Remembrance Day aka Armistice Day aka Poppy Day aka Veterans Day

Today is a special day to take a moment and honour those who believed in protecting an ideal and were willing to ensure that their children and grandchildren could live in a better world. Sadly time marches on and the last of the WW1 vets have passed on and the number of WW2 vets dwindles a little more every year. Parents take the time to teach your children about the importance of Remembrance Day. It isn't just a day off work or a day to collect time and a half. It's a day to remember that if it weren't for our great grandfathers and grandfathers leaving everything they held dear to travel to the other side of the world to fight, the world may be a different place right now. Take a moment to consider how your life would look if the axis had won.... If there are vets in your life, thank them and listen to their stories, you may surprise yourself with what you learn. Many who returned from combat, saw and did things that we cannot even begin to imagine or hope to understand.

As it is November 11^th , it seems timely to renew our understanding of the importance of this day and its special symbol – the poppy.

The association to the poppy to those killed in war existed for at least 110 years prior to its use in Canada. A correspondent during the Napoleonic War wrote of how thickly the poppies grew over the soldier’s graves in Flanders, France. He also wrote that fields, which were barren before battle, exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended. It is believed that during bombardments the chalk in the soil became rich in lime from rubble, allowing poppies to thrive. After the Napoleonic war the lime was absorbed and the poppy disappeared. Sadly, the First World War saw the poppy bloom again.

The person most responsible for the adoption of the poppy was Canadian medical officer Lt Col. John McCrae. Hailing from Guelph, Ontario, McCrae was described as having the eye of a gunner, the hand of a surgeon and the soul of a poet.  McCrae, as a member of the Canadian Medical Corps, found himself on the front lines at Ypres on April 22, 1915. This was, of course, the first time that poison gas was used by the enemy. With the attacks coming in waves, the allies repulsed the enemy for 17 days. At the end both sides were left with tragic loss of lives.  It was during this battle that McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields.

Canadians sacrificed greatly during World War I. Fully 1/10 of our population served in the war. Many never came home. A scenario which was repeated during the Second World War, 24 short years later.

In 1918, an American professor in New York, named Moina Michael was so inspired by McCrae’s poem that she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died during the war. This custom was picked up by a French woman named Mrs. Guerin during her visit to the US in 1920. Mrs. Guerin took the concept one step further when she returned to France. She created handmade poppies which were then sold to raise funds to aid children in destitute war torn regions of France.  She also suggested that the Canadian Great War Veterans Association adopt the poppy as their symbol, which they did in 1921.

Southern Albertans were greatly affected by both World Wars and other conflicts during the 20^th century.  Our Prairie sons and daughters have fought bravely in the name of Liberty and Justice.

When we wear a poppy we not only honour and remember the brave few who sacrificed so much but we also help ex-service personnel and their dependents. The revenue generated from the poppy drives held by the Canadian Legion is used to provide assistance to veterans and their families.

Sources:www.legion.ca;www.vac.acc.gc.ca;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Flanders_Fields