Yeah, I was surprised (coming from Ontario) to hear that this week when my client had the day off.
The level of respect we give here in Canada is pretty pathetic.

I'm off tomorrow evening on 870 to CDG, so I'll arrive on 12NOV the day after Rememberance Day. The people I'm going to meet are very close friends who visited Canada about 6 years ago in November a time when we wear the poppy as a reminder of past tragedies and the sacrifices of many.

They were so impressed by this symbol that they got a few from a Legion member in a shopping mall and wear them around Paris this time every year.

11NOV is a national holiday in France; my friends called me this evening regarding our weekend activities, but ended the call by saying : "Nous portons le coquelicot demain pour vous, amis du Canada".

Je me souviens.

I must admit, it is amazing when I get thanked as a Canadian. That makes me proud to be one.

Have a grand time in Paris this weekend NordsFan. ^^^

I guess instead of sounding "cheesy", I should've made clear that I'm of Asian decent, and my parents chose to immigrate to Canada because of what a great country it is.

My father rarely talked about WWII until about 5 years ago. He served as a petty officer in charge of electrics on HMCS Summerside, a corvette. I have all of his medals which I touch with awe at the thought of him being a 20 year old with little education or experience in such a position.

Dad's American friends to a great extent do not even know Canada was in the invasion of Europe. And in fact, Canada got the hard road, thru the low countries with no glory while Monty and Patton had the easier route to germany.

Dad took part in the Normandy invasion. But, and it is a large but, our navy was so large that we had an excess of ships, and Dad & HMCS Summerside escorted the Americans ashore at Omaha Beach!

Thanks YOWkid ! :) ^

In todays day and age we have these new communities such as Flyer Talk that perhaps dont have the connection to the past that we once had. Thanks to those for grounding us for a moment and thanks to those have shared.

h We have all lost. Lest we forget.

I havent heard this for years since I was a cub scout;

In Flanders 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 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.

This poem can be found in the War Museum in Ypres in the Grand Place and engraved at other cemetaries as well.

I was moved when I saw it each and every time.

As an educator, one of the sites I've always been meaning to see is Beaumont-Hamil (forgive me if my spelling is incorrect) where the Nfld. regiment was buried alive. As I understand it, their rifles still protrude out of the soil...it must be incredibly moving.
On a much closer note, I also always ensure that my classes visit the Museum of the Regiments in Calgary which is arguably the finest of its kind west of Ottawa. There are always veterans available to answer questions and regale you with stories of their "history." My students generally love and appreciate these people. They don't just bring history alive for the kids but some of the students truly "get it" when these people - who were the same age or just a year or two older than the students - well up at the memories these courageous people have of their experiences.

Lest younger people forget as well...

If you ever have a few spare hours in YYC, do yourself a favour and make a visit; it is well worth everyone's while.

Salute' to all those who have served - and continue to serve - Canada so proudly. We all owe you a tremendous debt of honour. Thank you for doing what you do everyday so all of us can live the lives we lead.

Singlepoint

Let us remember and be thankful of all who put themselves in danger on our behalf, for their country and the entire free world. Their actions show us the true spirit of selfless sacrifice for a higher cause. For this we can never repay them except through our eternal gratitude and remembrance.

Having travelled a bit abroad (but not enough) I can see that it was the actions of those who came before us which earned our country the reputation it enjoys today. I am blessed to be welcomed around the world, just because I am a Canadian, and these people also remember what Canadians have done for them.

FewMiles..

YYC_BOS_and_Back...
 

...as a Canadian living in Boston, what is the difference in the mood, living down there, on Nov. 11?

Or anyone else who has had this experience?

When I was stationned in Europe, I participated in the special ceremonies at Beaumount-Hamel.

Singlepoint: I have included a link outlining the battle.

http://collections.ic.gc.ca/great_wa...les/somme.html

I've been fortunate to have had a variety of Remembrance Day experiences - growing up in Vancouver with the day off, taking a day off to go to the national ceremony in Ottawa (highly recommended) when I co-op'd at Nortel, and two years ago attending the ceremony at the Museum of the Regiments in YYC (agree with Singlepoint on the value of the museum - and I believe it is free today after the ceremony - lots of families when we were there).

I'm at a university here in BOS, and the feel at the school and in the city in general is completely different from any of those experiences. I really think the poppy campaign makes a huge difference in terms of awareness. I think the States pay much more attention on Memorial Day, this Veterans Day (today) just seems to slide under the radar screen.

I've also always thought that there was more of a "rah rah rah we won" feel to Memorial Day than the "thank you" feel I got from the different Remembrance Day ceremonies. I found it a little different this past May, maybe just a different exposure for me over previous years?

To me the other important part is to recognize that it is not about only remembering the sacrifices of those in the world wars, but also everybody who has served for us as a country - in particular the peacekeepers that have served and given lives or been injured throughout this century. I think it is far too easy to be shocked as a nation whenever there is an immediate loss (e.g. our reaction to the submarine fire), but the families of veterans and the veterans themselves live everyday with their experiences, and I think taking one day a year as a nation to pause, reflect, and say thank you is the least we can do.

To those of you who have served or who have had family who have served, Thank you.

Live webcast of Ceremony from Ottawa
 

If anyone is interested, I believe that if you go to this link you can get a live webcast of the national ceremony from Ottawa:

http://www.cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?d...e_id=22&lang=e

If the link doesn't work, go to www.cpac.ca, and look to the right for links for "watching live"...

I had previously praised cbc for providing similar service - but only radio coverage it seems this year.

We owe them so much
 

My uncle Alex (whom I never met, of course), from Welland, Ontario served in the Essex Scottish regiment, and died on July 29, 1944 while his regiment was attempting to take the city of Caen in Normandy. He is buried in the Canadian Cemetery at Bretteville-Sur -Laize. If any of you are touring Normandy, please go and see this memorial to our Canadian heroes. We should never forget them!!