Wearing poppies leading up to Remembrance Day is a way to honour those responsible for the freedom we enjoy every day. Poppies are a visual pledge to never forget Canadians who have fallen in war and military operations, as well as a symbol of remembrance.
During the Battle of Ypres in 1915, Canadian lieutenant-colonel John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields when he saw poppies growing beside a grave of a close friend who died in battle. The poem triggered the adoption of the poppy as the flower of remembrance in Canada, France, the United States and Commonwealth countries.
When the clock strikes 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month, everyone is asked to pause and reflect on people who sacrificed their lives. Whoever does that honours the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the future freedom of their family, friends and compatriots.
We all share a responsibility to remember the fallen, the wounded, their families and veterans. Showing gratitude is a way to honour those who fought for us.
Remembrance Day has been observed since 1919, just a year after the end of World War I. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164 (Powell River) is once again hosting a Remembrance Day ceremony at Dwight Hall and Veteran’s Memorial Park in Townsite on Saturday.
Ceremonies and vigils for fallen soldiers are important for healing the wounds of war while generations of families still deal with unfathomable losses. It is a time to think about soldiers and the sacrifice they and their families made in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Afghanistan, and during peacekeeping missions and other conflicts.
Remembrance Day should also be about recognizing and supporting recent veterans and current soldiers who are still here, and ensuring they receive the help they need. They are living among us; we can still thank and honour them.
Support veterans, wear a poppy. Donations from the distribution of millions of replica poppies leading up to Remembrance Day provide funds for the Royal Canadian Legion that go toward helping veterans in our community.
Lest we forget.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164 - Powell River is hosting a Remembrance Day ceremony in Townsite on November 11.
Join the Peak's email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
