I heard one statement today that makes more sense to me than others. November 11 is not the only day that we should remember. Remembering the effort and sacrifice every day of the year would be the right thing to do. Ceremonies to mark an occasion are fine, but in our heart what really counts is to remember every day.
I was born in Oct. , 1939 just a few days after the war started. I remember very little. I do remember my Mom making up parcels to send to her brother and cousins who were overseas. I'm sure we were more of a nuisance in the parcel wrapping but it's something that stuck with me.
My favorite soldier is my son who was in the reserve forces from 1987 to 1992. He joined the reserve forces on his last day of high school thinking he had a good summer job. He stayed with the reserves and took more training and became an officer.
He became the Officer in Charge of the local unit and supervised summer training. I was very proud to attend some of the events that he either lead or participated in.
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| Cadets doing their community service |
we should remember and thank those who survived, too. i cannot imagine some of the burdens they carry for the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteTheir training is tough enough!
DeleteI totally agree. We should remember these efforts and sacrifices every day of the year. And be grateful for them. That is a wonderful thing to be proud of with your son.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think back to just after the war there were so many returned men. Today, most of them are gone.
DeleteI was born well after even Vietnam. The first war in my lifetime (for my country) was the Gulf War, but I remember zero of it at the time. The Iraq War stories certainly gave me light on what really happens to people in war. I can see why a lot of the homeless population are veterans. This holiday is for all of us to remember our veterans, but don't remember that our troops don't always return the same people they were when they left.
ReplyDeleteYou're right there are many parts to the remembrance and that many return home in horrible condition is one part.
DeleteNice post. I agree we should remember the sacrifices of the dead and the living each and every day. But it is nice to have one dedicated day to pause and reflect awhile.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely the day and special recognition are necessary.
DeleteI didn't get to a service this year but did remember.
ReplyDeleteI haven't attended a ceremony for many years.
DeleteI'm home again and catching up on what I missed. My father and son are my own military heroes, and both have gone but are remembered and loved and appreciated by us all. I remember my mom wrapping those parcels, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's different when our children are in the military. We look at it from different perspectives. We've had experience to add to our thinking.
DeleteThank you Red for this nice post. I am never surprised by the amount of people that show up and endure the harsh weather every year for our Service downtown. Rain or shine, snow or hail, we always have a crowd. Guess that's a good sign, eh.
ReplyDeleteOur attendance is always big. I wish they would have a larger venue.
DeleteJust looked at the photo again and they look just like our lot on Community Service. Ours have to wear Hi-Viz jackets. That is because they are naughty and have been caught. They have to be looked after but also accounted for.
ReplyDeleteThese kids have to compete to get in cadet camp. I led the group for the morning. They had lots of enthusiasm but not much know how.
DeleteThank you son for his service...I agree we should thank all the soldiers everyday:)
ReplyDeleteMy son's service certainly changed my thinking about many things.
DeleteWow. You must be proud!
ReplyDeleteLovely. The wee lady in my apt. Elva who is 92 laid a wreath in remembrance Yesterday.
ReplyDeleteFor those men who fought for their country. Not many left as they are getting on. In the late 8o's and 90's.
Nice the school children have been taught in many schools the meaning of their Grandfathers back then fought for the countries and many loss their friends too.
When we were kids there were many returned men trying to take up their lives again.
DeleteThank you to your son for his service.
ReplyDeleteIt was an emotional day yesterday.
If we really think about it , it's a very emotional time.
DeleteI agree with the statement that remembering those efforts and sacrifices must be in everyone's heart always. There hasn't to be grand celebrations....thoughts about them matter more. Commemorating them once a year is a precious reminder to those who tend to forget.
ReplyDelete56,638 Canadians died in WWI and 150,000 were injured. At the time Canada's population was only 7.3 million so those losses were proportionately pretty big. 42000 Canadians were killed in WWII - by then the country's population had risen to over 11 million. Sorry Red - I am just sharing my research. You probably knew this already.
ReplyDeleteYes I am aware of the proportions but not the numbers. It's had to believe our population was only 11000000 during WWII.
DeleteA fine post, Red. Like you, my son is my favourite military man. He's out in your neck of the woods.. ish. They do make us proud, don't they? :)
ReplyDeleteVery much so!
DeleteEnjoyed reading about your links with Remembrance Day and Congrats to your son. You are so right that we should remember those who served EVERY day, not just once a year!
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