Remembrance Day has always meant a lot to me. My father was a Korean War vet, thrust into battle on the front lines. It was his first command as a young Lieutenant. Thankfully, he survived, and without injury, unlike many others.
A REVERED CANADIAN TRADITION 🪖🇨🇦🪖#RemembranceDay #LestWeForget #CanadaRemembers #dogladysden #FromTheArchives
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On the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, Canadians pause for two minutes of silence to remember all who served in Canada’s armed forces, particularly the wounded and the fallen. From the Canadian Encyclopedia:
In Canada, Remembrance Day has proven to be a flexible and enduring term. It has grown to include the remembrance of war dead from the Second World War, the Korean War and the War in Afghanistan, as well as from peacekeeping missions and other international military engagements.
In all, more than 1.6 million Canadians have served in Canada’s Armed Forces and more than 118,000 have died in foreign conflicts.
Throughout the commonwealth, millions of poppies are sold each year to support veterans and their families. In 2014, Canadian residents purchased a record 19 million. On Remembrance Day, we stand together, with our poppies pinned close to our hearts.
My father was a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment for 26 years. Along with his combat experience in Korea, he also survived dangerous “peacekeeping” missions in Lebanon/Syria (1958-1959) and the Gaza Strip (1964-1965).
In 2017, I visited London, Ontario, where we had lived from 1959-1965. The army base there houses a treasure trove of military memorabilia in the RCR Museum.
The following images can be viewed individually and full size by clicking on them. The last photo, bottom right, is from my father’s collection. He died in 2011.
Here is the famous poem, written during WWI by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. He penned it on May 3, 1915, after presiding over a friend and fellow soldier’s funeral. Today, it is part of every Remembrance Day ceremony:
In 2007, a stretch of highway between Toronto and Trenton, Ontario (where there is a military base), was officially dubbed the “Highway of Heroes”to honour Canada’s fallen military personnel. Most of them died in Afghanistan.
Canada’s combat role in that country began in October 2001, after the U.S. 9/11 terrorist attacks. It ended in 2011 when the focus shifted to training Afghanistan’s army and police force. The last service members departed in 2014.
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93 thoughts on “A REVERED CANADIAN TRADITION 🪖🇨🇦🪖#RemembranceDay”
How great to see your dad’s accomplishment in the museum. I’m glad the States recognized us..they often don’t. My dad was part of the Glengarry, Stormont and Dundas regiment. I may have the name order wrong but he had a kilt and everything. He fought in the Rhine, was part of the liberation of Holland and was wounded, near the end of the war in the battle of the Reischwald Forest. You did a great tribute and love the rendition by Cohen.
That photo of my father’s memorabilia is from my home collection, not in the museum, Birgit. I was happy to see his regiment had an entire museum dedicated to it, though.
A beautiful tribute Debbie… most of us had fathers or grandfathers and mothers who served and many who did not come home. They deserve all the respect we can give them. ♥
I enjoyed watching the two videos Debbie. First, the making of the poppies. They look a little different than I remember them growing up (and you probably remember them as flat bright red felt with a black felt insert with a pin). These poppies, per the video, are still felt, but more three-dimensional. When we moved to the States, we noticed that people did not sell poppies here, but then, as I mentioned in another comment, they do not observe Rememberance Day in the same way as it is observed in Canada. I began going to Downtown Detroit to school in 1976, then working working in Downtown Detroit in 1978 and in the 70s I would see veterans, usually double amputees, with a heavy blanket covering their stumps, selling poppies outside the big buildings Downtown. But I can’t say I ever saw it them in the 80s or 90s or beyond. I hope it was not because they were forbidden to solicit in the streets? It was interesting to see the mass production of the poppies and what the funds raised by selling them goes for. That is good as no veteran should become homeless, sit in a cold house, be without food – they should be recognized for the sacrifice they gave, even if they did not come home in a body bag. The video of the reading of the “In Flanders Field” poem was moving. Leonard Cohen did a beautiful rendering of John McCrae’s famous poem. I passed by Flanders Field when we were on a train back in 1979, I believe going to Germany from England or vice versa.
