diplomatic occasions there was a sort of running joke about whether any wagers had been made about who'd turn up first, such was the legendary punctuality of the Morelander's and sure enough it was Freya and Alex first through the door and looking as smart as would befit the occasion Renee smiled "I thank you for coming Your Highness." she said in response to Freya's greeting "And I hope that you find it a fulfilling evening." she was perhaps being a little too careful with her words, constantly reminding herself of the nature of the occasion, she introduced the Morelander party to one of the Achkaerinese military cadets who was perhaps a little surprised to have the honour of showing Freya and Alex to their seats, it was greatly understood that Achkaerin viewed East Moreland as its most significant ally on the world stage after all, though Renee wasn't sure whether it was the fact that it was the Morelander's or if it was the Red Legion uniform that was surprising the cadet, but he quickly regained his composure and showed the Morelander's to their seats.
Renee now turned her attention to the Ikhan delegation, a nation she wasn't that familiar with, she smiled after the Emperor's greeting "Thank you for coming." she said, she didn't comment on the presence of security personnel even if she viewed them as unnecessary this was after all a building that contained at that moment several very prominent leadership figures from different nations, some of the best trained military personnel in the world including one from East Moreland's Red Legion, but if the Ikhan Emperor wanted to turn up with his own security that was fair enough. She handed them over to a cadet to be seated.
And then came the surprise of the night, Ronan Vallerius and Sir Roland Sto Heliat, Renee was grinning so broadly that she momentarily dispensed with diplomatic protocol and hugged the pair of them one after the other, it was quite fitting that considering one of the anniversaries that night involved the CIS that by virtue of this surprise all the CIS nations from that time were represented in the theatre. "What time do you call this?" she joked "You don't write, you don't call, you don't arrange a rugby match..." she trailed off for a moment to wave a cadet over "This cadet will show you to your seats and Princess Freya is in attendance and I'm sure they'll be pleased to see you. And thank you for coming"
A few minutes later it was time for the festival of remembrance to begin, the people were in their seats, the orchestra of the Rockmount Rifle regiment was in position, the oval shaped floor arena was empty save for the standard bearers stood around the perimeter, the standards were those of each of the Achkaerinese army regiments and corps, each Achkaerinese naval vessel, each Achkaerinese Air Force squadron and then also the Scout and Guiding associations. The end of the oval nearest the Navy's orchestra had a stage on it with a podium, there was silence as the Achkaerinese Emperor
Peter Azurewind made his way out from the wings and stood at the bottom of the stage steps, he wore a black suit, the red poppy on one lapel and his two military medals the Djana Cross and the Hermione Leonidas Order pinned on the jacket pocket. He glanced over his shoulder and nodded to the conductor, a moment later the orchestra struck up with their
instrumental as the music played the standards paraded around the the edge of the oval to the tip opposite Peter and then in two lines marched the length of the oval, up onto the stage and then up into an area behind the orchestra. As the first standards approach Peter he saluted them and held the salute until the final standard had passed by him then dropping his hand he turned sharply on the spot and followed the standards, though he would only follow them up onto the stage and not further than that.
There was polite applause for the orchestra as
Amelia Whitaker made her way to the podium. She took a deep breath before she spoke "Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness's, Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen." Amelia said "On this day seventy five years ago, the world stepped into a time of peace, after many years of relentless bloodshed and terrible suffering, the armistice had been signed, the guns had fallen silent and the eleventh day of the eleventh month would become our prime symbol, our prime emblem of peace and remembrance. Tonight we will remember all those whose lives were touched by those years of dreadful conflict, we give thanks for the sacrifices they made and we pay tribute to their contribution on the long and very costly road to peace. We also pay tribute to those who have continued to serve and make the same sacrifices in more recent times, 2020 marks not only the seventy fifth anniversary of the end of the Great War but also the fifth anniversary of the Seaforth Eugenics War and the Marseilles Crisis. And to begin our tributes tonight, please welcome Seaforth's Lindsey Stirling."
