Remembrance Day Canadian Style
The end of the war came on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour.
We were taught this in school, the sad thing is I can remember that but I can never remember whether it was the first or second world war. I believe it was the first.
Canada recognized all of our war veterans past, present, living, or dead on this day. It is a statutory holiday, and is a very reverend experience.
My maternal grandfather fought in WWI. He was a sniper for the advance troops. He was shot a number of times. He lost fingers because of it, and lived the balance of his life with a bullet against the lining of his heart, back then operations are not what they are today. He went into the war at 16 lieing about his age, a full red head and when he got out he was totally white haired.
His sons followed in his footsteps during the Korean War. Even though Canada was there in a peacekeeping role, it was still war. One of my Uncles never fully recovered from the killing he had to do to survive.
Afganistan is the first war Canada troops have served in as active participants versus peacekeepers since WWII. We lose more of our troops every day it seems fighting in that country. Trying to get Osama Bin Laden on behalf of the United States for the events that transpired on 9-11. While the US moved on to Iraq, Canada, Australia, and Britian (just the ones I know of) are still fighting in Afganistan.
I have had uncles, aunts, friends, all serve in the forces. My daughter has that legacy as well as many who served on her fathers side.
For the Remembrance Day celebration at school, she has been chosen to lay the wreath for the fallen unknown soldier. This brings tears to my eyes.
For all of my friends that have husbands, fathers, sons, uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces and friends serving in any capacity anywhere in the world my respect and appreciation is given to you.
THE REAL STORY
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 the guns of Europe fell silent. After four years of the most bitter and devastating fighting, The Great War was finally over. The Armistice was signed at 5am in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiegne, France on November 11, 1918. Six hours later, at 11am, the war ended.
The first Remembrance Day was conducted in 1919 throughout Britain and the Commonwealth. Originally called Armistice Day, it commemorated the end of hostilities the previous year. It came to symbolise the end of the war and provide an opportunity to remember those who had died.
After the end of the Second World War in 1945 Armistice Day became Remembrance Day to include all those who had fallen in the two World Wars and later conflicts.
In a letter published in the London Evening News on 8 May 1919, an Australian journalist, Edward George Honey, proposed a respectful silence to remember those who had given their lives in the First World War. This was brought to the attention of King George V and on 7 November 1919, the King issued a proclamation which called for a two minute silence:
All locomotion should cease, so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead.
The second Sunday of November is Remembrance Sunday. At 11am a two minute silence is observed at war memorials, cenotaphs, religious services and shopping centres throughout the country. The Royal Family, along with leading politicians and religious leaders gather at The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London for a service and all branches of the civilian and military services are represented in ceremonies throughout Britain and the Commonwealth.
We were taught this in school, the sad thing is I can remember that but I can never remember whether it was the first or second world war. I believe it was the first.
Canada recognized all of our war veterans past, present, living, or dead on this day. It is a statutory holiday, and is a very reverend experience.
My maternal grandfather fought in WWI. He was a sniper for the advance troops. He was shot a number of times. He lost fingers because of it, and lived the balance of his life with a bullet against the lining of his heart, back then operations are not what they are today. He went into the war at 16 lieing about his age, a full red head and when he got out he was totally white haired.
His sons followed in his footsteps during the Korean War. Even though Canada was there in a peacekeeping role, it was still war. One of my Uncles never fully recovered from the killing he had to do to survive.
Afganistan is the first war Canada troops have served in as active participants versus peacekeepers since WWII. We lose more of our troops every day it seems fighting in that country. Trying to get Osama Bin Laden on behalf of the United States for the events that transpired on 9-11. While the US moved on to Iraq, Canada, Australia, and Britian (just the ones I know of) are still fighting in Afganistan.
I have had uncles, aunts, friends, all serve in the forces. My daughter has that legacy as well as many who served on her fathers side.
For the Remembrance Day celebration at school, she has been chosen to lay the wreath for the fallen unknown soldier. This brings tears to my eyes.
For all of my friends that have husbands, fathers, sons, uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces and friends serving in any capacity anywhere in the world my respect and appreciation is given to you.
THE REAL STORY
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 the guns of Europe fell silent. After four years of the most bitter and devastating fighting, The Great War was finally over. The Armistice was signed at 5am in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiegne, France on November 11, 1918. Six hours later, at 11am, the war ended.
The first Remembrance Day was conducted in 1919 throughout Britain and the Commonwealth. Originally called Armistice Day, it commemorated the end of hostilities the previous year. It came to symbolise the end of the war and provide an opportunity to remember those who had died.
After the end of the Second World War in 1945 Armistice Day became Remembrance Day to include all those who had fallen in the two World Wars and later conflicts.
In a letter published in the London Evening News on 8 May 1919, an Australian journalist, Edward George Honey, proposed a respectful silence to remember those who had given their lives in the First World War. This was brought to the attention of King George V and on 7 November 1919, the King issued a proclamation which called for a two minute silence:
All locomotion should cease, so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead.
The second Sunday of November is Remembrance Sunday. At 11am a two minute silence is observed at war memorials, cenotaphs, religious services and shopping centres throughout the country. The Royal Family, along with leading politicians and religious leaders gather at The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London for a service and all branches of the civilian and military services are represented in ceremonies throughout Britain and the Commonwealth.
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