As to your Dad, yes many veterans return from war with so many psychological injuries and we assume they are okay, but they’re not. I’m glad your Dad even with his PTSD was able to lead a full life. When I was working at the diner in the 70s while attending college, there was a guy who came into the diner several times a day, every day. It was very sad. He was a Korean War vet. He had worked at the diner years before as a clean-up boy and then went off to war and returned home shell-shocked. That was explained to me at the time, long before the word “PTSD” was commonly spoken of, as being traumatized by what he had witnessed. His name was “Joe” and sat down, asked for black coffee, but never spoke otherwise. He never drank the coffee, but over the next 1/2 hour or so, he would start to smoke about 10 cigarettes, take a few puffs, put them out in the ashtray, sometimes he’d put them into the coffee cup. We never charged him for the coffee. He sat staring into space, sometimes wringing his hands and grimacing. It was painful to see. Customers who didn’t know about Joe would stare or whisper to one another. I admit the first time I saw him I was taken aback too. I learned after I left the restaurant that Joe was hit by a car and killed. He would walk along the main street and decide on a whim to cross busy Fort Street. The diner was on Fort Street and he would be zigzagging as he walked along the sidewalk. I always wondered why Joe was not institutionalized at some point. This was not just a former soldier having occasional flashbacks – he was a tortured soul.
Thanks for watching the videos, Linda! 🙂 Yes, it’s terrible that our governments don’t do more for the veterans. What a sad story about Joe! 🥹 My father had terrible nightmares and was an alcoholic, but he gave up drinking and smoking at the age of 60, after he was hit by a car while jaywalking in a drunken stupor. His right leg was badly broken and ended up being 2 inches shorter than the other one. He spent months in the hospital and rehab and never drank or smoked again. Still, he got long cancer at age 83 and died a month after his 84th birthday.
I’m sorry your dad had such a rough go of it Debbie. It sure is not fair to have given so much of yourself and then return fragile and broken. At least he was luckier than Joe when walking along the street, although his injuries sound horrific and his eventual cause of death was sad as well.
Nicely stated. It’s important to remember on Remembrance Day. When I was up there, I’d gone to a number of 11/11 ceremonies if I wasn’t working, no matter the weather (which as you know is pretty iffy at this time of year in the GTA). Hate the wars but respect to the soldiers doing what they were asked & thought right.
The ceremonies continue in the GTA and everywhere else. Canada does this very well, including the Highway of Heroes, etc. Yes, wars are terrible, but I doubt there will ever be such a thing as world peace.
A beautiful tribute to our sister’s countrymen who served along side our own Veterans. What a blessing your father returned from service without injury. Freedom is far from free, isn’t it? I thank you for your father’s brave service!
In the meantime, we have idiots who want to turn it into “Martyrs Day for Gaza”. I fail to understand the problem with the young anymore, that they can support a “poor oppressed people” who slaughtered thousands and celebrated afterwards. But let’s not celebrate men and women who gave their lives for freedom. My prayers for all those who’ve served. For the others, go live in Gaza.
I did not realize that Canada and the US shared a remembrance / veterans day. Both are today. It was a beautiful post. My thoughts and gratitude to your father for his service.
Yes, and other Commonwealth countries also participate. In America, you have two different days, the other one being Memorial Day in May, but in Canada, Memorial and Veteran’s days are combined on November 11. Thank you for mentioning my father’s service. He was in the army for a long time and faced mortal combat in Korea.
My dad was a regular soldier from 1936-1947, and he served all through WW2, stationed in India. So he had a ‘lucky war’. We always pay a lot of attention to Remembrance Sunday, and the 11th when it falls on a weekday like today.
Best wishes, Pete.
Your dad was indeed lucky to be in India during the war, but his service was still to be commended, as with all military personnel.🌸 It’s good we do this every year and in grand scale. 🇬🇧 🇨🇦
Yes, I think the Commonwealth countries do a great job commemorating those who fought for our freedom. Sadly, I doubt world peace will ever be achieved. Thanks for coming by, Hilary! 🙂
Hi Debbie
We must never forget what those who have gone before have sacrificed or what those who serve now are doing. I just feel so sad that it seems such a wasted effort.
On happier subjects we are coming up to Christmas and hopefully seeing family and friends I wish you lots of happiness and good health. 💜💜
Hi Debbie I love that we both chose John McCrae’s poem and put our own perspective on it.
I am grateful that your father survived. My father was totally deaf so could not serve in the forces in WW2 but he served a firewatcher and firefighter during the air raids.
I also have a brother who served a full career in the army and saw active service in Valeze, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and prepared troops for two Afghan wars. …. There so many people to be thankful too!
It’s such a shame that the world has learned nothing.💜💜
Yes, that poem captures the spirit of Remembrance Day so well! 💖 As someone who also has family in the military, you appreciate the solemnity of the occasion as much as I do. Sad that peace in our lifetime appears to be unachievable! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post. 🌹
Thank you so much for the link, Debbie. I really appreciate reading your beautiful tribute to your father, and to all who have served their countries. xo
As an ex-pat Brit living in the US… and studied for a few years in Canada, I still have a great deal of admiration to all Canadians who have served and fought for freedom, including your father.
