In Canada November 11th is known as remembrance day. In the united States it’s Veterans day.. many countries observe the end of world war one in some way at 11 am. This is because WW1 ended the eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour when Germany signs an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car outside of Compiegne in France.
Since the War ended in 1918 there are very few veterans from the first world war that are still around. I wonder if in 20 years this holiday will still be as significant as it once was. Many business’s continue to open as long as they are allowed to on this holiday, just to make a buck.
It makes me sad that the people who died for our country are put on the back burner. What’s even worse is that many young people don’t really know all that much about WW1.
Its amazing that so many people had pride in our countries and lied about their age to go and fight for us. Many of them under the age of 18 willing to fight and die for our freedom.
So let us remember all of those who fought for this world, all those who died, and all of those who lived to shape this world in a crucial time.
I’ll leave you with this:
Flanders Fields By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
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.
It was written by a Canadian Lieutenant Colonel who witnessed a friend die before him in the war. He also perished in the war. Part of this poem is featured on the Canadian 10$ bill. So if you are ever in Canada check out our 10$ bill and our tribute to him and those who have fallen. May God protect all the loved ones who protect our countries.
Isla and I went down to the ledg this morning to watch the ceremony. Regan went to the legion as part of the politico thing. Anyway while driving around i heard on the radio there are no veterans from WWI alive any more. It made me really sad and even more committed to making sure Isla understands the sacrifice her great great grandpas gave. I hope that this year people connect with the gift that has been given to us looking back and an understanding of what our soldiers are doing today.
A very nice and timely post. I never knew my mother’s father, but the stories I hear of his time while serving in WWI and after that – amazing. And we have lots of now passed family that served in WWII. I hope that I can pass along all of the stories that I’ve heard through the years to my children so that these ordinary people who did extraordinarily brave acts will never be forgotten.