first snow, fat flakes

first snow, fat wet flakes

falling on the square through flags

honoring veterans

Always, it's moving to see hundreds of American flags standing at attention in rows all around the town square. They appear like magic on national holidays -- Veteran's Day and Independence Day. This year on the 11th day of November the flags really are moving, blown about by a wind bringing the first snow of winter. Two young women and a toddler, sensibly dressed in parkas, are strolling along the flag-bordered walks. They are greeted with wide arms by a man not so sensibly dressed -- shorts, no socks, no hat -- but their effusive group hug is enough to warm everyone.

hundreds of flags cast

hundreds of flags cast

long shadows -- a young boy hangs

onto one gold pole

11/11/11: the peace treaty ending World War I was signed at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Today is another 11/11/11, only this time it's the 11th day of the 11th month in 2011, and now we celebrate it as Veteran's Day, in honor of all the veterans who have served in all the wars. On the town square, a statue of an old man, who could be a Civil War veteran, sits on a bench, talking with a young boy. Perhaps he is telling him stories about the war. A little boy dressed in red, white and blue stands by the bandstand, surrounded by hundreds of American flags, hanging onto one gold flagpole, as if he is holding it up. Today, all those flags, casting long shadows from the past, are sending prayers with the wind for the end of all war.