Tragically, wars continue to be waged, including the disastrous invasion of Ukraine. As you probably know my ongoing pieces for the WEP/IWSG Challenge feature two Canadian-Ukrainian female pilots -ex-RCAF – helping fight for freedom https://rolandclarke.com/2022/10/19/wep-iwsg-october-challenge-thriller/. Fictional, but my research keeps me aware of the real heroes in uniform.
Thank you so much Roland! It is tragic, in these supposed “enlightened” times, that wars are still happening. I read your excellent WEP entry for August, but missed the last one. Thanks for the link!
Yes, today’s Veterans Day. My father was in the service for about 26 years, and was shot in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. If he ever had any trauma, I don’t know anything about it. He never talked about what happened when he was overseas without us (I lived in Tokyo for 3 years), or at least never talked about it with me (I have a feeling Mom might have known something), and overall he was pretty steady so I never saw any negative aftereffects. Although internally I celebrate everything our soldiers did in the name of the United States, I’ll admit that it’s a tough day to deal with mentally.
Hi Mitch! I didn’t know you were a fellow military brat. Another thing we have in common! 😀 You are fortunate that your father survived the wars with little fallout. My father didn’t talk about his experiences either, but he had horrible nightmares. Remembrance Day is always emotional for me too.
Beautiful tribute to your dad. I deeply appreciate his sacrifice and of so many others who bravely defended freedom loving countries to keep evil leaders from our homeland. I pray the hard work done by those before is never forgotten and the willingness to fight any man/country who tries to take our liberty away. Special thanks to our sister, our allied, our neighbor Canada and her awesome veterans. May God bless you!
Beautiful tribute to Canadian Remembrance Deb. Isn’t it funny how those poppy pins we donate for, never last long? I lost two off my jacket in one day, lol. <3
Hi Pete! We caught a bit of your Sunday services on the news tonight. I know Britons and Canadians share a reverence for Remembrance Day. Thank you for the link. I didn’t know about the Canada memorial, but remember seeing the Canada Gate when visiting in 1969. Both are lovely! Thanks for coming by.
My city planned a Veterans Day parade for tomorrow. It has been canceled because of Tropical Storm Nicole. The schools are also closed today. Those who serve in the armed forces often go through hell.
Debbie, such a touching tribute. When my husband served in the United States Air Force, he became friends with a fellow airman from Missouri. We were invited home to spend a holiday with his family. His father was a Korean War Vet with PTSD and I blogged about us witnessing this firsthand. I salute both you and your father. When we visited Ottawa years ago, we went to a war museum – not the current Canadian War Museum- I think it may have been either in or near the Parliament Building. This would have been around 1998, I think.
Thank you, Alana. 🙂 PTSD is difficult to deal with for everyone in the family. Ottawa has several museums. I haven’t been there since the 1980s; about time for another trip!
Wonderful tribute to your father and all the other soldiers who made sacrifices throughout many conflicts. It’s always a sombre day on Remembrance Day remembering all the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice and did not return. Then there are the other soldiers like your dad who did return, but were changed and so damaged in different ways, both physically and emotionally.
My dad served in the Forces but was so lucky to never see combat. I was in the Air Reserve Band in Montreal and also took part in many Remembrance Day services every year and also with my choir for many years until the pandemic. I was glad to be able to be a part of the services, actively honouring all the men and women who served.
Thank you so much for those kind words, Cathy! As a fellow Canadian, I know you appreciate the solemnity of the occasion. Your dad was fortunate to avoid combat, but his service was equally valuable, as was yours! Your band and choir were surely integral to the ceremonies.
I like the Canadian tradition for remembering your country’s heroes. That should be adapted by all countries. I’m deeply grateful for those who served. There are many in my family who did their part. I have three uncles who served in Vietnam. That was a scary time especially for the little girl that I was at that time. My uncles came back physically unharmed but PTSD to various degrees affected them. One was exposed to Agent Orange. I recall when he came home he suffered a nervous breakdown. I don’t know much about that other than hearing those words ‘nervous breakdown’ and was in the hospital for it. Over the years his health has increasingly declined because of the Agent Orange exposure. War is cruel. Unfortunately as long as humans live fighting of some kind will go on. It would be grand if we could all live together in peace. Thanks for sharing and remembering. Be blessed, my friend!
I’m late reading the Remembrance Day posts, including your great tribute to some wonderful people, including your da. Thanks you from a grateful Brit with emotional ties to Canada – I went to college north of Montreal and in Toronto.
Thanks for coming by to read this post, Roland. 🙂 Remembrance Day is an important occasion all over the Commonwealth. There are many Brits living in Canada. At one time, they were the largest group of immigrants. Interesting that you lived here, as well. Cheers!