There had been a concerted desire on the part of the Achkaerinese organizers to include the more recent conflicts in this and beginning with Seaforth's best known musical export was a good idea, the
violin music became the only sound in the theatre and when she finished attention went to the two big screens behind the stage as a video played, it was of several Achkaerinese soldiers speaking about those recent conflicts:
*****
Major Fleur Mishima:
"I don't think I've ever been more proud to be a member of the Achkaerinese Armoured Corps than I was during the battle of St Catherine's in Seaforth, the whole counter offensive from the Seaforth Catholic Church relied on them being able to push us away from St Catherine's and keep us pinned in the south which they couldn't do because we along with our Dijeli friends wouldn't let them. From an Achkaerinese point of view that was the single bloodiest day since the Great War, I saw friends die, both under our flag, the Dijel flag, the Morelander flag and the Seaforthian flag they were our brothers and our sisters and their names, I'll never forget them."Flight Lieutenant Hannah Nikaido:
"I think the events in Marseilles are the ones that will stay with me more vividly than other actions I've been involved in, to know your fighting an enemy that has a similar capability to your own usually means you're going to be fighting hard for aerial supremacy and when you're up in the skies with just your wingman for company it can seem lonely but when you know there's more behind you than that, that you've got the support of a lot of nations on the ground, working together...that kind of thing it gives you hope for the future."Lt Colonel Sebastian Brandt:
"It was a bad time whether you served in Seaforth, Marseilles or both and you know going in it's not going to be a particularly good thing but you also know that to not stand up against what on both counts was terrorism, to not say 'no' was not and never can be an option. We do what we do to protect people, to honour those that did the job before we did, to ensure that the words 'never again' mean exactly that."Major Sapyiat Kaltev:
"I remember being the first on the scene after the SCC massacred the inhabitants of Halsteads. We were pushing to Halifax, thanks to all the sacrifices made we'd managed to shift the momentum completely to our way, the war was almost over and we came across this village full of the dead. We got called hero's for cutting them down from the tree in the centre of the village and giving them a proper burial. I never felt comfortable with being referred to like that, but then my foster daughter reminded me of why she calls me her hero, because I showed up when no one else did. The more I thought about that the more I look at what servicemen and servicewomen do and I see plenty of that, people remember something as simple as you showing up, as you doing a good deed, the act is never forgotten. I won't forget those I've served with, those that gave their lives or what they gave their lives for."********
As the video ended attention turned back to the stage in the theatre where now clad in a blue dress stood
Phoebe Wolfe, known as the Queen of Songs in the Namist faith, she began to sing
The Call, and as she did so two lines of Achkaerinese Army personnel walked out of the central entrance to the theatre and down into the oval where they formed a guard of honour, taking steps respectively to the left and right. Then when Phoebe had finished singing Amelia smiled.
"Ladies and gentlemen please welcome the Torch of Remembrance carried this year by Sergeant Bridget Portman of the Aelmoor Watch and our citation officer Captain Sam Venables of the Wyvern Legion accompanied by veterans of the Great War." Amelia said, the group she'd announced now walked into the oval and between the ranks of the honour guard up to the stage to the acknowledging applause of the audience. When the applause died down Sam stepped forwards and read from the paper he'd been given.
"They came from our village went to our school they came from factory and farm from city streets down long country lanes across wide wide seas from all corners of Mundus, they came because country called because they knew it had to be done that unless they went to fight there could be no peace and still today they come forward our soldiers, our sailors, our airmen and women seventy five years on they come carrying the torch for freedom, our freedom. We owe them all of them then and now our thanks our deepest thanks, but more than that we owe them this assurance that we will continue to care for all those brave men and women and families of our forces who need our support that we will continue to hold high the torch of freedom and make the best of the peace they have given us." Sam spoke before he led the group up to their seats, Bridget followed behind them after securing the Torch to a stand.
