Sombre March (Marché Sérieuse)

Tomorrow, November 11th is Veteran's Day. Or as those in Britain refer to it, Remembrance Day. It used to be called Armistice Day, as it was on this day, the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour that the guns fell silent on the Western Front, bringing an end to World War One.

It is the day when we honor the veterans who have served in all the wars, and fought and died for the common good, and those who still live with the memories and horrors of war.

My wife, Gale, has had a lot of military men in her family. Her birth-father was a B-52 bomber pilot in WWII, her adoptive-father was a Marine, her brother is a West Pointer, having served in missile defence, and his son is now serving in Syria, after having served two tours of duty in Iraq.

My father served as a munitions officer in Australia during World War II.

In Jersey City, one of the city's oldest parks is Pershing Field, which stands almost directly across from our house. It was named for the WWI leader of the AEF, General John "Blackjack" Pershing. In the park are many headstones that honor memory of the fallen from wars ranging from WWI through the Vietnam War.

Every day when I walk in the park, I pass the stone for William Spahr, of the 312th Infantry. He was a 22-year old Musician, who died in France in 1918. I've looked him up, but could only find that he "died of wounds received."

I feel that I've gotten to know "Billy" quite well, and each day I make the sign of the cross on his stone.

This upload is dedicated to him, and to all who have "joined the Great Fallen," and to all those living, who have served their country.

The score is attached below, as well as photos showing the entrance to Pershing Field through the old WWI "Armory Arch," which was saved, restored and erected at the side-entrance of the park, and of the headstone of "William Spahr, Musician"

Please see the First Comment for musical notes.