Remembrance Day: Lest We Forget

November 11th is Remembrance Day. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we pause for two minutes, to remember those who have lost their lives in war and in peace support operations, and to honour those who have served and who continue to serve.

As many of you know, our human dad is an officer in the Canadian Forces, and we are very proud of him. His grandfather served in the Second World War. Although we have never met him, we are very proud of him and his service as well.

Please take a moment to attend your local Remembrance Day ceremonies. If that's not possible, Canadians can watch the ceremony at the National War Memorial on CBC. At the very least, please pause for two minutes of silence at 11:00.

Also take a moment to reflect on the lines in the poem, In Flanders Fields, written by Canadian physician, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, in the trenches in WW I on May 3, 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

In Flanders Fields, by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

More resources on Remembrance Day:

• Veterans Affairs Canada: Canada Remembers
• The Royal Canadian Legion: Poppy & Remembrance
  
• CBC News: Remembrance Day
• Canadian War Museum: Remembrance Day
• Canoe: Remembrance Day
• Oral Histories of the First World War: Veterans 1914-1918.
• The First World War: Canada Remembers
• 1939-1945: A Soldier's War

Tags: Remembrance Day, Lest We Forget, Poppy,