It makes me feel so good that there is a tradition like that. We need to be grateful for the service and this tradition is an entire nation’s way of expressing that gratitude. I am so glad you shared, Debbie. I wouldn’t have known at all.
A beautiful tribute, Debbie. The poem by John McCrae gave me chills. Now I understand the symbolism of the Poppy. I took every opportunity to thank and appreciate the Veterans in my life – known or unknown. At a concert near my town, Toby Keith invited service people up on stage. There were so many (as the audience cheered in pride) they ran out of room on stage.
Thank you, diedre. 🙂 The poppy is an important symbol of remembrance in Canada, the U.K. and Australia. What a great thing for Toby Keith to do. The applause must have been thundering!
Yes, the Highway of Heroes trip is heartbreaking for the families who have to take it. ? The unflagging support of the public is good to see, though. Thankfully, since pulling out of Afghanistan, that road is travelled less frequently.
A wonderful legacy, Debbie. Veterans day in the US is a wonderful holiday as well, and gives us all the opportunity to reflect and thank those who sacrifice for our country.
We all must be grateful for those who have served – it is a sacrifice even if you come home in one piece. As you said, there are invisible scars to the mind and spirit. God bless
I think I like calling it Remembrance Day more than Veterans Day. It’s for the vets for sure, but we must never forget that the world went to war Twice to stamp out tyranny.
Definitely! There have been other wars besides WWI and WWII, which should also be remembered, though. Yes, those were the major ones, but plenty of people fought (like my father) and died in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, for example, not to mention, Afghanistan! Our “Highway of Heroes” was established to honour those casualties. Unlike in the U.S., which has two separate occasions of remembrance, (May and Nov.) we combine everything in one. From the Canadian Encyclopedia:
“In Canada, Remembrance Day has proven to be a flexible and enduring term. It has grown to include the remembrance of war dead from the Second World War, the Korean War and the War in Afghanistan, as well as from peacekeeping missions and other international military engagements. In all, more than 1.6 million Canadians have served in Canada’s Armed Forces and more than 118,000 have died in foreign conflicts.”
A very nice and obviously heartfelt tribute to your Dad, DEBBIE.
‘War Is A Racket’ – as the book’s title accurately states – and sadly, it’s the “everyman” and “everywoman” who suffers from them, while those who initiate them make billions of dollars. I am confident that this is coming to an end soon. In the meantime, we honor the brave and mourn their loss.
Again, Debbie, this was a first-rate tribute you put together. Well done!
Thank you, Stephen. 🙂 My father and I had a strained relationship until his later years and then he died. This is the least I can do! ? Your comments about war are spot on. The rich and powerful are the only ones who benefit.
You are right Debbie. We can never imagine what our unsung war-heroes have to go through just so we can sleep peacefully at night. I just finished a book based in war-gripped Syria. Even the little bit shared in that book was enough to make my skin crawl.
Your post was a good tribute to your Dad.
My mother survived WWII in Germany and shared a few horror stories, but my father refused to talk about his experiences. Pity! It might have helped him to do so. Thank you and I’m glad you liked the tribute.
Beautifully written and a tribute to your dad. I am certain that growing up, it was tough and only when an adult, could you understand the reasons behind his alcoholism and personality. I might be choosing the wrong words so forgive me. My dad fought in WW2 and was wounded hear the end of the war. He had some stories but I don’t think he suffered as many others have. My mom, on the other hand, had severe PTSD but we didn’t know. She endured the war and lost 2 brothers and even though they were German, I believe Remembrance Day is for all soldiers( barring the Nazis) and people who endured and keep enduring war.
Thank you, Birgit. ? It’s true, my childhood was no picnic. My mother also suffered at the hands of the Nazis (she was jailed) and likely had PTSD as well. As you said, these things became clear to me as an adult. If only there could be no more wars! So sad to see what goes on in the world…
93 thoughts on “A REVERED CANADIAN TRADITION 🪖🇨🇦🪖#RemembranceDay”
How great to see your dad’s accomplishment in the museum. I’m glad the States recognized us..they often don’t. My dad was part of the Glengarry, Stormont and Dundas regiment. I may have the name order wrong but he had a kilt and everything. He fought in the Rhine, was part of the liberation of Holland and was wounded, near the end of the war in the battle of the Reischwald Forest. You did a great tribute and love the rendition by Cohen.
That photo of my father’s memorabilia is from my home collection, not in the museum, Birgit. I was happy to see his regiment had an entire museum dedicated to it, though.
