The Importance of Remembrance Day

Each year on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and in the days prior at schools across our country, many Canadians will pause for two minutes of silence to remember our fellow citizens who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.

Remembrance Day for my family has always meant being outdoors (no matter the weather) at 10:45 AM, near the Cenotaph in Killam waiting for the Legion members to form up and march around the parade ground.  The outdoor service is followed by an indoor inter-denominational service nearby, then a banquet for Veterans & families.

Additionally I have had the opportunity to attend services at Killam Public School in past years as a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Killam Branch #65.  Thanks to support from the Legion and the school’s staff, the school service is a very respectful event.  Members of the public are welcome to attend. 

In my youth and into young adulthood, the war veterans I knew were all WWII Veterans – my Dad, along with men and women close to his age who had retired from military life long ago and returned to the community.  That demographic is much different today because of Canada’s involvement in several conflicts in recent years; most war veterans today are younger than me.

The same can be said regarding the Silver Cross Mother.  The Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother is named annually by the Royal Canadian Legion, and lays a wreath at the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost sons or daughters in the military, para-military, or the RCMP in the service of Canada. 

When I was a kid the Silver Cross Mother was always an elderly lady who had lost her son or daughter many years before.  

For 2011 the Silver Cross Mother is Patricia Braun of Raymore Saskatchewan.  Patricia works at the school in Raymore.  Her son Corporal David Braun, born in 1979, was a member of 2^nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry based in Shilo, Manitoba. He was killed by a suicide bomber while on patrol in Kandahar on August 22, 2006.  He is survived by his mom, one sister, two brothers, and one daughter.  Ms. Braun lost her son five years ago.  Cpl. Braun would have celebrated his 32^nd birthday this year.

The age of our veterans and of the Silver Cross Mother has changed.  Our fallen soldiers, however, have not; they are still young men & women who have had their lives cut tragically short.    

I think most Canadians understand the sacrifice our fallen soldiers made to protect Canada and her freedom, and most understand the importance of remembering.

However, many of us have fallen out of the habit of attending a local service or even pausing at 11AM to reflect.  Everyone is busy after all, and a day off work is a chance to do some Christmas shopping or partake in a leisure activity.

It is time to get back in that habit.  I invite you to attend the Remembrance Day Service with my family in Killam this November 11, or to attend a service in your own community.  If you are unable to attend a service in person, you can remember by watching the National Remembrance Day Ceremony, broadcast from the National War Memorial in Ottawa, starting at 8:30AM MST.

There will be lots of time for Christmas shopping.  On November 11 there is something more important to do.