Redtree Times

Queen Elizabeth II as a Mechanic During World War II

I don’t have much to add to the coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

While not a fan of monarchies in general, I have to admit to having real admiration for the Queen, especially the enormous sense of duty and loyalty she possessed for her people. It transformed into a connecting tissue for those people over the many years she reigned, like a grandmother whose strength and representation of familial tradition has held a family together for what seems like forever.

And it has seemed like forever. There are few are left that can consciously recall a time when she wasn’t the Queen of England. And through it all she has been a steadying force for her people and for a lot of the rest of the world. She was nothing if not steady, not like some world rulers who act like a drunk uncle at a picnic.

I worry a bit for England now that this steadying force, this connective tissue, is gone. Every crisis going forward will have a new face, a new symbol, that will try to soothe or stir them. And that giant of a little woman left some big shoes to fill.

Going forward will be a new experience, a new challenge, for that country. I have no doubt they will persevere as they always have before in the face of other challenges.

God save the king…

I thought I’d share a very British and fitting song today, one that was symbol of Bristish resolve in World War II. It is We’ll Meet Again which written by Vera Lynn (along with Ross Parker and Hugh Charles) in 1939 as England became engaged in war with Germany. Princess Elizabeth, of course, trained and served in the British Armed Forces as a mechanic.

The song became one of the most famous of that era and has moved into popular culture, best known for its use during the final scene in the film Doctor Strangelove. I particularly love the version performed by Johnny Cash in has final recordings and have played it here several times before. But for today, let’s go with the British original by Vera Lynn with which the Queen was familiar.