Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day. What does that mean to you? When I think of today, I think of all those veterans who were overseas, fighting for our country and away for very long periods from their families. The sacrifice they did – all for US – is heartfelt (to say the least). I cannot even imagine what they saw. What they were forced to do. What they had to comprehend in order to just get through the moment.
Flanders Fields by John McCrae
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.
I heard a story the other day about a retail business here in Ottawa who told an employee to remove her poppy. She asked why and it was explained that she was supporting a ‘cause’ and if he allowed that, he would have to allow all employees to support a cause of their choice. I was flabbergasted!
Remembrance Day a cause?! I was tempted to call that store and give him a piece of my mind (but I chose not to). Remembrance day is certainly not a cause. It is not a charity. It is not an event. Remembrance Day IS a day of HONOUR, EMPATHY, RESPECT for OTHERS. In other words…. A day for our HERO’s.

So, as you go on about your day today, be sure honour those who fought for our freedoms and securities. Be sure to pray for those active military currently in combat as well as their families at home. Each and every one of us has someone in our past lives who served for our country. That person may be a far off branch on the family tree, but you would not be here today if it wasn’t for that man or woman sacrificing their own lives and their own families for the future YOU.
I was researching my heritage the other day and I found this. This man – who was my Great Grandpa – fought in WW1 with the 70th Battery of Toronto. His battalion was the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Brigade. He listed his trades as a marine fireman and a blacksmith and he was 26 and married when he enlisted in the army. This man, put his life on the line for future ME. The information does not state his cause of death or even the date of his death, but I am here today, because of him. I honour him today and I thank him today.

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself – Thomas Campbell.

Are you interested in finding out more about your heritage? Click HERE and maybe you can find that long lost relative who fought for your future self.