Tomorrow November 11th is Veterans Day in the US, Remembrance Day in Canada. This is the day dedicated to remembering and honoring our Veterans from any war or engagement. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we are asked to stop what we are doing and give two minutes of our time in silence to acknowledge and honor those who served and continue to serve so we can live the lives we choose. My grandfather was injured in WW1 and heard the words “Don’t worry about him, he’s not going to make it”. Lucky for me he did.
I’m not sure when it changed and became a school holiday but I remember being in class during that day and giving our 2 minutes of silence. I do remember that the auto company I worked for always made an announcement and stopped Production for 2 minutes.
In Canada, a red poppy is a symbol used for Remembrance Day. This tradition arose from the poem “In Flanders Fields” written during the First World War by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. He was inspired to write it on May 3, 1915, after presiding over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier Alexis Helmer, who died in the Second Battle of Ypres. According to legend, fellow soldiers retrieved the poem after McCrae, initially unsatisfied with his work, discarded it. “In Flanders Fields” was first published on December 8 of that year in the London-based magazine Punch.
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.
In the video above A Pittance Of Time- Terry Kelly The description states “On November 11, 1999, Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the stores PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.
Terry was impressed with the store’s leadership role in adopting the Legions two minutes of silence initiative. He felt that the store’s contribution of educating the public about the importance of remembering was commendable.
When eleven o’clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the two minutes of silence to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.
Terry’s anger towards the father for trying to engage the store’s clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, A Pittance of Time. Terry later recorded A Pittance of Time and included it on his full-length music CD, The Power of the Dream.
Thank You to the Royal Canadian Legion Todmorden Branch #10 and Woodbine Height Branch #2 for their participation in the Video.”
Take a moment today, at 11 tomorrow and anytime you need it to remember that you are able to do what you want, vote how you want, complain about what you want because of the men and women in uniform that gave days, months and years away from their families to give you that privilege.
If you have any comments please post them below.
Play safe
Ken.
