Remember
 

On this Remembrance Day, please take a moment to honour the memory of those Canadians who have made the ultimate sacrifice, not just in the First World War, the Second World War and Korea, but all of the Peacekeeping Missions and Post-Cold War Military missions, including Bosnia and Afghanistan.

mpc1

Agreed.

My wife and I make it a point on Remembrance Day to phone and thank both of our Grandfathers who fought in WWII. It really does make a difference to them. Both do not like to speak of the war but they appreciate the acknowledgment of their being there. Mrs Cattle's Grandfather was at Normandy and pretty much all of his friends were killed on landing at the beach and that is something I truly don't think I can fathom. Out of respect we thank him but never bring it up the past.

Mrs Cattle is a piano teacher at home and has 50 students (mostly kids) and it is very heartwarming to hear them acknowledge what their grandparents did in the wars and how important it is to remember them. For all the screw ups that we might blame teens for, I can honestly say they have respect for the sacrifices made in the past.

Given that many war veterans don't (understandably) speak of their experiences I think it is wonderful that some many youngsters still understand what today means and I for one am very grateful for that.

mpc1: Thank you for posting this.

As an ex-military officer and veteran of a UN mission, I pause to remember the two comarades who did not come home with the rest of us. Although they were victims of traffic accidents, they died in the service of peace.

Being in the States I am awfully glad we have cbc broadcasting at least part of the national service of remembrance on the internet - allows me to feel a little bit of connection back to home and to participate in the act of remembrance.

I had an opportunity to attend the ceremony in person in 1996 and it just reinforced to me the importance that they continue, and that people of my generation (grad work at university) and younger are aware of the sacrifices that all vetrans and their families and communities made, and are making - just reminded listening to the hourly news that there are 1200 troops serving in Bosnia still. No matter what we think of the politics of sending troops into various conflicts, we as a country are asking them as individuals to serve and be prepared to sacrifice everything, and its the least we can do as a country to pause once a year to acknowledge, say thank you and to remember.

Jonathan

airbus320

I too am an ex-military officer and share with you the unfortunate experience of sending colleagues back to Canada from overseas military missions, one in a sealed lead coffin and one in a titanium 'halo' neckbrace with a broken neck.

I'm still not sure which was more tragic.

Lest we forget

mpc1

Quote by Cattle:
Mrs Cattle's Grandfather was at Normandy and pretty much all of his friends were killed on landing at the beach and that is something I truly don't think I can fathom

On one of your trips to Europe it would be very worthwhile to take a Normandy tour and see what Canadians went through there, made even more potent by the numbers of young soldiers buried in the cemeteries.
I went there when my son was just 20 and he was very impressed and observant of what his grandfather went through and saw the grave of a great uncle killed at the same age he was when we visited.

A few weeks back, I visted Ypres and pottered around that area with a group from the uni. Definitely touching to see, read, and hear the stories. I must admit that one doesn't really realize the magnitude of the number of lives lost until you see the endless list of names and the headstones of the fallen soldiers. It's even worse when the headstone doesn't have a name. It really makes one pose the question, why?

I cannot remember where I saw this, but one quote has stuck in my mind for quite a while now. It goes something along the lines of: War is not the result of people not getting along, but rather because of politicians. But in the end, it's really not the politicians that pay the price, but the innocent men, women, and children who do so with their lives.

As a side note, I must comment on the number of mini-Canadian flags that were flying beside almost each Canadian's grave... Did someome bring a stash of those Canada Day flags over?

Which units where you guys with? I was an officer in a reserve unit who lost a member in Bosnia (his Cougar rolled downed a ravine, only the driver survived). The most poignant moment for me was watching his spouse when they fired the 21 gun salute. Truly heartbreaking.

I served in Egypt with UNEF.

Back in 1992, I went to France on my own, as I wanted to visit the Normandy beaches and Dieppe. As an history buff myself, it was nevertheless truly moving to read the names on graves of Canadian soldiers buried in Dieppe. When you walk on the beach of Dieppe, you truly realize the amount of courage these mens showed, specially when the Nazis only had to shoot them like sitting ducks from the top of the cliffs...Every Canadians should go there once in their lifetime to pay their respects and thank them for their ultimate sacrifice.

A very interesting place to visit is the Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge built in the 1930's. The monument there is very impressive.

There is also a small museum which recounts Canada's role in WWI; the guides are Canadian exchange students who get posted there for 6 or 12 months.

It is a very moving place.

I have friends in that part of northern France (Lille-Douai-Lens) who told me this past weekend that the Gov. of Canada would be investing several million dollars to fix water damage on the ageing monument. They saw this in the local paper there.

The people in that part of the country (young and old) always make thankful comments regarding the role of "Les Canadiens" in both WWI and II. This has also been my experience in Amsterdam.

Unfortunately, I think we now tend to forget the sacrifices made by Canadians, past and present, serving the causes of peace, freedom and democracy.

[This message has been edited by NordsFan (edited Nov 12, 2003).]

Vimy Ridge is the birth place of Canada as a nation! Until then, we were almost a "colony" of UK, with no voices with regards to international affairs. The sacrifice made by Les Canadiens in Vimy proof their value, as well as helped Canada become a respected nation in the world rather than just "The Dominion of Canada"

I think the best way to have someone who doesn't understand the magnitude of the sacrifices made by the veterans is to send them to Europe and have them tour one of the military burial grounds where they can see the tombstones go on and on...

I was in Germany (Lahr) with 4 Service Battalion for 1.5 year (Class 'C' Reserve). I'm civilian now...

B

On the same trip as above my son visited Vimy Ridge in early November in freezing rain and while in those trenches/tunnels with that weather it was reuly poignant especially when you think of the date--1918.
We stopped in the nearby village that morning to get a baquette and cheese and the shopkeep recognizing my "tete Carre" Quebecois accent gave us the baquette as a gesture of friendship and gave my son a little speech on tbe importance of remembering these events in history.Quite compelling.
Vimy is an incredible place and monument and is Canadian soil as willed by France way back.

The lady who told me about the upcoming renovations at Vimy Ridge is 85 years old; her daughter and son-in-law immigrated to YQB about 20 years ago and are good friends.
Her husband worked on the construction of the monument some 70 years ago and then was a POW from 1940-44 before returning to work in the coal mines.

I swear I learned more about Canada's role through these people than I ever did in my Sec. 4 history class....Kind of sad really.

Many of my friends think I'm nuts when I tell them of my visits to Canadian memorials and cemetaries.

Je me souviens.