A day to remember

Remembrance Day has come and gone, with all the usual fanfare. I had my pick of which events to attend this year, and I decided to attend the 21-gun salute at the Legislature grounds. In previous years I have stood at City Hall, watching a parade of soldiers and thought perhaps I would change things up this time.

Boy, am I glad I did!

I have never before seen an artillery salute, and it was certainly something to behold. Most of my shots looked like the one above, with a huge cloud of smoke after the shot was fired. I did get a couple others, though....

Notice the barest beginning of the muzzle flash? I was quite astonished to have been able to catch that.

Perhaps the most impressive of all. A very graphic display of the power behind these machines.
I wonder if it would look any different when they are not firing blanks?

Still, as fascinating as artillery and other military machines are, the entire point of the day is to remember how awful their use is. I will admit that a part of me is attracted to the idea of joining and having the opportunity to blow things up but I, at least, remember all the lessons that have been given to me all these Remembrance Days, and want nothing to do with war or conflict. If such a thing has to happen, I hope that my role can be confined to documenting and recording for posterity, so that perhaps we don't forget again.

With that grim thought, I will leave you with a couple other Remembrance day photographs that I have taken in previous years that I am rather pleased with.