Sunday, November 11, 2007

It's Just a Pittance of Time


On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.

Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.

When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.

Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time". Terry later recorded "A Pittance of Time" and included it on his full-length music CD, "The Power of the Dream".

A Pittance Of Time 4:43
Written by Terry Kelly © Jefter Publishing - SOCAN

They fought and some died for their homeland.
They fought and some died, now it's our land.
Look at his little child; there's no fear in her eyes.
Could he not show respect for other dads who have died?

Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls who went over.
In peace may they rest, may we never
forget why they died.
It's a pittance of time.

God forgive me for wanting to strike him.
Give me strength so as not to be like him.
My heart pounds in my breast, fingers pressed to my lips,
My throat wants to bawl out, my tongue barely resists.

But two minutes I will bide.
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls who went over.
In peace may they rest.
May we never forget why they died.
It's a pittance of time.

Read the letters and poems of the heroes at home.
They have casualties, battles, and fears of their own.
There's a price to be paid if you go, if you stay.
Freedom's fought for and won in numerous ways.

Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls all over.
May we never forget, our young become vets.
At the end of the line,
It's a pittance of time.

It takes courage to fight in your own war.
It takes courage to fight someone else's war.
Our peacekeepers tell of their own living hell.
They bring hope to foreign lands that hate mongers can't kill.

Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls who go over.
In peacetime our best still don battle dress
And lay their lives on the line.
It's a pittance of time

In peace may they rest,
Lest we forget why they died.
Take a pittance of time.

I am always a bit embarrassed by this story. I live an hour from where this happened, and I just cannot believe the guile of this person! It's sad that so many people are like this. Up until a few years ago, I was at every Remembrance Day ceremony. I am ashamed that I overlooked 11:oo today. I was at work, and I just missed it! I think this song, and the story, has an important message for all, though. To download the song to listen to or watch the video, you can head over to Terry Kelly's web site.

I met Terry Kelly when I was younger, he is a very nice man.

I came from this town, afterall. I was raised right. I think so anyways. (I belonged to that club, too, but not since high school).

3 comments:

  1. Kailana, thanks for sharing this story. I have felt as Terry so beautiful expressed. Anger fumes amid the feelings of patriotism whenever I stand at the beginning of a parade with my hand over my heart as the flag passes by and the majority of other people stay seated. Such a little bit for us to do to show our appreciation and respect to the man who fought for out freedoms.

    Since our basement flooded this summer (while we were visiting beautiful Nova Scotia) my husband and I have both our computers set up on the dining room table. We just listened to several of Terry's songs and are going to buy a couple CDs. Beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am so glad that you and your husband enjoyed Terry Kelly! He is a wonderful man!

    I totally know the pain of being alone in showing respect. It has happened to me so many times! It's crazy how lazy people are, they will not even stand up! One of my most favourite memories was a Remembrance Day ceremony when, I want to say, I was in high school. There were a large amount of veterans and seniors there, and a very danceable song came on. I was in the band at the time, and a large group of us asked them to dance. It was seriously one of my favourite memories ever.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very cool. Much love to all the veterans on this Remembrance Day for all that they did so that I can enjoy the freedoms I have today.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

I am so sorry, but I turned anonymous commenting off. I have had it from the very beginning, but that is how the spam is getting by my spam filter at the moment. If it is a big deal I will turn it back on and moderate all comments. I also changed moderation from older than 14 days to older than 7.