On this day we remember as a nation. We remember the sacrifice that millions made in the wars that have been perpetrated upon mankind by mankind. We remember the members of the military, police, fire, and medical services who bravely served and lost their lives in defense of our freedom. We remember those who served in the merchant navy, and those who kept our country going in the factories and on the farms on the domestic front and who's family were informed that their son, brother, sister, daughter, father was not coming home to them again. Lest we forget the millions of people; the civilians who fell victim to tyranny and oppression, and the thousands who fought bravely as part of a 'resistance movement' who in many cases aided the military to accomplish their victory over the oppressor. Collectively as a nation, we remember all these millions of people who sacrificed for our freedom so that we might live in a society that has minimal fears, but allows us to enjoy what our beautiful country provides for us while allowing us to do what we can for our country. May these types of wars and all types of wars cease between mankind so that we all may live together in peaceful harmony and fulfill our purpose on earth.
Today is Remembrance Day. Today we remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for freedom, but what does it really mean to remember? For some, it is a day to remember the horrors of war, fallen comrades, and the thought they may have never returned home. For others, it is a day to remember past family members and to show respect for those who gave up their lives for our freedom. And maybe to others it is a reminder of how terrible, destructive, and evil war really is.
Personally I never really knew what Remembrance Day meant to me until this past spring when I had the privilege to go on the Canadian Battlefields tour with Sacred Heart High School. Before I went on the trip, all that I knew about war I learnt through pictures or history class. At Remembrance Day ceremonies I would pay my respects like everyone else, but I couldn't make a real connection to what it really means to remember.
While on the trip, we visited many war memorial sites including cemeteries, Juno Beach, Vimy Ridge, Paschendale, and many more. The landscape there is beautiful, the cemeteries are clean and well kept, and it made me think, how could such a beautiful place be a muddy battlefield filled with death and destruction? Then I looked closer and saw that the rolling landscape wasn't supposed to be rolling, it was made that way by years of artillery shelling, trenching, and underground bombing.
When we visited Juno Beach it was a very windy and rainy day and I remember our entire group was huddled in our rain coats and umbrellas. I thought of what it would have been like to land on that beach, exactly where I was standing, as a Canadian soldier 70 years ago. I tried to think how hard it would have been to jump out of the boats into rough waves, trying to avoid German machine gun fire from the pill boxes on the other side of the sand. After imagining all of this I realized it must have been a miracle that the Canadians took this beach because it was one of the most heavily defended beaches along the coast.
Even after seeing the war torn landscape and impossible odds the Canadian soldiers faced, I still didn't quite understand what it meant to remember. That all changed once we visited the Canadian war cemeteries. At each of the entrances to the cemeteries there was a huge stone slab that had the words "Their Name Liveth Forever More" inscribed on them. After looking at the gravestones I saw a couple that had the words "A Soldier of the Great War" instead of a name. That is what got me. If the slab at the front of the cemetery is saying that all of the soldiers will be remembered, how are we supposed to remember soldiers who were buried nameless?
At that point I realized that all soldiers may be forgotten. As time passes on, so do our veterans from the First and Second World Wars. Once those veterans have passed on, who will be there to perform the Remembrance Day services? Who will be there to volunteer their time to have poppies given out to raise money for veterans and their families? The answer is the next generation, my generation. We have to start stepping up and taking the initiative to keep Remembrance alive. If we think that since we were not alive during these wars they do not pertain to us, we could not be more wrong. We have to remember that most of the soldiers that went over were only a couple years older than us, maybe even the same age. We need to try and imagine how we would feel if we had to go to war. We need to think whether we would want to be remembered for our services and sacrifices, or left in the sands of time to be forgotten. It is the least that we can do to show respect to the men and women who sacrificed their lives and are still sacrificing them today. Even on home soil our veterans have had their lives lost due to acts of terrorism solely because they have served in the military. That should be reason enough to want and start acting to keep the memory of our valiant men and women alive after what they have done for us. Those men and women paid the ultimate price for us to have the free and privileged lives we live today, so it is the least we can do to keep their legacy going by simply remembering who they were, the sacrifices they made, and freedom they died for.
Good morning,
Today, we, among thousands of other Canadians stand united to honour those who have served and continue to serve our beloved country.
In April of this last year, some of my classmates and I had the opportunity to visit many of the battlefields in Europe, and pay our respects to the brave Canadian soldiers who sacrificed everything to keep our country free and safe. For me, the most moving experience was at the Canadian National Vimy Ridge Memorial. We placed two wreathes, and humbly witnessed the names of the 11 285 soldiers listed as "Missing, and Presumed Dead" from World War One. Much to the awe and respect of the other visitors, we joined in a circle to proudly sing our national anthem, as a powerful conclusion to our emotional visit.
It was a highly sobering experience, recognizing that the soldiers buried among the rows were hardly older than us, when they chose to give up their lives to ensure the protection of our generations. While 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the recent tragedies in Quebec and our nation's capital, provide a horrifying glimpse into the injustices the armed forces fought to protect us from. It is with this in mind that we express our immense gratitude for the safety and security we have been granted by our veterans, and the fallen soldiers of our past.
As youth today, it is our duty to commemorate the brave men and women that provided us with the vast rights and freedoms we have today. In memory of their service, we must appreciate what we have been given, embrace the opportunities we are provided and live our lives to the fullest for those who couldn't. We must wear our poppies with pride, share our gratitude, and stand united for peace. And most of all, we must ensure "leur nom vit pour les generations" - their name liveth for evermore.
Thank you.
