Today, November 11th, 2011, is a very special day. A day that I look foward to every year with great anticipation. For today is the day that we in the Asatru religion honor all of our heroes. Whether they be our Gods, Goddesses, legends, ancestors, or even every day common people, it doesn't matter. For heroes can be found in each of the above categories if you look hard enough. Hero's Day is a day to honor all those who rise above what we consider to be the normal limits of a safe life. These are the ones who don't even consider failure as an option, but reach deep within themselves, and become more than they ever believed they could be. When we usually think of heroes we think of those in the military, but doctors, nurses, firemen, policemen, astronauts, explorers, and good samaritans easily fit into the category of hero.
How we honor them is a very individualistic and personal ritual. Some put flags on the graves of veterans, some donate money to veteran groups, or policemen and firemen, and some visit the graves and battlefields of their ancestors. I choose the latter. I noticed that Galina Krasskova gave the monthly profits from one of her books to wounded veterans, and I applaud her for this. The amount was about $275.00, but that is immaterial. My guess is that that amount is about $275.00 more than most people give to our veterans.
To honor my heroes on their day I have two rituals that I perform. The first ritual that I perform is for my ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War. I go up to the Revolutionary War Memorial in Cranbury, his hometown, and hold a short ritual for him, and all those from Cranbury who fought in that great war for our freedoms. I then walk about 100 yards away to John B. Bergen's grave and hold a short ritual there and leave flowers. I then drive to Princeton, and hold a discreet ritual on the battlefield that he fought on and was wounded. This small battle was one of the few victories that the American Revolutionary Army had during the War for Independence. The amount of victories is unimportant, only the final victorious battle mattered, and it changed the entire cours of history.
My final ritual I hold in my home at night. I use my main altar, I have nine in all, and I place alltypes of weapons upon it, and drape black bunting around the base. Kind of the way the firemen and policemen do when one of their own falls in the line of duty. Here I honor all those who I consider to be a hero regardless of who I will not tell you what I say because that is personal to me. Say what is in your heart, and you will honor your heroes very well !
Hail to our heroes, past and present ! May they dine in the halls of Valhalla till the end of time for their brave deeds !
Glenn Bergen
Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !
How we honor them is a very individualistic and personal ritual. Some put flags on the graves of veterans, some donate money to veteran groups, or policemen and firemen, and some visit the graves and battlefields of their ancestors. I choose the latter. I noticed that Galina Krasskova gave the monthly profits from one of her books to wounded veterans, and I applaud her for this. The amount was about $275.00, but that is immaterial. My guess is that that amount is about $275.00 more than most people give to our veterans.
To honor my heroes on their day I have two rituals that I perform. The first ritual that I perform is for my ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War. I go up to the Revolutionary War Memorial in Cranbury, his hometown, and hold a short ritual for him, and all those from Cranbury who fought in that great war for our freedoms. I then walk about 100 yards away to John B. Bergen's grave and hold a short ritual there and leave flowers. I then drive to Princeton, and hold a discreet ritual on the battlefield that he fought on and was wounded. This small battle was one of the few victories that the American Revolutionary Army had during the War for Independence. The amount of victories is unimportant, only the final victorious battle mattered, and it changed the entire cours of history.
My final ritual I hold in my home at night. I use my main altar, I have nine in all, and I place alltypes of weapons upon it, and drape black bunting around the base. Kind of the way the firemen and policemen do when one of their own falls in the line of duty. Here I honor all those who I consider to be a hero regardless of who I will not tell you what I say because that is personal to me. Say what is in your heart, and you will honor your heroes very well !
Hail to our heroes, past and present ! May they dine in the halls of Valhalla till the end of time for their brave deeds !
Glenn Bergen
Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !
RSS Feed
