20 years ago
Orest Palahicki, contributor to The Wilkie Press, asked “How do you remember them? He continued:
In remembering, we pay homage to those who responded to their country’s need. On Nov. 11, we wear poppies. We pause for two minutes of silent tribute and we attend commemorative ceremonies in memory of our wartime dead.
Poppies are worn as the flower of remembrance, a reminder of the blood-red flower which still grows on the site of battles fought in France and Belgium.
Lt. John McCrae, during the terrible bloodshed of the second battle of Ypres in the spring of 1915, wrote of these flowers which lived on among the graves of dead soldiers.
The flowers and the larks serve as reminders of nature’s ability to withstand the destructive elements of war by men, a symbol of hope in a period of human despair. The poppy was adopted for symbolic purposes after the First World War.
…. In Canada, the poppies we wear …[are] reminders of those who died while fighting for peace. We wear them as reminders of the horrors of conflict and the beauties of peace.
The two minutes of silence provide another significant way of remembering the ravages of war, while thinking of peace. Two minutes are scarcely enough time for thought and reflection. As we pause and bow our heads, we remember those brave men and women who courageously volunteered for the cause of freedom and peace.
For those who were part of the wartime period, remembering means thinking of comrades. It evokes memories of young men and women who never returned home … Those born after the wars may picture youthful soldiers who eagerly joined up from high schools across the country only to meet death while rushing to combat the enemy. They may imagine the anguish of a man leaving a new wife, a young family or an elderly mother. Just think of the pain these people went through! The important thing for all of us to remember is that they fought to preserve a way of life, the traditions of being Canadian and the freedom we currently enjoy.
Remember that the silence is for peace.
…. One day every year, we pay special homage to those who died in service to their country. We remember brave men and women for their courage and devotion to ideals. We wear poppies, attend ceremonies and visit memorials. For one brief moment of our life, we remember why we must work for peace every day of the year.
… Make a concerted effort to attend a service in your area and please wear a poppy. Let us never forget the sacrifices made on our behalf.
