Remembrance Day

Although Remembrance Day falls on the week-end this year, I hope people will still take the time to attend ceremonies and acknowledge our veterans.   Remembrance Day is growing in significance every year, perhaps because we have a new group of veterans now – young men and women who have taken part in the war in Afghanistan.  Young people, who in the past may not have worn poppies, now do so with pride, respect and thankfulness. All generations are attending Remembrance Day Services in record numbers. We all feel the need to thank veterans, including our new veterans who have returned from Afghanistan or from peace keeping missions all over the world, in a way we never have felt before. Perhaps it is because of Afghanistan, the phenomenon of the Highway of Heroes and the death of our first female soldier that we have become more passionate about honouring our veterans.  For the third year now, students at St. Mary High School have met with and interviewed soldiers, and have recorded their stories in a book.  As the students learn of the sacrifices and horrors directly from the veterans, they come to realize how important it is to always remember and acknowledge what these brave soldiers gave to us.  Because of this project, the stories of our local soldiers are recorded and will continue to be passed on even after they are gone. 

It has been two year since the last WW I veteran died - they are now all gone. We have lost many of our WW II veterans.  It now becomes even more important to honour their sacrifices, and to never forget what they did for us. It is also important to show our gratitude to our young veterans who have fought in a different war. We must continue to teach our children that the many rights they now enjoy were fought for by very brave men and women. As we look at the suffering of people in countries that do not have the freedoms and rights we enjoy, we realize how very fortunate we are. Just as our parents and grand-parents were touched by wars, buried their soldiers and welcomed home those who survived, our generation is experiencing war and we are sending our own brothers and sisters, sons and daughters to fight.

Remembrance Day is the day to remember all the wars we have faced as a nation, to thank our soldiers and to reflect on how fortunate we are. Remembering and being grateful to the men and women in our armed forces - present and past -  is important every day, but never so important as on Remembrance Day.  Taking time to show our gratitude to our veterans and soldiers . . . it's a good thing.