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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 12:24 pm
Hey all, I just wanted to start a thread to remember our fallen soldiers on both sides of the border. Lots of this is remembering the older soldiers of the first world wars, but we must remember the young too, for there are our sons and daughters over in the middle east, trying to help out in a war that isn't theirs. No matter what though, I support our troops and yours, and I hope everyone takes a moment to come in here and either share their personal story, or reflect upon the stories of others. I do know a few people on TVCH have been affected personally by the current conflict, and I hope they can help us remember, by sharing their stories here.
In Canada, you will see that from the beginning of November onward, we wear a poppy pin, on our suits and jackets.
We donate any amount of money to veterans and cadets standing outside collecting, and the money goes to support our veterans. On November 11th, there are many ceremonies to celebrate the efforts our young men and women of the armed forces have given to our country. Here is a picture of our poppy pin:
But to all of my Canadian friends at TVCH, do you know what to do with your poppy after November 11th? You are supposed to pay a personal visit to any cenotaph (war memorial statue), and drop your poppy there. This is a way of making sure you go through the actual personal effort of taking time to remember the fallen.
In any case, while you are enjoying the long weekend, getting a few extra errands done or whatever, please take a moment from your life, to remember those who gave their entire life.
I know we can't "control" threads here, but can we at please try to keep this thread about REMEMBRANCE, rather than debating the right or wrong of various wars. This is about commemorating the efforts of our soldiers of all ages. Thanks
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 1:08 pm
This is really a nice thread, Eeyore! In America we also buy poppies from Veterans but I had no idea that there was any sort of protocol for what to do with them. My family is full of veterans, both living and deceased, and my father passed away from radiation exposure from his Navy years in Bikini Atoll during Operation Crossroads (where the atomic bomb was tested in the Pacific). His WWII Victory medal is finally on its way here. He never got to see it. We plan on putting it in the nice display case with the flag he received from the Veteran's Service Agency that was flown over the Capitol and which covered his casket at his funeral.
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 1:30 pm
God bless all the veterans who have served their countries. We owe so much gratitude to them all.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 2:44 pm
I always thought I 'understood' Remembrance Day due to the documentaries, other shows and movies about the War. It did not seem real to me until I personally visited Concentration & Work camps in Europe AND walked around Vimy Ridge. There is a huge difference between being TOLD about something and actually SEEING it. Remembrance Day for me is not just an awknowledgement of the Military....but all whom suffered due to the wars. Both WW1 and WW2 seemed to be about Good vs Evil. I'm not sure about the wars we have now. it just doesnt seem so clearcut. Maybe in the future it will be clear. Just stating my thoughts at this time. Not asking for a debate.
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Treasure
Member
06-26-2002
| Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 3:01 pm
Thank you, Eeyoreslament, for opening this thread. That is a wonderful tradition that Canadians do to remember those who have served and are serving your country. Tomorrow, November 11th, is when the U.S. honors those who have served and are serving our country. We will have parades in nearly every town, there will be at least an hour of programing on TV with rousing and patriotic music and presentations of the flags of the various services, and some families will go on picnics while others will got the a cemetery and put flags at gravesides. Personally, I just get a bit emotional, and am unsure at times how to respond when someone thanks me for my service to the country. So many others have given so much more than I.
 
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 3:27 pm
In Flanders Fields By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army 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. Wonderful and thoughtful thread Eeyore. 
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 3:35 pm
I love you for this thread, Eeyore! Always been a holiday close to my heart. (And, I, too, didn't know the poppy protocol! So thank you!)

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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 4:01 pm

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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Saturday, November 10, 2007 - 5:51 pm
They shall not grow old, As we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them . . Nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, And in the morning, We will remember them! -- Lawrence Binyon
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Jan
Moderator
08-01-2000
| Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 9:40 am
oops I put this link in News and Views as I did not know this thread was here. This is a video, from the Toronto Star, of three aged veterans reciting Flanders Field. I found it moving: http://www.thestar.com/videos
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Sportsfan
Member
09-03-2007
| Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 10:16 am
Thanks Jan, That was very touching. I watched the Remembrance ceremonies from the War memorial in Ottawa this morning. I haven't done that in quite a while and am glad I took the time today. It was a wonderful ceremony. I especially loved the benediction prayer , it was all about loving our veterans and it brought a tear to many eyes and touched me deeply. Here is the story of the Canadian War memorial: The National War Memorial Canada's national war memorial was conceived and built in a garden in Kent, England. It was the product of seven brothers from Yorkshire who came from a farming family and had no formal art or sculpture training. It was the result of ten years of labour on their part. In 1925, Vernon Marsh won the Canadian government competition for a design for a national war memorial. His design was one of seven finalists out of one hundred and twenty-two entries in the international competition. After submitting a model, he was authorized to proceed with his work. Vernon Marsh died in 1930, but the remaining six brothers and a sister, Elsie, carried on. In 1932 the memorial was finished. It was shown in Hyde Park and received wide acclaim. There were slight alterations made before the Canadian government took delivery of the memorial in June of 1937. For the trip to Canada, the massive structure of the memorial was cut into parts to fit into 35 wooden cases. The memorial takes the form of a tall granite arch, on top of which stand huge bronze figures of Victory and Liberty. Marching through the arch are twenty-two figures representing all branches of the service of World War I. Upon the faces of these figures the eager expression of hope replaces the lines of strife and death. They leave behind an unlimbered cannon and all it stands for. The memorial was unveiled by His Majesty King George VI in May, 1939, before a crowd of 100,000 people. Every year since (except 1998 because of repair work), the National Remembrance ceremony has been held at the memorial. Prior to 1939, Remembrance services were held on the lawn in front of the Parliament Buildings at a temporary cenotaph.
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Jan
Moderator
08-01-2000
| Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 10:30 am
Thanks for that sportsfan. I had no idea of the background!
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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 11:46 am
Honoring the Fallen
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Karen
Member
09-07-2004
| Sunday, November 11, 2007 - 7:45 pm
We watched the services on TV this morning with our coffee. Very moving and touching. The planes that they did the fly-bys with went right over our place on their way across town. Very cool. Don and I went out shopping at Army & Navy today and stopped by the cenotaph on the way home. Paused for a moment to admire all the wreaths - I couldn't believe how many people had been by through the day, dropping off flowers, photos, notes. And poppies. Mountains of poppies. We left ours on the cenotaph directly, where the girl left the poppy flower during the ceremonies this morning. A very moving moment.
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