Remembrance Day

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It's Remembrance Day in Canada. We take a moment to meditate on the horrific cost of war. The military and civilian lives lost. The young men and women who died without a chance to make peace with their families, their gods and within themselves. Whose last breath was spent in terror. The horror of war cannot be understated. It must never be forgotten when we turn our eye to threats beyond our shores.

We take a moment to honor those brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for something greater than themselves. We also think of those who still serve today. The wounded warriors who come home changed forever. I am deeply grateful I will never have to kill or be killed. I am humbled by the sacrifice of those who do in my stead.

Never forget.

Here here.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Here here.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Here here.

Well said.

I still hate that Remembrance Day isn't a statutory holiday in Canada for anyone but government and bank workers. Everyone should be able to have the day off to participate in local ceremonies.

It is a federal holiday; I work for a federally regulated company and if I weren't already on vacation it would be a holiday for me. Conversely, while I live in Ontario, I don't get Family Day off, because it's a provincial holiday.

All our freight trains across the country were to have come to a complete stop (if it was safe to do so) for a minute of silence, followed by a long whistle blast out of respect.

I live in BC, and it's a stat holiday here.

Kepheus and I went to the memorial service in North Vancouver and watched and listened as the pipe bands led in RCMP, cadets, fire fighters, and other military personnel (I confess to not knowing all the different branches or their uniforms). We all sang 'O Canada' and listened to an excellent speech that made me very teary eyed.

Planes flew in formation overhead at a few points, and most of the crowd joined in singing a hymn from the program we were all given as we came into the park.

At 11:00, we all observed the moment of silence. I am so grateful to men like my Granddad and my brother-in-law who have voluntarily given of themselves so generously, and to all the men and women past and present who have also.

They are definitely not forgotten.

I'm not a Canadian yet, but as someone from a very long line of military (navy!) vets, I'm humbled and impressed by how Canada honors those who have served. Much respect.

The other day I learned about Remembrance Poppies when I asked a Royal Marine what the pin on his chest was for. Made me feel a little uncultured for a bit, but I've begun to feel like other countries do a better job of remembering their veterans than the U.S. does.