Keeping memory alive:
children's reactions to Remembrance Sunday
by Helen Bladen
After attending the ceremony at the War Memorial in the churchyard,
the Junior Church group, which on this occasion also contained visiting
children and some siblings of the Scouts, moved into Kitson Hall. It
became clear that what they had just witnessed, had learned about in
school, and talked about at home, had had an impact on them all during
the morning's activities.
As part of the theme of Remembering, we started by discussing memories,
and their most precious possessions. Apart from people, the group considered
teddies, dolls, photos and presents given on special occasions as being
irreplaceable by insurance policies. We then talked about why the day's
ceremonies were still so important to so many people.
We then moved on to drama, imagining ourselves in various situations
in wartime, to try to imagine what it must have been like for the people
who lived through it. I didn't specify which war, but most children
knew something about World War Two from school, or relatives' experiences.
The children were asked "what would you feel, what would you do
if this happened?" They were given a scenario, told to react for
a few seconds, and then freeze. Some children each time were chosen
to demonstrate their response to the group, and describe their feelings.
The variety of responses, their spontaneity and intensity, was surprising,
and, I think, demonstrate how successful schools, organisations and
possibly even TV programmes can be in broadening children's experiences,
and helping them make an imaginative and sometimes spiritual leap into
an understanding of a life and situation very different from their own.
You are in a battle; your friend next to you is killed.
Angelo cried out, and started shooting more fiercely. He said he felt
angry with the enemy.
India fell over the body sobbing. She said she felt heartbroken.
You are in London: the air raid sirens go off.
Most children ran around looking anxiously skyward.
Ashol curled into a ball where she was, very still as everyone else
rushed around. She said she was making herself as small as possible
to reduce the chances of getting hurt.
Ally and Peter crawled under a chair. They said they felt a bit safer
there.
You have fought, lost friends, and seen destruction. The end of
the war is declared with the sound of bells ringing out.
A group of girls broke into spontaneous dancing. Some cheered, but many
looked puzzled, not sure how to react. India summed up. "Now I've
got time to think. The noise has stopped. I started to feel happy, but
now I'm beginning to feel sad too, remembering my friends who are dead."
We finished with a "pebble in the pool" prayer. Gathered
in a circle as a CD of Gregorian chant played, each child in turn dropped
a pebble into a dish of water, and this prayer from Roots for Churches
was read. In the silences between each line, it was clear most of the
children were deep in thought.
God calls us to be like droplets of love in a world where there is hatred
and war.
If we could let our love spread like ripples on a lake
God's love would spread through all the world
Real peace comes through love and understanding
It starts with us and how we treat each other – here-now-today-tomorrow
Lord Jesus help us to love one another and make this world a place
of peace.
Amen.
Helen Bladen is Children's Work Co-ordinator
at St Mary's Church.
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