Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Rememberance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918; hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice ("at the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 a.m.) I find this fact interesting and the fact that everything was done using the number 11. This is why the moment of silence happens at 11am on November 11am, we are remembering the exact day and time that the hostilities finally came to an end!
The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields". These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.
Countries around the globe are commemorating Nov. 11 each in their own way. Whether it be with Remembrance Day, Veterans Day, Poppy Day, or Armistice Day, people come together to be reminded of the ones who've died protecting their freedom.
Remembrance Day commemorates Canadians killed in the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War and the country's various peacekeeping missions over the years.
More than 100,000 Canadians soldiers have died in conflicts since 1899, including:
- More than 240 in the Boer War.
- More than 66,000 in the First World War.
- More than 44,000 in the Second World War.
- 516 in the Korean War.
- 121 in peacekeeping missions.
So take a moment and really think about the lives lost and appreciate the life that you are able to live because of so many gave their lives for your freedom....Lest we never Forget.
"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13
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