NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/news/remembranceday2005.jpg


Remembrance Day!

I personally take this moment to thank all of the Canadian men and women who have fought for our freedom in just wars, WWI, WWII and in Korea, as well as all of our service men and women around the globe right now and in the past that were and are the peacekeepers in many nations. I have to wonder when our PM thought of the idea of peacekeeping if he had any idea how much good it would have on the world.

I suppose the best honour I can give to these fine men and women past and present is a poem that we all know, written during the Battle of Ypres in 1915 by Canadian Lt.-Col. John McCrae:

In Flanders Fields

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.

- John McCrae, 1915

Lest We Forget!

Peace,
Stephanie.

Hmm, no Canadians on the forums today? Tisk, Tisk!

Hmm, no Canadians on the forums today? Tisk, Tisk!
Maybe they forgot the URL?

Well, I'm not Canadian, but here's a little something from an American
THANK YOU CANADA!

Maybe they forgot the URL?

Hehe, I don't think so, besides, I believe only government employee's get today off work..lol

I'm here, and I'll say what I said on the other thread:

To me, Remembrance Day is the most important day of the year. I'm a devout Christian, and I know I'm supposed to think Christmas and Easter are the most important events of the year, but the fact of the matter is that Jesus was an extraordinary man who did extraordinary things, and that's wonderful. The veterans, however, are and were ordinary men who did extraordinary things. They had doubts and flaws and quirks and fears just like you and me. They had that voice in their head telling them that they should just stay home and let the other people fight, but they chose to ignore it. Jesus was great, but at least he always knew he was right. These people didn't have that sort of divine confidence in themselves. Rather, they had their conscience as their guide, and it wasn't a perfect guide, just like how they weren't perfect people. However, in spite of that they managed do selflessly do the right thing. Many of them gave up their lives, their hopes, their loved ones, so that we wouldn't have to. The one thing I always ask myself on Remembrance Day is if I could make that same sacrifice for what I believe in, and while I'll never know till I'm in that situation and hopefully I will never be in that situation, I hope beyond all hope that I am capable of the selflessness and determination that those who fought for our freedom showed when they gave up everything so we could be free.

Thank You veterans.

Im not Canadia neither, but i know that if a man or his contry don't feel figthing, but is forced byt bigger powers!

My Great-grand father was dane (as i am) but he lived in a part of Denmark wich there before the 1920 was a part of Germany, so the German forced him to be German soldiere in WWI, even if he were dane as he wasm. And i feel many people i forgetting the fact of there is somebody out on the battlefiel dead or alive who not feel figthing, but is forced by bigger powers!

We can't stop war or evil, but we can sendt the humans who started the war into a boxing ring to figth!

It is better if 1 person die than if 1.000.000 die in a battle
:mp5: :sniper: :gundge: :headbang: :gundge: :sniper: :mp5:

MAKE :fluffle: NOT :mp5: !

Veltia

SNIP
Welcome to Nationstates General,
where we ALL hate these ------>:gundge: :sniper: :mp5:

Seriously though, welcome.

I forgot.

Whoops.

I forgot.

Whoops.
I know it's just a joke, but for some reason reading this made me angry.

I forgot.

Whoops.

Ya know I love ya Dobbs, but that's horrible if you're serious. :(

My family didn't have to serve in either war (essential workers: farmers) but to all those who had somebody leave, either as a volunteer or in the draft, thank you. To all of those who have served since, in areas like Cyprus, Rawanda, and the Suez, thanks, the world is better for your efforts.

Aw, c'mon - I was asleep at 11:11 AM - I'd been up all night rendering Daleks for a video I'm working on... no, I hadn't forgotten Remembrance Day as such, I just wasn't awake and shivering by the local cenotaph this morning.

It's hardly a lynchable offence.

I forgot.

Whoops.

Get a job, hippy.

Get a job, hippy.
Why do you think I'm up all night working on renders?

My grandpa was in WWII and the Korean War.
Hooray for Veterans!

Only Just wars?

I noticed you didn't mention Kosovo or Bosnia nor Afghanistan for that matter.

If your going to thank the vets of Canada, THANK ALL OF THEM!!!!

On top of this, I thank the Canadian Military forces who served and are still currently serving to keep Canada free. Your nation owes you a debt of gratitude.

Though I am not Canadian, I respect the forces of our beloved allies and I thank each and everyone of them for serving.

Get a job, hippy.

Just remember that the reason that the veterans serve is so that people can be free to be hippies, beat seals, and smoke weed.... wait a second...

Right. Let's try that again.

Just remember that the reason that the veterans servie is so that people can be free to work long hours at their jobs so the government can take most of their money in taxes and spend it wastefully on defense projects that have nothing to do with.... wait a second...