"As always." Amelia said continuing the ceremony "We are honoured to have veterans of the Great War with us tonight and also those veterans of more recent conflicts, we mark tonight the great work that is done to care for veterans of war across Mundus whether it be found in East Moreland's Legionnaire Legacy, Seaforth's military hospitals, Rokkenjima's military hospitals or the many others I could name and of course our own Legacy Foundation right here. So please give our traditional and warm welcome to the veterans of conflicts past." as she finished speaking the orchestra
played again and now the veterans group of the Great War and more recent conflicts, some retired and others wounded walked the same path that the previous group had just moments earlier getting the traditional rhythmical clap from the audience in acknowledgement. They walked up to the stage and then up to their seats behind the orchestra.
When the veterans were in their seats and the honour guard had disbanded Amelia took another deep breath before continuing "In the years after the Great War came the need for new ways of Remembrance both on a national and local level, not only formal memorials but also memorial gardens, hospitals, buildings, even some ships across Mundus bear the names of those we must not forget. They were and are based on a very clear principle, remembrance is not an option it is a duty. Five years ago over the course of several conflicts the soldiers of several nations stood shoulder to shoulder and many lives were lost, at this time we have some families who would like to pay their tribute to their loved ones."
Attention now switched back to the big screens where a group of families talked about their loved ones that had been killed in those recent conflicts, it really was an important part of the evening's events to know that these weren't just names and ranks on a list but that each of them had a story, who were they really? Who had they loved? Where had they gone to school? What had they wanted to do? Then with that video over Amelia held a moment of silence before nodding to the conductor who started up the solemn music of the next part of the festival "Please welcome the families of the fallen." Amelia said, the families were applauded as they walked in and across the oval to seats behind the orchestra, Peter by now had once again positioned himself at the bottom of the steps the Emperor had made a habit out of personally communicating and writing to each family that had someone in the armed forces who was either wounded or killed in action, he nodded to each family as they passed by.
Amelia took to the podium once again "In all the years of fighting in the Great War, and conflicts since, those that fought relied heavily on the support and comradeship of their fellow soldiers people from nations across the world fought side by side, millions of soldiers were raised from across those nations for military service many of them young men."
The spotlight now came up on the figure of Amelia's father,
Arthur Whitaker who stood in the middle of the oval. "Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen." Arthur said "What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells; nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,— the shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; and bugles calling for them from sad shires. What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, and each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds."
Another spotlight came up this time on a serving Achkaerinese soldier Corporal Maisie Adams, she was a medic as evidence by the armband on her sleeve that bore the red cross "From epitaphs of the War by Rudyard Kipling." Maisie said "From little towns in a far land we came to save our honour and a world aflame, by little towns in a far land we sleep and trust that world we won for you to keep." as she finished speaking the words 'Lest we Forget' appeared with a poppy on the screens.
After a moment Amelia spoke again "As year follows year there are fewer and fewer people who can tell us about the Great War from their own experiences but their voices live on in the letters they wrote home to their loved ones, the citations they received in official documents and the stories passed down through the generations." she said "Ladies and Gentlemen would you please stand as we give thanks for the word and sacrifice of the Great War generation, those who made it possible for us to live our lives in peace." everyone stood as a small group comprising military and civilians walked into the oval, as a slow melancholic piece of music was played, each of them carrying a black and white photograph of one of the Great War fallen, everyone in the audience also had one such photograph with the name, rank and posting on the back of it each of them were asked in the evening's program to hold the photograph up at this point as the group in the oval formed a circle facing outwards.
