November 11th, Remembrance Day is about more than just wearing a poppy and observing two minutes of silence at the designated hour. It’s a day for all of us to remember the men and women who served and often gave their lives for our country. It also marks the official end of World War 1: November 11, 1918 at 11am (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month).
But were you aware that our recognition of these brave men and women extends a full week before November 11th? Indeed, we’re nearing the end of Veterans’ Week (Nov. 5-11), which I think is more fitting, given the sacrifices they have made and continue to make in defending our peace and freedom.
This year marks the 105th anniversaries of the Battle of Passchendaele and the Battle of Vimy Ridge (WW1), and the 80th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid (WW2).
Tuesday, Nov. 8 marked Indigenous Veterans Day. This is an important opportunity to recognize the past and present contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit People in service to our Armed Forces. For more than 200 years, Indigenous Peoples have bravely served Canada, from the War of 1812, to the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, and in peacekeeping missions under the United Nations.
So I hope you’ll be able to attend a Remembrance Day ceremony to pay your respects to those who volunteered, served, fought, and died, for our freedom. While we enjoy the fruits of living in a country which many consider ‘the envy of the world,’ let us thank those who helped make it so.
— Neil
