I’ve blogged about it before (On Tuesdays, We Resurrect the Dead, July 2012) but even though it’s become a tradition, one never knows exactly what is going to happen, when on one or two magic nights in July, in one of our graveyards, some chosen people from the Past get the chance to rise again and tell the story of their life and death.
As our cicerone this Tuesday evening pointed out, last year’s act was a tough one to follow for the small theatre group of four who have been doing these graveyard tours for 11 years in a row now. (We had real celebrities visiting then – the two deceased members of the Beatles. Follow the link above if that tickles your curiosity.)
However, the actors managed once again to make it a worthwhile evening for all the people who had met up.
The theme this time was a rather serious one: War.
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one.
First we got to meet a man who went abroad to serve in various wars way back in the 19th century. He never came very close to actual battle though and lived to be a hundred years old.
A lady in the “audience” kept asking him awkward questions – and making note of his answers…
Once a journalist, always a journalist – Ada Damm, back in 1917 the author of a gossipy little book about this town and its inhabitants, refuses to rest silently in her grave on these occasions.
Next we got to hear the dramatic story of the death of an air pilot. (The cause of the crash was technical trouble with a brand new plane.)
Sweden remained officially neutral in both World Wars.
We were still surrounded by it and affected by it, though. In WWII the country recieved many Jewish refugees and also children sent over here from Finland. The Women’s Voluntary Army Corps helped organize both accommodation for refugees and things like knitting and sending warm mittens and socks etc for soldiers.
Food was rationed here as in other countries in WWII, especially things like coffee and tea. The last scene of the “show” took place in a café, with the official announcement of peace being made on the radio (the authentic recording).
“Where have all the flowers gone” was not one of the songs sung this evening, but it came to mind for me while putting this post together…
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls picked them every one
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