"Thank you." Amelia said a few moments later indicating that people could be seated "We start our preparations for the service of remembrance with the drum laying, the creation of a drum altar, a practice more often found on the battlefields of wars long ago." while she'd been speaking the oval had once again been cleared and now carrying his guitar all the way from Lodja
Jack Azurewind, the Emperor's nephew stepped onto the stage and began to play and sing
The Last Goodbye. As he sang the drums were carried in onto a smaller circular stage that had been moved into the oval, those servicemen carrying the drums laid them in position building the drumhead as it was called when the drums were in position Peter stepped down to where the drumhead was to perform his next duty - first receiving the flags, normally there were two the Achkaerinese flag and then the flag belonging to one of the Achkaerinese regiments, this year however there were three, from three different entrances all in Peter's eyeline the flags were brought in carried by military personnel, the Achkaerinese flag, the flag of the CIS and then the flag of the CTO the three flags covered the events being marked that evening. Peter placed the CTO flag first having to lay it horizontal, there had been a lot of discussion over how they were going to accomplish this, he then laid the Achkaerinese and CIS flags in the usual manner before turning to look at the opposite end of the oval where the senior officer on parade
Captain Sarah Culshaw was approaching carrying the book of Remembrance a white leather bound book with a poppy on the front of it, it contained the names of the fallen, Sarah handed the book to Peter and then took three steps backwards while the Emperor placed the book atop the drums before turning back to the Captain as Jack finished singing.
Sarah looked at Peter and saluted him, he returned it "Your Majesty." Sarah said her voice becoming louder in the silent theatre "Permission to begin the muster?"
"Permission granted." Peter said nodding
"Sergeant Major." Sarah said to the orchestra's conductor "Begin the muster."
"Ladies and gentlemen." Amelia said "We begin the muster with the Army this year drawn from the Aelmoor Watch." as she finished the orchestra began playing the Aelmoor Watch's march the
Flower of Aelmoor, as they played the members of the Aelmoor Watch all in their midnight blue dress uniforms marched in they were in two lines, normal procedure would have been for the soldiers to use both arms while marching but in the case of the Aelmoor Watch this was relaxed for one reason, the number of Cult of Helus followers on parade meant that there were plenty of swords so it was either one arm gripping the sword hilt and the other making the marching motion. When the lines reached close to where Peter was still standing in front of the drums they split off left and right and formed the first ranks. "The Navy." Amelia said,
the march changed to the Navy's as the selected personnel this year from the
INS Angel marched in, they formed up behind the Army personnel "The Air Force." Amelia said once again
the music changed this time to the Air Force march. All the way through the audience had been rhythmically clapping again it was something encouraged as it helped those on parade keep time. "The Scouting and civilian services." Amelia said now the
music changed again, this time to the instrumental of the scouting organisation which they were using this year to cover the final group of people who marched in but they took position to the left and right hand sides of the drumhead not as part of the military block.
Now the High Priestess of the Cult of Namis
Alexis Minette made her way up the aisle between the massed ranks of Achkaerinese military personnel as the service of remembrance got underway with the singing of
Edelweiss, it was the traditional opening to this part of the night. As for Alexis, as High Priestess she would normally seen on such official occasions wearing the white and gold robes of her office but this was the one exception she made to that, choosing instead to wear her chaplain's uniform jacket from her days in the military with a white and gold stoll to signify her office.
"Ladies and Gentlemen." Amelia said "The service of Remembrance is administered by the High Priestess of the Cult of Namis however it is a non-denominational service, if you feel able to participate please feel free to do so." Alexis took centre stage now and looked around for moment settling herself before beginning.
"On this seventy fifth anniversary of the end of the Great War, we gather together to remember with thanksgiving and sorrow all those whose lives have been given and taken away in the cause of justice and freedom." Alexis said "We pray to for all who continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror, especially through bereavement, disability and pain we pray for all those across Mundus who support them. Creators of all things we commit to your care those of every belief, religion, race and sexuality who serve together in the Armed Forces, Governments and legislatures. And we commit ourselves young and old to work in penitence and faith for reconciliation between the nations of our troubled world. Please grant us a renewed spirit of respect for one another and unite us all in love, enable us to build harmony in our families, in our communities and the world. And so guide our paths and lead us in the ways of righteousness that our lives may speak of your justice and mercy, now and forever." she paused to indicate the end of the prayer.