Your dad was a genuine war hero too, and I’m sure you’re proud of him. I found this on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormont,_Dundas_and_Glengarry_Highlanders
Leonard Cohen had the perfect voice to recite In Flanders Field. 💖
A beautiful tribute Debbie… most of us had fathers or grandfathers and mothers who served and many who did not come home. They deserve all the respect we can give them. ♥
Thank you, Sally! 🙂 I know the ceremonies in the UK are well-organized also. 🌸
A heartfelt tribute to all war Vets and to your father Deb. <3
Yes, this day has always meant a lot to me. Thanks, Deb. 🌸
I enjoyed watching the two videos Debbie. First, the making of the poppies. They look a little different than I remember them growing up (and you probably remember them as flat bright red felt with a black felt insert with a pin). These poppies, per the video, are still felt, but more three-dimensional. When we moved to the States, we noticed that people did not sell poppies here, but then, as I mentioned in another comment, they do not observe Rememberance Day in the same way as it is observed in Canada. I began going to Downtown Detroit to school in 1976, then working working in Downtown Detroit in 1978 and in the 70s I would see veterans, usually double amputees, with a heavy blanket covering their stumps, selling poppies outside the big buildings Downtown. But I can’t say I ever saw it them in the 80s or 90s or beyond. I hope it was not because they were forbidden to solicit in the streets? It was interesting to see the mass production of the poppies and what the funds raised by selling them goes for. That is good as no veteran should become homeless, sit in a cold house, be without food – they should be recognized for the sacrifice they gave, even if they did not come home in a body bag. The video of the reading of the “In Flanders Field” poem was moving. Leonard Cohen did a beautiful rendering of John McCrae’s famous poem. I passed by Flanders Field when we were on a train back in 1979, I believe going to Germany from England or vice versa.
As to your Dad, yes many veterans return from war with so many psychological injuries and we assume they are okay, but they’re not. I’m glad your Dad even with his PTSD was able to lead a full life. When I was working at the diner in the 70s while attending college, there was a guy who came into the diner several times a day, every day. It was very sad. He was a Korean War vet. He had worked at the diner years before as a clean-up boy and then went off to war and returned home shell-shocked. That was explained to me at the time, long before the word “PTSD” was commonly spoken of, as being traumatized by what he had witnessed. His name was “Joe” and sat down, asked for black coffee, but never spoke otherwise. He never drank the coffee, but over the next 1/2 hour or so, he would start to smoke about 10 cigarettes, take a few puffs, put them out in the ashtray, sometimes he’d put them into the coffee cup. We never charged him for the coffee. He sat staring into space, sometimes wringing his hands and grimacing. It was painful to see. Customers who didn’t know about Joe would stare or whisper to one another. I admit the first time I saw him I was taken aback too. I learned after I left the restaurant that Joe was hit by a car and killed. He would walk along the main street and decide on a whim to cross busy Fort Street. The diner was on Fort Street and he would be zigzagging as he walked along the sidewalk. I always wondered why Joe was not institutionalized at some point. This was not just a former soldier having occasional flashbacks – he was a tortured soul.
Thanks for watching the videos, Linda! 🙂 Yes, it’s terrible that our governments don’t do more for the veterans. What a sad story about Joe! 🥹 My father had terrible nightmares and was an alcoholic, but he gave up drinking and smoking at the age of 60, after he was hit by a car while jaywalking in a drunken stupor. His right leg was badly broken and ended up being 2 inches shorter than the other one. He spent months in the hospital and rehab and never drank or smoked again. Still, he got long cancer at age 83 and died a month after his 84th birthday.
I’m sorry your dad had such a rough go of it Debbie. It sure is not fair to have given so much of yourself and then return fragile and broken. At least he was luckier than Joe when walking along the street, although his injuries sound horrific and his eventual cause of death was sad as well.
Nicely stated. It’s important to remember on Remembrance Day. When I was up there, I’d gone to a number of 11/11 ceremonies if I wasn’t working, no matter the weather (which as you know is pretty iffy at this time of year in the GTA). Hate the wars but respect to the soldiers doing what they were asked & thought right.
The ceremonies continue in the GTA and everywhere else. Canada does this very well, including the Highway of Heroes, etc. Yes, wars are terrible, but I doubt there will ever be such a thing as world peace.
A beautiful tribute to our sister’s countrymen who served along side our own Veterans. What a blessing your father returned from service without injury. Freedom is far from free, isn’t it? I thank you for your father’s brave service!
Thanks, Cathy! My father had no physical injuries, but there were plenty of psychological ones, unfortunately.
In the meantime, we have idiots who want to turn it into “Martyrs Day for Gaza”. I fail to understand the problem with the young anymore, that they can support a “poor oppressed people” who slaughtered thousands and celebrated afterwards. But let’s not celebrate men and women who gave their lives for freedom. My prayers for all those who’ve served. For the others, go live in Gaza.
Okay…idiots are everywhere, but they will not detract from our ceremonies honouring those who fought for our countries. 🌸
A wonderful post for Remembrance Day.
