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Let us remember all who fell in wars.
In 1914, Gavril Prinzip, a Serbian nationalist, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie.
The Archduke was the greatest royal Austrian friend that Serbia had, at the time - he advocated Serbian autonomy, within the Empire. Sophie was with him in a public appearance for the first time. Austrian royalty had insisted that she be hidden - her marriage to the Archduke was one of love, rather than political convenience. The Archduke defied them all, in making a public appearance in Sarajevo with his beloved wife. Gavril Prinzip killed both of them. (There is still a statue in his honor, in
The philandering ruling emperor, Franz Senile, hated the Archduke with all his (black) heart. The death of the Archduke gave Austria a pretext to threaten Serbia. Russia protested. Armies mobilized - each army depending on railroad schedules. Once mobilized, the armies were committed to war. (See: "The Guns of August" by Barbara Tuchman.)
And thus was unleashed the Great War - settled, somewhat, in 1945.
November 4th is Election Day. The following Tuesday is November 11th, the day we honor all who have fallen in the futile business of war - but honor their sacrifice, and acknowlege the rippling pain that spreads out through their families, friends, fellow servicemembers and communities.
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1st Lt. Trevor Yurista died in Afghanistan, a few days ago. By my clock, it is already El Día de los Muertos.
If you have not already done so, go to the latest IGTNT diary, and offer your commiserations for the dead.
My great-uncle Sport (real first name, not a nick-name) died in the Battle of Belleau Woods. A simple white cross in a vast cemetery in France marks his remains.
We none of us know when, or where, or why we will die. Those who serve us - police, firemen, servicemembers - have an enhanced chance of departing the mortal coil due to their caring for the rest of us.
Election Day is a perfect preface for Remembrance Day. The IGTNT diary is sinking off the "recent diaries" list. Surely, Trevor should not be so easily forgotten.
Nor should the lesson of a warfare of attrition.
A statue of Gavril Prinzip exists to this day in Belgrade.
"O when may it suffice?" - William Butler Yeats.