Now three guests stepped onto the stage and they were fitting choices considering the occasion first Kira Falstaff, the one time Seaforthian ambassador to the CIS, then there was the Duchess of Aquitaine Daniele Aveline and finally Jacques Papin the first President of Marseilles a man credited with having played a substantial part in the ending of the Sorority's hold over his country, he wasn't in power anymore but he was a welcome guest.
"Aftermath by Siegfried Sassoon." Kira said "Have you forgotten yet?... For the world's events have rumbled on since those gagged days, like traffic checked while at the crossing of city-ways: and the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flow like clouds in the lit heaven of life; and you're a man reprieved to go, taking your peaceful share of Time, with joy to spare. But the past is just the same--and War's a bloody game... Have you forgotten yet?...Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you'll never forget."
"Do you remember the dark months you held the sector at Mametz-- the nights you watched and wired and dug and piled sandbags on parapets? Do you remember the rats; and the stench of corpses rotting in front of the front-line trench-- and dawn coming, dirty-white, and chill with a hopeless rain? Do you ever stop and ask, 'Is it all going to happen again?'" Jacques said
"Do you remember that hour of din before the attack--and the anger, the blind compassion that seized and shook you then as you peered at the doomed and haggard faces of your men? Do you remember the stretcher-cases lurching back with dying eyes and lolling heads--those ashen-grey masks of the lads who once were keen and kind and gay?" Daniele said "Have you forgotten yet?...Look up, and swear by the green of the spring that you'll never forget."
Down in front of the drums Peter took a deep breath this was in truth to him the most important engagement on his calendar, it ranked to him higher than the Covenant Address and that was saying something, while the attention had been on the stage some logistical things had been taken care of down at the drumhead, the carriers of the three flags were back and now standing in front of the Emperor with the flags back in their hands and raised, Peter looked around and then straight ahead as the audience stood again "They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn." he said "At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them."
"We will remember them." came the response, firm and assertive.
The Last Post and Reveille would bookend the two minutes silence, no sooner had the bugles sounded The Last Post than the standards were all lowered as the poppies rained down from the ceiling onto those in the theatre, some rested on the head dresses of the various assembled military personnel others dropped to the floor and as always some covered the drum altar. When the Reveille sounded the standards were raised.
Peter took one last deep breath, they were nearly finished and this was signaled by the approaching of two high school students, one male and one female, they came and stood in front of him while Alexis moved down to the drum altar with Phoebe who brought with her the Torch of Remembrance.
"When you go home tell them of us and say." Peter said "For your tomorrow we gave our today."
That was the cue for the traditional conclusion to the act of remembrance the Achkaerinese National Anthem
I Vow to Thee My Country was played and sung, while it was sung Alexis handed Peter the book of Remembrance and Peter in turn presented the book to the high school girl, the process was then repeated with Torch except that it was Phoebe handing the Torch to Peter and it was the high school boy to whom Peter was giving the Torch when that was done Alexis and Phoebe walked around to stand either side of Peter as the anthem ended.
"May the Spirit of peace provide us with every good thing we need in order to do its will, may it grant light to guide us, courage to support us and love to unite us and may it bless us all now and evermore." Alexis said "Go in Peace." she bowed her head to indicate the festival was over and as some appropriate music was played the high school children as was tradition led the way out of the theatre, why were they involved? It was the symbolism of passing the baton to the next generation the reason why year after year these events were remembered, the children were followed by first the Achkaerinese flag then Peter, Alexis and Phoebe with the CIS and CTO flags just behind them then came Sarah giving the gesture for the orderly procession of personnel on parade out of the theatre.
All in all it had been a good evening so far now the Emperor would make his way to the Royal Lounge in the theatre it was a room always set aside if there was to be a reception for VIP's on a night like tonight. It was only when Renee caught up to him in the lounge that Peter found out that they had all four of the CIS nations from five years ago in the room and that meant a great deal to him.