Have a fabulous day and week, Debbie. ♥
Thank you, Sandee. You too! 🙂
I did not realize that Canada and the US shared a remembrance / veterans day. Both are today. It was a beautiful post. My thoughts and gratitude to your father for his service.
Yes, and other Commonwealth countries also participate. In America, you have two different days, the other one being Memorial Day in May, but in Canada, Memorial and Veteran’s days are combined on November 11. Thank you for mentioning my father’s service. He was in the army for a long time and faced mortal combat in Korea.
A very beautiful post for Remembrance Day. Thanks to your father for his service. I am a Persian Gulf I veteran.
Thanks, Patrick! 🙂 And thank you for your service. 🌸
My dad was a regular soldier from 1936-1947, and he served all through WW2, stationed in India. So he had a ‘lucky war’. We always pay a lot of attention to Remembrance Sunday, and the 11th when it falls on a weekday like today.
Best wishes, Pete.
Your dad was indeed lucky to be in India during the war, but his service was still to be commended, as with all military personnel.🌸 It’s good we do this every year and in grand scale. 🇬🇧 🇨🇦
A beautiful post, and your personal memories make it special. I hope you have a peaceful day remembering.
Thank you so much, Clive! 🙂 The ceremonies were moving, as always.
Hi Debbie – our Remembrance Day here is always poignant … War is just appalling … I wish for Peace for everyone in this world. With thoughts – Hilary
Yes, I think the Commonwealth countries do a great job commemorating those who fought for our freedom. Sadly, I doubt world peace will ever be achieved. Thanks for coming by, Hilary! 🙂
Incredibly moving, Debbie. Wishing you a peaceful Remembrance Day. 🌺
Thank you, Nancy! 🙂 The ceremonies were very moving, as always.
Hi Debbie
We must never forget what those who have gone before have sacrificed or what those who serve now are doing. I just feel so sad that it seems such a wasted effort.
On happier subjects we are coming up to Christmas and hopefully seeing family and friends I wish you lots of happiness and good health. 💜💜
Agreed! And yes, it all seems futile. Very sad!
I hope you and your family have a happy and healthy holiday season as well. Thanks, Willow. 🙂
Hi Debbie I love that we both chose John McCrae’s poem and put our own perspective on it.
I am grateful that your father survived. My father was totally deaf so could not serve in the forces in WW2 but he served a firewatcher and firefighter during the air raids.
I also have a brother who served a full career in the army and saw active service in Valeze, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and prepared troops for two Afghan wars. …. There so many people to be thankful too!
It’s such a shame that the world has learned nothing.💜💜
Yes, that poem captures the spirit of Remembrance Day so well! 💖 As someone who also has family in the military, you appreciate the solemnity of the occasion as much as I do. Sad that peace in our lifetime appears to be unachievable! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post. 🌹
Thank you so much for the link, Debbie. I really appreciate reading your beautiful tribute to your father, and to all who have served their countries. xo
And thank you for reading this post, Kymber! 🌹 I appreciate you taking the time.
Thank you for this touching tribute to your dad and the Canadian military, Debbie.
Such a hard and difficult loss.
Love and light to you.
Thank you for visiting, Robyn. 🙂 Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! ?
As an ex-pat Brit living in the US… and studied for a few years in Canada, I still have a great deal of admiration to all Canadians who have served and fought for freedom, including your father.
Tragically, wars continue to be waged, including the disastrous invasion of Ukraine. As you probably know my ongoing pieces for the WEP/IWSG Challenge feature two Canadian-Ukrainian female pilots -ex-RCAF – helping fight for freedom https://rolandclarke.com/2022/10/19/wep-iwsg-october-challenge-thriller/. Fictional, but my research keeps me aware of the real heroes in uniform.
Thank you so much Roland! It is tragic, in these supposed “enlightened” times, that wars are still happening. I read your excellent WEP entry for August, but missed the last one. Thanks for the link!
Yes, today’s Veterans Day. My father was in the service for about 26 years, and was shot in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. If he ever had any trauma, I don’t know anything about it. He never talked about what happened when he was overseas without us (I lived in Tokyo for 3 years), or at least never talked about it with me (I have a feeling Mom might have known something), and overall he was pretty steady so I never saw any negative aftereffects. Although internally I celebrate everything our soldiers did in the name of the United States, I’ll admit that it’s a tough day to deal with mentally.
Hi Mitch! I didn’t know you were a fellow military brat. Another thing we have in common! 😀 You are fortunate that your father survived the wars with little fallout. My father didn’t talk about his experiences either, but he had horrible nightmares. Remembrance Day is always emotional for me too.
