Joining up with Lisa-Jo at
The Gypsy Mama, today
On Fridays around these parts we stop, drop, and write.
For fun, for love of the sound of words, for play, for delight, for joy and celebration at the art of communication.
For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We
just write without worrying if it’s
just right or not.
Won’t you join us?
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Most importantly: leave a comment for the person who linked up before you – encouraging them in their writing!
OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:
Remember…
Go:
This topic makes me think that this would be best talked about next Friday, but I'm happy to remember today and share with you, so that you may observe next week. Back in Canada, where I'm from, we celebrate Remembrance Day on November 11. Here in the US it's Veterans Day. These aren't exactly the same. I think Memorial Day in May may be closer to Remembrance Day.
People in Canada (and in other Commonwealth countries, I think) wear red poppies to show that they have not forgotten the lives lost in wars (specifically World War I, World War II, the Korean War and all conflicts since). November 11 was chosen because that was the day the armistice was signed at the end of World War I. Two minutes of silence are observed at 11am on the 11th. There are ceremonies and parades in many towns and cities across Canada.
I'm trying to remember right now... the details about Remembrance Day and those who lost their lives.
STOP
Canada
In Canada, Remembrance Day is a
public holiday in all provinces and territories except
Ontario and
Quebec.
Veterans Affairs Canada, a federal entity, states that the date is of "remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace"; specifically, the First and
Second World Wars, the
Korean War, and all conflicts since then in which members of the
Canadian Forces have participated.
[6] The department runs a program called
Canada Remembers with the mission of helping young and new Canadians, most of whom have never known war, "come to understand and appreciate what those who have served Canada in times of war, armed conflict and peace stand for and what they have sacrificed for their country."
[7]
The official national ceremonies are held at the
National War Memorial in
Ottawa, presided over by the
Governor General of Canada, any members of the
Royal Family (such as
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, in 2009),
[8] the
Prime Minister, and other dignitaries, to the observance of the public. Typically, these events begin with the tolling of the Carillon in the
Peace Tower, during which serving members of the
Canadian Forces (CF) arrive at
Confederation Square, followed by the Ottawa
diplomatic corps,
ministers of the Crown, special guests, the
Royal Canadian Legion (RCL), the
viceregal party, and, if present, the royal party. Before the start of the ceremony, four armed sentries and three sentinels (two flag sentinels and one nursing sister) are posted at the foot of the cenotaph.
The arrival of the Governor General is announced by a trumpeter sounding the "Alert", whereupon the
viceroy is met by the Dominion President of the RCL and escorted to a
dais to receive the
Royal or Viceregal Salute, after which the
national anthem, "
O Canada", is played. The moment of remembrance begins with the bugling of "
Last Post" immediately before 11:00 a.m., at which time the gun salute fires and the bells of the Peace Tower toll the hour. Another gun salute signals the end of the two minutes of silence, and cues the playing of a
lament, the bugling of "
The Rouse," and the reading of the
Act of Remembrance. A
flypast of
Royal Canadian Air Force craft then occurs at the start of a
21 gun salute, upon the completion of which a choir sings "In Flanders Fields". The various parties then lay their wreaths at the base of the memorial; one wreath is set by the
Silver Cross Mother, a recent recipient of the
Memorial Cross, on behalf of all mothers who lost children in any of Canada's armed conflicts. The royal and/or viceregal group return to the dais to receive the playing of the Royal Anthem of Canada, "
God Save the Queen", prior to the assembled Armed Forces personnel and veterans performing a
march past in front of the royal and/or viceregal persons, bringing about the end of the official ceremonies.
[9] A tradition of paying more personal tribute to the sacrifice of those who have served and lost their lives in defence of the country has emerged since erection of the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the War Memorial in 2000: after the official ceremony the general public place their poppies atop the tomb.
Similar ceremonies take place in provincial capitals across the country, officiated by the relevant
lieutenant governor, as well as in other cities, towns, and even hotels or corporate headquarters. Schools will usually hold special assemblies for the first half of the day, or on the school day prior, with various presentations concerning the remembrance of the war dead. The largest indoor ceremony in Canada is usually held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with over 9,000 gathering in
Credit Union Centre in 2010;
[10] the ceremony participants include old guard (veterans), new guard (currently serving members of the CF), and sea, army, and air cadet units.
