December 7. Pearl Harbor Day. I’m old enough to remember the Big War. Or the consequences at home. The piles of metal collected by the railroad tracks to be hauled off and made into weapons or tanks. The lack of things. The reviled word “Hitler” on people’s lips. The celebration when it was all over in 1945.
Now my grandchildren remember September 11. The soldiers who served in Iraq and came home to say that being there was a lose-lose situation. The disgust, not for the enemy, but for our own government. In 60 years, what will their memories be?
Please leave a comment with your first 50 words on the topic “the big war.”
‘Brothers and sisters’ the Leader began, steam on his breath at the steps of the memorial ‘Today we remember those we lost in the Robot War, 20 years ago.’
The crowd was large, filled mostly with rather young faces. The memorial loomed over the event, the gunship torn and twisted in upon itself. Laser burns tattooed along it’s side.
‘We did not heed the warnings, but the lesson learned will remain. We were arrogrant people then. We stand now humbled, even so long after the Daniel Gray Virus saved humanity. We lost many to the robots, but what resulted was unity. Never before has humanity come together for one goal. It is something I hope we never see again for such a reason. And now, a moment of silence for the fallen.’
Heads bowed through the crowd, stillness broken only by the birds. As one, the world hushed in memory of loved ones and strangers alike.