09/25/2024
Hello My Friend,
I was so very honored recently to be part of a celebration in Washington, DC as they unveiled and dedicated a national tribute to WWI. (See below for a picture of the monument itself.)
Thirty-eight larger-than-life figures are mounted across roughly 60 feet of wall and they depict scenes in the journey of an American Soldier during WWI. In the first scene, the soldier's daughter hands him his helmet while his wife touches his shoulder urging him to stay, all while his comrades are urging him into service. The sculpture then goes on to show the death and destruction of combat and then ends with the celebration of the soldier's return. He hands his helmet to his daughter who looks inside which signifies the oncoming WWII.
I was part of a group of musicians representing the five community bands of our area, Community Bands of Westmoreland County. We were invited to perform there as part of the 3-day long dedication celebration. It was quite a thrill to be a witness to the illumination ceremony on Friday in which they explained and described all the figures of the monument all while "illuminating" the monument with lights. The band's performance was on Sunday in front of the display which indeed was quite impressive.
I had a few moments prior to our performance to sit quietly and observe the massive monument and it occurred to me that this display of a soldier's journey runs a parallel for us. We are all going through a journey of our own from tender moments with loved ones, to struggles with turmoil, upheaval, agitation, and unrest to moments of tranquility and peace. Of course, we may be moving through all of these at any given time, around and around again like a spiral or a vortex.
The point to all this is that while we may not have a monument to our lives on display in Washington, DC, we have our life span as a tribute to who we are and what we have done. And while you may feel that you are stuck in those moments of turmoil and agitation, things will change and spiral around, as life tends to do, leading you to more positive moments. Our life's journey . . .
As always, I'm honored that you've allowed me to be a part of your journey, helping you to move forward to those moments of peace, quiet, and awareness. If we've not yet met, reach out and let's talk. Let me help guide you on your journey.
Take care.