Max stood watching the Remembrance Day parade with mixed emotions. Now fourteen, he’d seen the parade every year since he was five but this year it was different. Just two months earlier, his cousin Jason had been killed by a roadside bomb while serving with the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan, and he had seen the family shaken to the core. He had heard many times of how his great-grandfather had fought in Europe during world war II, yet somehow it had never registered in the same way, perhaps because it seemed so long ago, and maybe because his great-grandfather had died the year before he was born. Max knew that he hated war and had even considered not coming to see the parade this year, yet that hadn’t felt right either. Now that the crowd had dispersed he made his way home remembering that his mother was cooking his favourite meal.

Danny could hardly wait to show his best friend his new video game. Max was late as usual and although Danny would tease him, it was all in good fun, the two had been friends for as long as either of them could remember. Later as they played Danny’s new game, ‘Call of Duty’, that was based on modern warfare, Max was relaxed, enjoying the competition and his friend’s obvious enthusiasm for the game. Danny, who planned to join the Armed Forces upon completion of high school, had already registered with the local air cadets, starting in January. He had suggested that Max join as well, but was not surprised when he declined. There friendship though, was as strong as ever, and neither wanted that to change.

Max awoke once again from a fitful sleep. It was 3AM, and the third time he’d awakened since falling asleep at 11 o’clock. He had been unable to dismiss the happenings of the day before. In his dreams, he’d seen Jason and an older man , that he guessed to be his great grandfather. Both were dressed in military uniform but were watching, rather than taking part in a parade commemorating those who had served their country in war. Why, he wondered, did so many glorified war instead of working for peace? Weren’t all people children of God? Didn’t everyone want their families to be happy and safe? He sighed, so many questions and yet no real answers. He’d read that World war I was supposed to be a war to end war. Didn’t that mean that those who who fought, were fighting for peace? Yet, no one expected peace anymore. Why, he asked himself, did governments spend so much money preparing for war, and so little trying to bring about peace? Didn’t we owe it to those who had died, to work for peace so others would never have to go to war again? Max smiled as a light seemed to come on in his head. He would always remember those who had gone to war, not because they had fought for their country but because they wanted peace for everyone. Remembering for peace – yes, these words had just the right ring to them.