Steph, help me out!

Only Just wars?

I noticed you didn't mention Kosovo or Bosnia nor Afghanistan for that matter.

If your going to thank the vets of Canada, THANK ALL OF THEM!!!!

On top of this, I thank the Canadian Military forces who served and are still currently serving to keep Canada free. Your nation owes you a debt of gratitude.

Though I am not Canadian, I respect the forces of our beloved allies and I thank each and everyone of them for serving.

I did include them Corneliu, all of the above that you mention are seen by us as more peacekeeping missions, not wars. Certainly true of Kosovo and Bosnia and as for Afghanistan, while we did do some fighting early on, lets not forget it was a Canadian who was the best sniper in the world as proved in Afghanistan, but our role there now is mostly that of peacekeeper. I did include them.

If your going to thank the vets of Canada, THANK ALL OF THEM!!!!
Okay, thanks, all of you. Do you want me to throw in four exclamation marks, or will a period suffice? Let's say period, for the sake of brevity.

On top of this, I thank the Canadian Military forces who served and are still currently serving to keep Canada free. Your nation owes you a debt of gratitude.
*Coughs* No-one currently serving is keeping Canada free... they are int'l peacekeepers... though the earlier, all-inclusive thank-you kinda covered the peacekeepers as well. As well, the earlier thank-you nicely repays that "debt of gratitude" you mention.

I did include them Corneliu, all of the above that you mention are seen by us as more peacekeeping missions, not wars.

I guess someone forgot to mention to you that Bosnia was an AIR WAR that Canada participated in WITHOUT UN approval. So now that we have established that Bosnia was a war....

Certainly true of Kosovo and Bosnia and as for Afghanistan, while we did do some fighting early on, lets not forget it was a Canadian who was the best sniper in the world as proved in Afghanistan, but our role there now is mostly that of peacekeeper. I did include them.

Afghanistan was a peacekeeping operation? When did that happen? Bosnia was a war. Something that I'm sure you know.

lets not forget it was a Canadian who was the best sniper in the world as proved in Afghanistan

In terms of absolute distance in a shot, yes.

In terms of body count, no - that's still held by a Finn, Simo Hayha.

*Coughs* No-one currently serving is keeping Canada free... they are int'l peacekeepers... though the earlier, all-inclusive thank-you kinda covered the peacekeepers as well. As well, the earlier thank-you nicely repays that "debt of gratitude" you mention.

They are serving IN the Canadian military. I don't care if they fight in a war or in peacekeeping operations. They are still vets and they deserve your gratitude as well as the gratitude of the federal government.

So now that we have established that Bosnia was a war....

Don't be a Bush today. Go establish whether or not Bosnia was a war on another thread on another day. There's ample opportunity for scoring political points all the other 364 days of the year.

They are still vets and they deserve your gratitude as well as the gratitude of the federal government.
And they got it. Check back, I thanked 'em all.

Don't be a Bush today. Go establish whether or not Bosnia was a war on another thread on another day. There's ample opportunity for scoring political points all the other 364 days of the year.

Since Canada was involved in the Air War in Bosnia, and since it is Remembrance Day, it fits to remember those that are fighting and are still fighting. Due to it being Remembrance Day, I will mention it and thank the Canadians that served in it.

And they got it. Check back, I thanked 'em all.

But does the Federal Government?

Hmm, no Canadians on the forums today? Tisk, Tisk!

It's the time difference, Stephistan - some of us are just now getting back from Rememberance Day ceremonies.

On this day I feel gratitude, but most of all I stick to the main meaning of the day. Remembrance.

Less than a month ago I visited the war cemetaries in France. After seeing those fields of graves stretching out all around me I don't think I could ever forget. But I had already heard enough from my grandparents and surviving great uncles and aunts to ever forget.

Never again. By all that is holy, never again.

But does the Federal Government?
I dunno. Go ask Paul Martin.

I dunno. Go ask Paul Martin.

He's your Prime Minister, you ask him.

speaking of canadians and war,i remember hearing around the start of the iraq war about the canadian troops sent there.......in tropical camoflage.

thank you, veterns.

I will add once more place, where canadian soldiers were stationed: rwanda.

Let us put away Politics, all that needs to be know that these men served our nation and many have paid for the right to defend our nation with there lives.


I thank them, werther they were in a "war" or "peacekeeping operations"

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/topstory/news/remembranceday2005.jpg

Remembrance Day!

I personally take this moment to thank all of the Canadian men and women who have fought for our freedom in just wars, WWI, WWII and in Korea, as well as all of our service men and women around the globe right now and in the past that were and are the peacekeepers in many nations. I have to wonder when our PM thought of the idea of peacekeeping if he had any idea how much good it would have on the world.


