Today is the day when armistice was declared to end World War I. It was a day specified for its numbers: 11th month, 11th day, at the 11th hour. Papers were signed, soldiers went home, and the Great War, the War to end all wars was over.
Trying to explain this to a group of 5th graders is nearly impossible. War has been made glamorous in Video games and dying is a temporary event.
So I always showed this Charlie Brown video, "What have we learned, Charlie Brown?" Here is a clip of it:
No matter how many times I saw it, it gave me chills and tears.
There is a heart breaking song performed by Davey Arthur and The Fureys, called "The Green Fields of France". Please listen to it:
I first heard this song at a live performance when we lived in Ireland. There was a moment of absolute silence at the end of the song, before the applause.
What have we learned?
