Remembrance Day

With November 11th fast approaching - the death of over 5,000 in the World Trade Center attacks - and the ongoing war in Afghanistan, Remembrance Day (Veterans Day in the US) will be one of the most observed special days in both Canada and the US. 

Remembrance Day declared as the day of signing the armistice to end WWI was on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month. November 11th will also be, to the day, two months since the attack on the World Trade Center.

I, as a combat veteran of Vietnam, hope that the new causes for remembrance doesn't over shadow the beginning reasons for the original Remembrance Day. Many thousands of men and women have willingly given their lives for their country men and countries. From WWI to Kosovo to Afghanistan the military has been there help defend and protect our own and those that need protection. The phrase 'War is Hell' is true. The men and women that face it and are claimed by it are hero's, they are angels born from the battle between good and evil. Those that survive it are marked for life by it, whether they are soldiers or civilians, war affects everyone that comes in contact with it.

From the horrendous conditions of trench warfare and human waves in World War One, to the high level precision bombing of Afghanistan, war has not changed much. It is still the men and women who bleed and feel pain, the men and women who get lonely and depressed, it is still men and women who die for what they believe in and desire for others. Your neighbors, your friends, your son's and daughter's, these are the ones that are dying and are prepared to die - for you.

So make this the best, biggest, most remembered Remembrance Day ever. Visit your local cemetery, walk down the rows of stones and read some of them, you'll see how many were veterans, and then remember that most Canadians that died in war are still buried in the country that they died in. Remember them, don't let the fact that they are out of sight let you put them out of mind. They didn't ignore you or forget what you truly wanted, so don't forget them on their only day, the day when their souls are washed with prayers. Let all you know who have ever served, ever fought, ever died, that you have remembered - that you have NOT FORGOTTEN them.

LEST WE FORGET