Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Flanders Fields

More than 100,000 Canadians soldiers have died in various conflicts since 1899, including:
  • More than 240 in the Boer War
  • More than 66,000 in World War I
  • More than 44,000 in World War II
  • 516 in the Korean War
  • 121 in peacekeeping missions
  • 97 in Afghanistan (to date)
Today marks the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War, which ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.


FLANDERS FIELDS

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.

This poem by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian doctor, was written on May 3, 1915 as he was on the battlefield at Ypres, Belgium. It's the reason we wear poppies.

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Hlookoff

Shawn Hlookoff, a singer originally from Nelson, BC, wrote this song, "To raise awareness for the men and women who are risking their lives for their country and not receiving the respect they rightfully deserve."



SOLDIER
Some people say, I'm a fighter
Some people hate what I do
I stand for my country
I stand for you
I have a family that loves me
They respect what I do
Try telling your child, you're leaving
Believe me, it's a hard thing to do

So if I die don't judge me
I will not judge you
And if I die, please accept it
I would die for you

We all have our reasons
Rules, morals, beliefs
I won't slander your opinions
I'm just searching for peace

So if I die don't judge me
I will not judge you
And if I die, please accept it
I would die for you

http://www.hlookoff.com/

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Lest We Forget

Since I left for college, every year at this time I wish I was at home. I'm not homesick (although I do long to see my beloved mountains again and to enjoy some real cold weather), I simply miss celebrating Remembrance Day. In Canada, Nov. 11 is a federal holiday and, until college interfered, I always attended the annual Remembrance Day ceremony. Now, residing in the States during the school year, I've realized that I really miss Remembrance Day. Down here it seems like nobody cares about the significance of Nov. 11. Veteran's Day sales seem to have become more important than using the day to remember those who lost their lives. So this year, instead of being home and going to the Remembrance Day ceremony at Kelowna's City Park, I'll do the same thing that I've done since Nov. 2003...get out my red poppy lapel pin and wear it on my backpack for the next week. It's the least I can do to honour the soldiers who fought and died for my country.


Remembrance Day related news stories:
Fallen Soldier Vigil
Poppy stickers
Poppy Man
CBC News In Depth: Remembrance Day