Why is Stephistan being attacked for this statement? She is honouring all our veterans, whether they were in wars, police actions, or on peacekeeping missions or even simply in supportive roles.

This is not something to get nit-picky about. Some of you may not appreciate her wording, but she hardly deserves to be attacked.

This thread was meant to honour those who served. Can we please keep the petty bickering for another day?

On this day I feel gratitude, but most of all I stick to the main meaning of the day. Remembrance.

Less than a month ago I visited the war cemetaries in France. After seeing those fields of graves stretching out all around me I don't think I could ever forget. But I had already heard enough from my grandparents and surviving great uncles and aunts to ever forget.

Never again. By all that is holy, never again.

Well Said!

To all others take your political fighting out of this thread please. It's a "Remembrance" thread, not one for petty bickering. Thank you.

I remember.

My family - both sides - has done it's fair share. My father served in the Canadian Forces as mainly a Hercules transport pilot for 25 years, from 1971 to 1996, and was deployed to Israel, Egypt and Rwanda for peacekeeping duty. My maternal grandfather was a staff officer in the Army during the Second World War, and my great-uncle on my father's side landed with the 1st Hussars on D-Day - and was killed 5 days after. Suffice it to say, there's plenty of connection to the military - and I'm considering volunteering with the Reserves this summer.

This day should live on as memory of the sacrifices that others have made for our freedom and well-being. Veterans have helped us in many ways, and I'm proud to be connected to them in such close ways.

At school today, I played with the school band at our Remembrance Day ceremony. There were some presentations, a reading of In Flanders Fields, a veteran giving a short speech (a serving member of the Forces, he was a peacekeeper in Bosnia and Cyprus) and the band performing Amazing Grace and O Canada, and then my music teacher playing Last Post on the trumpet. Standard fare - but powerful stuff to see.

Lest we forget.

Thank you.
Thank you to all our veterans, all our service men and women. Thank you to all the nurses and doctors who put their lives at risk to help our soldiers. I'm American, so thank you to everone in the USN, USMC, USArmy, National Guard, Coast Guard, US Air Force, and I feel certain I forgot a branch of service, but if you have helped protect this great nation and keep it free, I am grateful.

And thank you to all the Canadian soldiers and veterans who have kept our great neighbor safe and free.

Thanks to anyone who gave their life to make the world a safer, freer place. Thanks to any veteran or current soldier who fought alongside American soldiers. Thanks to anyone who helped allow me to have the freedoms I enjoy today. May the souls of our deceased veterans rest in peace.

Thank you!

New Book of Remembrance unveiled

Earlier in the day, a new memorial to members of Canada's military, the Seventh Book of Remembrance, was unveiled during a solemn ceremony in Ottawa as part of the country's Remembrance Day events.

The black leather-bound book contains the names of more than 1,300 Canadian Forces members who have died in the service of their country from October 1947 to today, not including those who died in the Korean War, which has a separate book.

The Seventh Book of Remembrance marks the first time fallen peacekeepers have been recognized in this way. It will be placed alongside six previous books in the Memorial Chamber below the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. All seven books taken together commemorate the names of the 112,182 Canadians killed while in military service.

"They will be missed. They will be remembered. And we will be forever grateful," said Prime Minister Paul Martin.

The first six books contain the names of Canadians killed in the South African War and the Nile Expedition, the First and Second World Wars and Korea.

There are also books to honour the Merchant Navy and soldiers from Newfoundland, which only joined Confederation in 1949.
...
Nancy Ellis, an Ottawa calligrapher, wrote every name in the book. It took her four months in her studio to complete the list of names in ink on calf-skin parchment... Ellis calls the Seventh Book of Remembrance a living volume. Entire pages are blank. But over time, those pages will be filled.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/11/11/remembrance051111.html

Thank you.
Thank you to all our veterans, all our service men and women. Thank you to all the nurses and doctors who put their lives at risk to help our soldiers. I'm American, so thank you to everone in the USN, USMC, USArmy, National Guard, Coast Guard, US Air Force, and I feel certain I forgot a branch of service, but if you have helped protect this great nation and keep it free, I am grateful.

And thank you to all the Canadian soldiers and veterans who have kept our great neighbor safe and free.

Thanks to anyone who gave their life to make the world a safer, freer place. Thanks to any veteran or current soldier who fought alongside American soldiers. Thanks to anyone who helped allow me to have the freedoms I enjoy today. May the souls of our deceased veterans rest in peace.

Thank you!

Thank you, very nicely said. I 100% agree.