Debbie,
Beautiful tribute to your dad. I deeply appreciate his sacrifice and of so many others who bravely defended freedom loving countries to keep evil leaders from our homeland. I pray the hard work done by those before is never forgotten and the willingness to fight any man/country who tries to take our liberty away. Special thanks to our sister, our allied, our neighbor Canada and her awesome veterans. May God bless you!
Thank you so much, Cathy! ♥ Have a good week.
Beautiful tribute to Canadian Remembrance Deb. Isn’t it funny how those poppy pins we donate for, never last long? I lost two off my jacket in one day, lol. <3
Thank you. 🙂 I know, those pins always fall off. I bought some enamel ones with clasps from Amazon, but still donate money whenever I see a box.
A salute to your father and all who served….
In Britain, we always celebrate Remembrance Day on a Sunday, so it will be on the 13th this year. It is taken very seriously here, and the debt we owe to Canadians who fought with us as allies is never forgotten. This is the memorial in London.
https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/green-park/things-to-see-and-do/memorials,-fountains-and-statues/canada-memorial
Best wishes, Pete.
Hi Pete! We caught a bit of your Sunday services on the news tonight. I know Britons and Canadians share a reverence for Remembrance Day. Thank you for the link. I didn’t know about the Canada memorial, but remember seeing the Canada Gate when visiting in 1969. Both are lovely! Thanks for coming by.
My city planned a Veterans Day parade for tomorrow. It has been canceled because of Tropical Storm Nicole. The schools are also closed today. Those who serve in the armed forces often go through hell.
Love,
Janie
HI Janie! I hope Nicole didn’t cause too much damage. War is hell, no doubt!
Debbie, such a touching tribute. When my husband served in the United States Air Force, he became friends with a fellow airman from Missouri. We were invited home to spend a holiday with his family. His father was a Korean War Vet with PTSD and I blogged about us witnessing this firsthand. I salute both you and your father. When we visited Ottawa years ago, we went to a war museum – not the current Canadian War Museum- I think it may have been either in or near the Parliament Building. This would have been around 1998, I think.
Thank you, Alana. 🙂 PTSD is difficult to deal with for everyone in the family. Ottawa has several museums. I haven’t been there since the 1980s; about time for another trip!
Wonderful tribute to your father and all the other soldiers who made sacrifices throughout many conflicts. It’s always a sombre day on Remembrance Day remembering all the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice and did not return. Then there are the other soldiers like your dad who did return, but were changed and so damaged in different ways, both physically and emotionally.
My dad served in the Forces but was so lucky to never see combat. I was in the Air Reserve Band in Montreal and also took part in many Remembrance Day services every year and also with my choir for many years until the pandemic. I was glad to be able to be a part of the services, actively honouring all the men and women who served.
Thanks for sharing this, Debbie. It’s powerful.
Thank you so much for those kind words, Cathy! As a fellow Canadian, I know you appreciate the solemnity of the occasion. Your dad was fortunate to avoid combat, but his service was equally valuable, as was yours! Your band and choir were surely integral to the ceremonies.
Debbie,
I like the Canadian tradition for remembering your country’s heroes. That should be adapted by all countries. I’m deeply grateful for those who served. There are many in my family who did their part. I have three uncles who served in Vietnam. That was a scary time especially for the little girl that I was at that time. My uncles came back physically unharmed but PTSD to various degrees affected them. One was exposed to Agent Orange. I recall when he came home he suffered a nervous breakdown. I don’t know much about that other than hearing those words ‘nervous breakdown’ and was in the hospital for it. Over the years his health has increasingly declined because of the Agent Orange exposure. War is cruel. Unfortunately as long as humans live fighting of some kind will go on. It would be grand if we could all live together in peace. Thanks for sharing and remembering. Be blessed, my friend!
I love the term Rememberance Day. We must remember them all. Thanks.
I’m late reading the Remembrance Day posts, including your great tribute to some wonderful people, including your da. Thanks you from a grateful Brit with emotional ties to Canada – I went to college north of Montreal and in Toronto.
Thanks for coming by to read this post, Roland. 🙂 Remembrance Day is an important occasion all over the Commonwealth. There are many Brits living in Canada. At one time, they were the largest group of immigrants. Interesting that you lived here, as well. Cheers!
It makes me feel so good that there is a tradition like that. We need to be grateful for the service and this tradition is an entire nation’s way of expressing that gratitude. I am so glad you shared, Debbie. I wouldn’t have known at all.
Thank you, Parul. 🙂 This is a huge tradition, here in Canada, as well as the UK and Australia.
A beautiful tribute, Debbie. The poem by John McCrae gave me chills. Now I understand the symbolism of the Poppy. I took every opportunity to thank and appreciate the Veterans in my life – known or unknown. At a concert near my town, Toby Keith invited service people up on stage. There were so many (as the audience cheered in pride) they ran out of room on stage.
