mac4music
Not Forgotten
Here's the internet debut of my song titled Not Forgotten.
The first time that I played it before an audience was on August 20, 2022, at the city's Sounds of Summer, Germain Park show.
Here's the back story. It's kinda long, so make yourself comfortable.
In August of 2021, my friend Ron Reale-Smith asked me if I could write a song about the centotaph in Sarnia.
I thought it was a great idea, too, and began my research into the history of the monument and of Veteran's Park, located in Sarnia, ON.
In doing so, I read 'The Sarnia War Remembrance Project' written by local historian Tom Slater. **
In it was mentioned a letter penned by Mrs. Irene McMullin to the Editor of the Sarnia Observer in November of 1918.
Mrs. McMullin's only son, 19 year old Pvt. Leonard Calvin McMullin was killed overseas during WW1 and buried in France.
Mrs. McMullin expressed the need for a centotaph in the city for our 'local boys' who fought and died in Europe and were laid to rest overseas. She also asked the readers, 'Have you a boy sleeping over there?'
The idea grew in support, and on November 7th, 1921, the original Sarnia centotaph was dedicated in what is now Veteran's Park.
On November 11, 1922, a bronze statue of a WW1 Canadian Infantry soldier (nicknamed Tommy) was added to the top of the monument.
The centotaph has since been the gathering place every November 11th, on Remembrance Day.
Today, the park is an amazing tribute to our Veterans, those serving and those who lost their lives in military service.
On a side note: since writing this song, I have noticed that almost every town has a centotaph, and most of those have their own likeness of Tommy adorned somewhere on or near it!
So, as my lyrics took shape, I thought it fitting to include subtle references to Mrs. McMullin's letter, as well as Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae's 1915 poem, In Flanders Fields. There's also a brief snippet of Amazing Grace, which is heard at every Remembrance Day ceremony. I'll leave it to you to listen and try to find them on your own.
** More information on Veteran's Park, Tommy, and the Sarnia War Remembrance Project can be found online at The Sarnia Historical Society website: www.sarniahistoricalsociety.com
Thanks for listening.
Cheers, Ken
