Lest We Forget

 

As I sit listening to the news this morning and skimming my Twitter feed, I am becoming increasingly more disturbed with the discussion surrounding Remembrance Day.

As many of you have heard, while schools are holding Remembrance Day ceremonies this week, they also allow their students to opt out of these events. My first reaction is shock that any parent would deprive their child of the opportunity to participate in a ceremony to honour and thank those who fought for our freedom, the very freedom that allows them to opt out.

I understand that there are religious reasons for opposing war. As a Catholic, I don't relish the thought of sending our young men and women off to war but I have never thought of Remembrance Day as "let's celebrate the army going to war day". For me, it is a day to remember and honour those who fought for our freedom. Debate as you may whether these wars and conflicts were right or wrong but we should not ignore the sacrifices of our veterans or their families.

Yes, the sacrifices of their families as they worked to hold the family together while mom or dad were serving overseas. The fears and concerns of those at home who didn't know whether their loved ones would return, or if they returned, if they would be healthy and whole.

I am sure many people will not see things my way and that is ok, because of the brave men and women fought for our freedom. Freedom from tyranny and oppression. Freedom from terrorism. Freedom to practice their own religion. Is that not the reason many of our ancestors came to this country?

Yes, I will proudly attend the Remembrance Day mass with my grandson and his classmates on Monday morning. We will say a prayer for his great-grandfather who fought alongside his brothers and uncles in WWII. He answered the call to end the terror raging in Europe.

We will remember the brave Canadian firefighters who travelled to England to help battle the blazes caused by the bombings. We will remember the volunteers, including members of the Knights of Columbus, the Salvation Army, the Saint John's Ambulance Brigade, the YMCA, and The Royal Canadian Legion, amongst others, who travelled overseas to set up canteens and provide support to our troops.

We will remember those who haved served our country in uniform and those who do so today. We will remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in the fight for freedom.

We Will Remember, Lest We Forget.

miss kimmy