Thank you, diedre. 🙂 The poppy is an important symbol of remembrance in Canada, the U.K. and Australia. What a great thing for Toby Keith to do. The applause must have been thundering!
The Highway of Heroes is heartbreaking and that news clip… My heart breaks for all of them that must travel that road. <3
Yes, the Highway of Heroes trip is heartbreaking for the families who have to take it. ? The unflagging support of the public is good to see, though. Thankfully, since pulling out of Afghanistan, that road is travelled less frequently.
A wonderful legacy, Debbie. Veterans day in the US is a wonderful holiday as well, and gives us all the opportunity to reflect and thank those who sacrifice for our country.
Thank you, Terri. 🙂 This day, in one form or another, is celebrated throughout most of the world, as it should be. Gratitude abounds! ?
We all must be grateful for those who have served – it is a sacrifice even if you come home in one piece. As you said, there are invisible scars to the mind and spirit. God bless
Yes, the invisible scars are also devastating. Thank you, Carol. ?
I think I like calling it Remembrance Day more than Veterans Day. It’s for the vets for sure, but we must never forget that the world went to war Twice to stamp out tyranny.
Definitely! There have been other wars besides WWI and WWII, which should also be remembered, though. Yes, those were the major ones, but plenty of people fought (like my father) and died in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, for example, not to mention, Afghanistan! Our “Highway of Heroes” was established to honour those casualties. Unlike in the U.S., which has two separate occasions of remembrance, (May and Nov.) we combine everything in one. From the Canadian Encyclopedia:
Thanks for coming by! 🙂
A lovely tribute Deb! 🙂
Thanks! 🙂 It’s always heartwarming to see poppies everywhere this time of year. The video shows how selling them accomplishes so much good. ?
Heroes are heroes, in any nation. My salute to your father and his colleagues.
Indeed! Allies are so important. 🙂 Thank you!
Whatever we call the day, we should remember those who came before us to allow us to have what we have now.
Nice tribute.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Well said, Arlee! 🙂 I’m glad you liked the tribute. Have a memorable Veterans Day!
A very nice and obviously heartfelt tribute to your Dad, DEBBIE.
‘War Is A Racket’ – as the book’s title accurately states – and sadly, it’s the “everyman” and “everywoman” who suffers from them, while those who initiate them make billions of dollars. I am confident that this is coming to an end soon. In the meantime, we honor the brave and mourn their loss.
Again, Debbie, this was a first-rate tribute you put together. Well done!
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Thank you, Stephen. 🙂 My father and I had a strained relationship until his later years and then he died. This is the least I can do! ? Your comments about war are spot on. The rich and powerful are the only ones who benefit.
What a wonderful tribute to your father, Debbie! Have a lovely Remembrance Day and we must never forget the fallen.
Thank you so much, Eugenia! ? Wishing you a memorable Veterans Day.
What a wonderful tribute to your father. War is such an ugly business.
Have a blessed Remembrance Day, Debbie. ♥
Thank you, Sandee. 🙂 Wishing you a memorable Veterans Day!
You are right Debbie. We can never imagine what our unsung war-heroes have to go through just so we can sleep peacefully at night. I just finished a book based in war-gripped Syria. Even the little bit shared in that book was enough to make my skin crawl.
Your post was a good tribute to your Dad.
My mother survived WWII in Germany and shared a few horror stories, but my father refused to talk about his experiences. Pity! It might have helped him to do so. Thank you and I’m glad you liked the tribute.
Lovely tribute to your father.
Thank you so much! ?
Beautifully written and a tribute to your dad. I am certain that growing up, it was tough and only when an adult, could you understand the reasons behind his alcoholism and personality. I might be choosing the wrong words so forgive me. My dad fought in WW2 and was wounded hear the end of the war. He had some stories but I don’t think he suffered as many others have. My mom, on the other hand, had severe PTSD but we didn’t know. She endured the war and lost 2 brothers and even though they were German, I believe Remembrance Day is for all soldiers( barring the Nazis) and people who endured and keep enduring war.
Thank you, Birgit. ? It’s true, my childhood was no picnic. My mother also suffered at the hands of the Nazis (she was jailed) and likely had PTSD as well. As you said, these things became clear to me as an adult. If only there could be no more wars! So sad to see what goes on in the world…
Ah there is so much pain and pride in this one, Debbie. We should never forget the fallen and the sacrifices they have made for us.
Yes, and yes. ? Thank you.
GREAT POST, WE MUST REMEMBER THE FALLEN, CHINA
Indeed! ? Thank you, China. 🙂