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Rememberance Day

© David Newman

For the first time in a couple of years, at school, we are having a real assembly to commemorate Rememberance Day. Last year, and the year before, our rememberance was limited to the two minutes of silence, which was more or less respected. The men and women who served this country in time of crisis and conflict deserve our respect and our admiration for the hell they must have gone through.

At the assembly I will read a poem, "Dulce et Decorum Est" by British poet Wilfred Owen, who died in the First War. A famous line in the poem is "Gas, GAS! Quick Boys!" which reminds me of Ypres, in 1915, where Canadians were among the first to be gassed by the Germans, along with a couple of British devision and the French Algerians. The Second Battle of Ypres is one which Canada distinguished itself, as much as one can in wartime. But over six thousand Canadians died at the Battle.

Canadians were known to be brave, and the Germans officers hated the Canadians because of their fighting methods which led to the victory at Vimy, Ypres and other famous battles. If Canada was born in 1867, then it grew up and left the home between 1914 and 1918. Unfortunately this moving out had quite a cost. Canada lost more men to the Great War than any other war.

Then Canada fought against Fascism in the Global War, the first time Canada independently declared war.

Canada first participated in International War in 1899 when Canadian regiments and militias were called to arms. 277 Canadians died in the South African War. Remember the 277 Canadians who died for Queen and Country in Africa.

In 1914, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland declares war on Germany. Canada enters automatically. There, 66,655 Canadians and Newfoundlanders died in the Great War. Remember the 66,655 Canadians and Newfoundlanders who died for King and Country in Europe.

In 1939, another war raged in Europe. Canada voluntarily did its part. It gave the lives of over 45,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders to the Global War. Remember the 45,000-plus Canadians and Newfoundlanders who died in Europe, Africa and Asia.

A Decade after the bloody war in which 61 million people, military and civilian, died, another war bagan: The Korean War. Canada lost 516 soldiers in the Korean War. Remember the 516 Canadians who died in the Korean War.

In a new war, a present war. Canada gave its service to the War in Afghanistan. Four Canadian men died in the Afghan War, or so-called War on Terrorism.

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