Tomorrow is Remembrance Day in Canada. Many communities will be having various events to remember a variety of things.
It's important to stop and remember that thousands of lives were lost in the two world wars and numerous little wars that go on all the time. I try to think of the of individuals who died. I can remember people who I knew. Many people cannot make a similar connection today but they can certainly pick individuals they didn't know and stop for a moment and try to remember what they were like. I think it's important to remember the brave individuals who lost their lives in battle.
It's necessary to stop and think about the freedom we have and what it cost. We must maintain that freedom for those who fought and for ourselves. Having read some history, it must have been very scary that in the second World War things went well for Hitler.
It's valuable to stop and think about the awfulness of war. This year we've had stories in our local papers and the old vets tell about how afraid they were . It took bravery to face the danger and it takes courage to admit fears.
The older I get the more meaningful remembrance becomes. I do not attend formal ceremonies. I prefer to be by myself and quietly remember and hope that our remembrance will go a long way to improve our world.
Red, thank you for a beautiful post. I agree with your idea of trying to remember the individuals who are veterans. And may our remembrance of war and the way it affects us be a way to some day be rid of all war.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be more meaningful if we can put an individual to our memories.
DeleteYes, we should honor veterans while at the same time we abhor war. There are no winners in war, only losers. Vets will tell us that, and they know.
ReplyDeleteThe vets are very wise in what they tell us.
DeleteWar is indeed awful, which is why it should only be resorted to after every other method of diplomacy has failed. I'm glad I received your post today because earlier today I received half a dozen posts from you, the first dated Oct. 30th. Weird!
ReplyDeleteToo many times nations get backed into thinking they are weak if they back down. As you say many things should be tried before war.
DeleteIt seems only some people got delayed posts. It seems to be on track now.
I too will be remembering.
ReplyDeleteI have had seven posts appear on my reading list today. I don't know what is going on.
You hold the record. I had a couple of people with 6. It seems to have got back to normal.
DeleteWe never must stop remembering the brave boys who fought for our freedom. The Dutch will for ever be grateful for the Canadians who liberated our country and Amsterdam. My daughter lives near the Berlage bridge in Amsterdam where the troops entered the city.
ReplyDeleteThe Dutch have been very kind toward our vets. Our vets appreciated what the Dutch did. They felt very safe in Holland.
DeleteWe must never forget the men and women who have sacrificed their lives so that we may live in freedom. And like you, the older I get, the more meaningful this becomes.
ReplyDeleteI often think of how the people who returned had a good chunk of their life taken by war. They were not able to start a normal life until they got back.
DeleteYou are right Red. We try to teach our children that is is important to remember this aweful history every now and then. Here in the Netherlands Remembrence Day on the 4th of may.
ReplyDeleteSalute from the Netherlands,
http://dzjiedzjee.blogspot.com
I think we're doing a better job with educating our kids than we once did. I was a teacher. we were stating to develop meaningful activities with the kids so they would understand the war .
Deleteyes, I have to say the same thing Stephen Hayes said. I opened my posts and had at least a half dozen posts from you of old posts - weird is right - my entire list was all past posts from you??? Do you have a bug or did Blogger mess up somehow??
ReplyDeleteGreat Post on the Veterans Red. I shall go downtown and partake in the service. Have a good day.
I think blogger is to blame for posts coming at once.
DeleteMost communities have a very meaningful program.
I agree with everything you said, Red. Thank you to all who serve our countries and let's hope war will someday be a memory.
ReplyDeleteWe certainly have to hope that there will be no more war. Maybe that attitude will pay off.
DeleteWe have Veterans Day here on Mon. A sad but proud day for me.
ReplyDeleteI understand how sad and proud can be mixed.
DeleteThank you for posting this today for all those who gave so much. Thinking of those who served and their families for all their sacrifices.
ReplyDeleteAll of the service people gave much to the cause. Their life was put on hold while they fought.
DeleteRemembering is good, they should never be forgotten:)
ReplyDeleteI think we have a number of good programs to help us and others remember.
DeleteNicely said! Thank you to our neighbors, the Canadian veterans, who have served the cause of freedom.
ReplyDeleteThank you. This reminds me that many Canadians served in the U.S. armed forces and we had Americans in our forces. I hadn't thought about that.
DeleteThose who ignore history are doomed to repeat it - So let's hope the general public is a bit better informed by the next election. So many good people died trying to preserve our freedoms, but we seem to be losing a little bit more of that all the time.
ReplyDeleteIf I may express some cynicism, I think sometimes the politicians whip us up into a frenzy to support some of their schemes. This requires us losing some wiggle room.
DeleteOh nicely written Red yes there was a lot of stories of bravery that we will never hear. B
ReplyDeleteYou're right that some stories will never be told. I have an old friend who levels with me once in a while. I amazed at what he went through when he was very young.
DeleteWars are begun by politicians and business men and profiteers. At least WW I & II. I love the soldiers and loathe the wars. I'm still home sick. Hubby went in to the service, as he always does.
ReplyDeleteGet better soon. I tend to stay away from the ceremonies.
DeleteRed thank you for sharing your thoughts, I do both attend services as well as stay at home in solitude and reflect. I come from a family of militant men, my grandfather and his father and for many generations before all served. I detest war but as Jennifer above mentioned I too love our soldiers. I say put the politicians in a room, let them fight it out and spare needless deaths.
ReplyDeleteI did lots of Remembrance Day ceremonies and parades when I was in the Naval Reserve, but now I just take a quiet moment for myself and wish for peace.
ReplyDeletethank you for remembering - and reminding.
ReplyDeleteand i just got this in my feed today.