Remembrance

Russell Storring is a master corporal with the Canadian army, currently serving on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. He has been a signals operator for the 14 years he has been in the military, and has previously served in Afghanistan in 2003, and with the UN in Rwanda in 1994. His columns give a first-person account from the field.

For the first time in years, I will not be attending the Tamworth Remembrance Day ceremonies back in Ontario, but will stand on parade here in Afghanistan, a place where we lost seven of our countrymen. I know that next year when I attend ceremonies in Tamworth, there will be fewer veterans standing in ranks, just as in every other town across Canada.

Many people, including veterans and their families, wonder why some soldiers make it home while others do not. No matter the logic of battle, time has a way of balancing everything out.

Before Sgt. Ernest (Smokey) Smith passed away, how many Canadians knew his name? How many knew the places he fought or why he won the Victoria Cross. Did anyone notice when Cpl. Frederick Topham passed away or remember the feats that he accomplished 60 years ago in a field in France to win his Victoria Cross?

What about those who didn’t win high honours or medals of bravery, and whose names are not mentioned in books, who don’t have streets named after them? They, too, saw and experienced the horrors of war, died or returned to Canada no less heroes than those who won national recognition.

Since the turn of the last century, 112,000 men and women have died serving Canada and are buried around the globe; places like Vimy Ridge, the Somme, Passchendaele, Ortona, Juno Beach and Caen are no longer household names. Canadians died by the hundreds and thousands in these foreign places, earning the respect of both allies and enemies as “shock troops,” soldiers who could get the job done and could be relied upon under any circumstances.

These were soldiers who would hold the line despite the numbers massed against them, even during the horrors of gas attacks. These were Canadians who stood fast while nations on their flanks fell back in disarray.

These men didn’t join for medals or titles. Rather, they joined for their families and the families of those around the world who couldn’t defend themselves against tyrant dictatorships. They joined to make a difference and to allow us to live in a world of values and respect.

None of them joined thinking they themselves would die, but they all realized too well the realities of war, and as they looked to their left and right, they accepted the fact that many of the men beside them would not return.

In their last dying moments, as they lay covered in blood and dirt from a foreign land, they knew they would not return. Undoubtedly their last thoughts were of their wives, children, mothers and fathers, and I am certain they would have wondered if it was all worth it.

Years later, we stand on parade each Nov. 11 trying to remember the sacrifices those soldiers made, both during the war and the years after. Of Canada’s soldiers who were fortunate enough to return home, how many have passed on without ceremony, flags or gun salutes? These men risked all for Canada, and we shamefully let them pass, not even knowing their names.

For those veterans who stand on Remembrance Day, 70-plus years old, how many of them are thanked for what they have done?

I think for a large majority of Canadians, the passing of Smokey Smith, our last living Victoria Cross winner, opened our eyes to the ignorance of our ways, even more so because he passed in the Year of the Veteran. Although I feel it came years too late, the Year of the Veteran is a fantastic idea, and has put more veterans and Canadian history into the spotlight, showing everyday Canadians the faces of those who served and died for them.

Soon, all of our First and Second World War and Korea veterans will pass on, and all we will have will be their names. We should take every opportunity to thank veterans whenever we see them, whether Remembrance Day or not.

One day a year is hardly enough to remember those who gave their lives, or those who returned and have endured the pain and horrors of war since.

When I return from Afghanistan, I will be visiting the new Canadian War Museum for the first, but not last, time. My boys are already asking me when we can go together. They might not yet understand everything about what our veterans risked and gave for Canada and for them, but they have an idea and, more importantly, they have interest.

Some time in the future, when I know they’re ready, we’ll go one step further, and as a family we will walk the battlefields of Europe, where so many of our Canadians are buried.

We will walk beside the ghosts of our past, through the fields that should mean so much to all of us. We will see and read their names, written on their grave markers in places like Vimy Ridge, Oosterbeek, Dieppe and the Juno Memorial. We can no longer let any of our veterans pass unnoticed, unnamed or unremembered.

They risked, and so many of them gave, their all, so that we could live as we do. We Canadians will know, and remember.

LEST WE FORGET

http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_storring/20051111.html

Sorry if I got into any political backbiting on this thread.

Thank-you, soldiers.

Amen.

Remembrance Day!

I personally take this moment to thank all of the Canadian men and women who have fought for our freedom in just wars, WWI, WWII and in Korea, as well as all of our service men and women around the globe right now and in the past that were and are the peacekeepers in many nations. I have to wonder when our PM thought of the idea of peacekeeping if he had any idea how much good it would have on the world.
World War 1 is your idea of a just war? Ye gads.

World War 1 is your idea of a just war? Ye gads.

HAHA! It had to be the most unjust war in the 20th Century :D