Saturday, November 11, 2017

Remembrance Day

We attended the Remembrance Day service at our grandson's school on Friday, and were really impressed.  It's an elementary school, from Kindergarten to Grade 6, and the service was pretty well all done by the students.  It included poetry, music and a bit of history.

Even more impressive was the behaviour of the young students.  Teachers had obviously impressed on them the importance of silence and no clapping as a mark of respect for the remembrance service.  Picture a gym with four hundred 5 to 12 year olds and they're all quiet!  For an hour!  It was really well done.

Of course it included the poem 'In Flanders Fields', written by the Canadian doctor from Guelph, Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.  When our children were young they went to John McCrae School, and we lived just around the corner from the John McCrae house, now a museum, in Guelph. Ontario.  So our kids learned the famous poem early.

If you saw these young students honouring Remembrance Day, you would not worry about the enormous contribution of veterans ever being forgotten.  They will never forget.

Remembrance Day varies among different countries.  It is celebrated especially in Canada, Australia, France and Belgium, and a number of other countries on Nov. 11th.  In the U.S. Nov. 11th is Veterans Day, while Memorial Day in May honours those who actually died in military service.  In the UK, Nov. 11th is Armistice Day, and the nearest Sunday is Remembrance Day, the more important celebration.  In New Zealand ANZAC Day is celebrated in April.  In my experience, Remembrance Day ceremonies have been getting greater attention in recent years - which is a good thing.

17 comments:

  1. Excellent! I would be so proud of that school. I have always loved the Flanders Field poem. We memorized it as children too.
    The Snow Geese will be still here in March and April so we have at least 5 more months of them so come on down. They are amazing and very noisy.
    Enjoy you family
    MB

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  2. In Flanders Fields, a favourite. In April, on our Anzac Day, we are seeing more and more young people, teenagers, primary schoolchildren, and young married couples attending. Our veterans will never be forgotten. The older ones, there are chairs for them to be seated, and many arrive in wheelchairs. I would like to think that those who did not return ,somehow know that they are honoured and remembered, always.

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  3. I agree, FG. Remembrance is well in hand!

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  4. I just discovered your blog from the link on The Bayfield Bunch. Haven't hardly had time to stop to post a "thank you" for your blog because I can't stop reading it! Love the Scotland stuff, which makes me want to book a plane seat right now. Your thoughtful and fun and informational posts are just excellent and so easy to read. I purchased a 20-foot trailer a year ago and have been part-timing here in the PacNW and I love it! I have a lot to learn so thank you for sharing your stories. I just started a blog at travelswithtowhee.com and hope it might help others coming along behind. Thank you for inspiring me! Ok, back to reading your blog. :-)

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  5. So nice that your were able to witness this at the school and glad that these ceremonies and getting more attention.

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  6. Well, I just learned that many countries besides the US celebrate this! Nice. Yes, it's gotten lots more attention of late.

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  7. I agree that there is much more done in remembering the losses of our armed forces. At one time it was mostly old vets remembering . Now the general public and particularly students remember.

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  8. this really gave me chills. sometimes i wonder about the youth of today, then i read something like this and i worry no more!!

    i am so happy you were able to attend and that it was such a good experience!!!

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  9. How awesome that the children understand and respect Remembrance Day. It is also more at the forefront of their minds because of military families with young children. Sounds lovely, thank you for sharing.

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  10. I think it's wonderful that the children did such a great job. And it has been a very moving time of the year for me and for many others. Thank you for your fine post.

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  11. I'm so pleased I visited your blog today ... so nice to read this post

    All the best Jan

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  12. How wonderful that the children were quiet...that is quite a feat for that many, that age, and for that long.

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  13. There were a good many children at the national service, as well as at the War Museum afterwards.

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  14. It really does sound like a wonderful group of kids. Lovely to hear about.

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  15. We have a well attended ceremony here in Powell River, BC, each year at the Cenotaph in the old Townsite area. - Margy

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  16. How nice that there are more and more of these celebrations and that the children are taking part.

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  17. It is wonderful to hear about the respect that these children exhibited.

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