Richard Froese
Remembrance Day on Nov. 11 is a special day across Canada. Canadians will gather in Legion halls, schools, community halls and at cenotaphs to remember those who fought in various wars for our freedoms.
Locally, the main community ceremonies will be in High Prairie, McLennan, Slave Lake and Peace River.
It is a time to honour and remember the countless local men and women – and others across Canada – who committed and sacrifice their lives and to honour those Veterans still living.
However, those numbers of living Veterans are declining.
Thank each and every local Veteran for their service to their country – our country – Canada.
One significant way Canadians can show their thanks is to wear a poppy – a red poppy. From the last Friday of October, to Remembrance Day, millions of Canadians wear a poppy as a visual pledge to never forget those who served and sacrificed.
Wear a poppy and take time to remember, honour and thank those who served to fight for freedoms in Canada.
The red flower is also the symbol of the Legion’s Poppy Campaign to raise funds to support Veterans and their families in need.
The Legion encourages everyone across Canada to show their recognition by proudly wearing a poppy – the symbol of remembrance.
Since 1921, the poppy has been a great symbol of remembrance. Wear a poppy and take time to remember, honour those who served to fight for freedoms in Canada.
Poppy boxes are out in the community in various businesses, municipal offices and other locations. Legion members and young Cadets will also be out in communities to offer poppies and accept donations.
People are encouraged to donate to the Poppy Fund to support the Veterans and their families.
Local schools will also have their own special ceremonies days before Remembrance Day when students, Veterans and Legion members will share a time to remember.
Leading to Nov. 11, students in schools across the region and Canada will participate in the No Stone Left Alone ceremony at cemeteries. No Stone Left Alone was launched in 2011 to engage youth and students in a more meaningful way to remember those who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms Canada has.
Many newcomers to Canada and local communities have come from countries in conflict and war seeking a better and safer life.
Canada has a world-wide reputation as being one of the leading nations with the most freedoms, compared with other countries around the world, despite what many Canadians think about homeland freedoms.
Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth. It was originally called Armistice Day to commemorate the Armistice agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, Nov. 11, 1918 at 11 a.m.
In Flanders Fields is a popular poem written by John McCrae and traditionally read at Remembrance Day services to express the tragedy of the losses of war and the importance of carrying on their memories.
The final verse states:
“Take up your 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.”
Robert Laurence Binyon encourages everyone in his poem For the Fallen.
“At the going down of the sun and in the morning;
“We will remember them.”