Remembrance Day

[phishtaper]

when i was a kid, Nov 11 was just a trip to the school auditorium with boring speeches and a moment of silence. as an adult, I think I can begin to understand the truly mind-blowing sacrifices that so many have made - sacrifices that even on my best day I could never hope to make.

with the greatest of respect, appreciation, and honour, I remember.

[Esau.]

In 1997, I was travelling around Europe for close to two months waiting for the cup in Amsterdam to begin, and I visited my brother who lived in Lyneham, England at the time (he's in the QRAF), he had somne leave saved up and we both decided to travel over to France to attend the nov.11 service at the Vimy Ridge Memorial.

Definitely the most powerful and emotional rememberance day I have ever expirenced and one I will never forget.

[Velvet]

I never miss the ceremony at the War Memorial downtown. A bit of a reminder how lucky I am never to have warred.

[Kanada Kev]

One of the most amazing experiences I had in relation to Remembrance Day and the sacrifice that was made by so many was when I was in Europe. My wife and I drove to Normandy and visited Juno Beach and one of the Canadian Cemeteries.

After traveling around for 2 months, I never would have thought a beach and a cemetery in a foreign country would make me feel so at HOME and so unbelievably proud and patriotic being a Canadian.

With fewer and fewer veterans alive from that time we have to preserve their/our history and make sure that the youth understand what happened.

Every day I wear a gold ring that was issued to my grandfather as thanks for his service in WWII (officer on a mine sweeper). When I was in Normandy he was still alive. I called him from there to say thank you. I can't tell you how much it meant to him and to me. (A few years later they made a commercial out of it ... for Bell i think ... total coincidence)

In Flander's Fields

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 Flander's 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, tho poppies grow

In Flander's fields.

Liet. -Col. John McCrae

The Canadian Cemetery at Cintheaux contains the remains of 2,959 Canadian soldiers who helped free France from Nazi oppression.

[Birdy]

I remember.

[Schwa.]

i was talking to a co-worker about a month ago and she didn't know if Hitler was responsible for WWI or WWII. Pathetic.

[Ms Zimmy]

I never miss the ceremony at the War Memorial downtown. A bit of a reminder how lucky I am never to have warred.

My Grandfather was a POW in Holland, he moved to Canada right after the war. He is 96 and still alive.

I remember.

[Jaimoe]

And the wearing of poppies will continue on because of Afghanistan. Bless all our troops.

[Esau.]

My brother is there right now.

[Birdy]

My heart goes out to all of the *Canadians* in Afghanistan... here's to hoping that place can once again be a hippie heaven!

[Gr8FuL]

I dont even get this day off, it'll be the first year i can remember not attending a ceremony and placing a wreath for my grandfather.

I remember....one thing i'll never forget

[LXQ42]

I watched "Band of Brothers" for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It made me weep. Even though it is following an American Company, the message translates the same. The sacrifice of the North American men serving in WWII meant so much to so many European communities, and to the world, that each of us should be proud that we had family/countrymen who were so brave.

I remember.

Edited November 7, 2007 by Guest

[Esau.]

[paisley]

are a lot of great shows on the History Channel today

cheers to those brave souls

[Jaimoe]

Cudos to Bravo! for showing one of the greatest anti-war movies ever made (it's on right now): All Quiet on the Westen Front. It's the original Lewis Milestone film.

[NewRider]

Cudos to Bravo! for showing one of the greatest anti-war movies ever made (it's on right now): All Quiet on the Westen Front.