“I remember, I remember, the house where I was born

The little windows where the sun kept peeping in at morn…”

Can you remember the rest of this verse by Thomas Hood?

I once knew all four verses of this poem, which I learned by heart in Standard five in Trinidad, which is equivalent to Grade 6 in Canada.

But probably like you, I had to go and look it up so that I would not misquote it. There are some events in life for which we have clear recall.

Do you remember what you were doing when you heard of the assassination of former U.S. president John Kennedy?

Do you remember what you were doing when you saw the two planes crash into the New York Towers?

Do you remember the emotions when your first baby was born? I remember.

Remembering is a skill. Sure there are those who have been blessed with a good memory, such as Napoleon, who knew thousands of his soldiers by name. Or James Farley, who claimed that he knew 50,000 people by their first names. Or Harry Lorayne, who used to amaze his audiences by being introduced to hundreds of people and then repeated the name of anyone who stood up to request it.

But these, remember, are exceptions, phenomenal exceptions.

As I stated earlier, remembering is a skill like speaking in public, singing, and reading, thinking or swimming.

We improve at a skill by hard work, direct effort applied with a good deal of concentration, mixed with proper know how.

It would be safe to say, that people with remarkable memories, develop them because of a driving need or desire.

One of the most glaring weaknesses that we often confess is in the realm of remembering names. We excuse it by saying, “I’m not good at remembering names. Your face is familiar, but what was your name?”

I suppose that is better than saying that your breath is familiar but not your name.

The fact is that we can remember names, except for a very few rare cases. Anybody can remember anybody if they really want to.

There are certain dates that trigger an avalanche of memories.

October 27 is a date that brings back a flood of memories for me because my father and uncle both died on Oct. 27, 1943.

That was 66 years ago, but the memories came back as if it happened yesterday.

That event is a significant milestone and it was a turning point in my life.

I am sure that you too, have dates that you will never forget.

Soon we will be observing Remembrance Day. When World War II was declared, I was only 9 years of age, but I have vivid memories of the stir of emotion that invaded the island of Trinidad.

I remember in the daily newspaper, The Trinidad Guardian, there were blank outlines of bomber airplanes and we were encouraged to support a Bombers Fund.

Each day we would anxiously look to see how we were progressing in that fund.

Eventually, when the outline was all black and all filled in, that indicated that we had succeeded in supplying another bomber for Britain. 

We rejoiced that we were part of that achievement.

I used to go around collecting discarded pop bottles and then sold them so that I could contribute to the fund.

Many Trinidadians went to that war, and many did not return.

In many churches, written across the communion table are the words, “In Remembrance of Me.”

This is in celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

To many of us this is a sacred memory, when we realize that an innocent man voluntarily laid down His life to take away the sins of the world.

There is a song, which words include: “He remembered me, while He was on the Cross.”

Memories are a powerful motivating force.

As we remember those who lost their lives in World War I and II and other wars, let us not forget that we have lost many Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan in recent times.

There are many troops still there. Let us remember and pray for our soldiers wherever they may be.

Their yesterdays are a gift for our peaceful tomorrows. We shall remember them.

I would like to express deep appreciation for Jack and Mary Cardiff on their 25th anniversary of holding Remembrance Day Services in 22 seniors’ homes throughout the City of Kelowna and area.

What a commitment of loyalty and blessing over those 25 years to our community. God Bless you!

A blessed Remembrance Day to all.

Rev. Albert Baldeo is a retired United Church minister.