Remembrance Day: National holiday?/"Veterans' Day"? (merged)
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Colin Parkinson
Army.ca Myth
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My daughter doing us proud, (also dad showing off daughter) 8)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfG5HJWJ8wg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfG5HJWJ8wg
Lance Wiebe
Sr. Member
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Colin P said:
Very well done! I certainly don't blame you one bit for showing off your daughter.
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This year is an outlier, but normally it's cold and crappy on Remembrance day. With the kids being at school, they actually do a local ceremony that they participate in, and is suitable for their comprehension level. It's also inside, so they can pay attention and appreciate it. That's a lot harder to do when they are little, can't see anything, and can't hear most of the ceremony, while being cold and bored.
Most places here in Ottawa open late/close for the ceremony, so no one typically has a hard time getting to the ceremony. Turnout is really high, with lots of young people there, so don't think we need a holiday to increase participation, and will probably do the opposite.
Also, think we do a reasonably good job remembering it's not a celebration of war; it's about people dying or being wounded/damaged on both sides, and usually for stupid reasons resulting from pointless power grabs and failures of diplomacy. Walking through the German WWI graves and seeing a bunch of dead 18-21 year olds was just as bad as walking through the same allied graves for me. That's not something we should have a holiday for IMHO.
Most places here in Ottawa open late/close for the ceremony, so no one typically has a hard time getting to the ceremony. Turnout is really high, with lots of young people there, so don't think we need a holiday to increase participation, and will probably do the opposite.
Also, think we do a reasonably good job remembering it's not a celebration of war; it's about people dying or being wounded/damaged on both sides, and usually for stupid reasons resulting from pointless power grabs and failures of diplomacy. Walking through the German WWI graves and seeing a bunch of dead 18-21 year olds was just as bad as walking through the same allied graves for me. That's not something we should have a holiday for IMHO.
FSTO
Army.ca Fixture
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Navy_Pete said:
Agree 100%. If we make it a holiday, next thing you'll see is "GET YOUR REMEMBRANCE DAY DOOR CRASHERS HERE!!!"
No bloody way, its a moment in time to reflect on the futility of war and remember the ones who served and weren't able to come home be it from the battlefield or from the training field.
Gunnar
Army.ca Veteran
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I remember working at a bank years ago, and being asked by someone in November: "So, what did you do on the long weekend?" I said, "What long weekend?" They said, "we just had the day off." I said, "oh, that. I was at the cenotaph".
I do miss working at the bank in November tho....got a chance to round-robin all the Remembrance Day ceremonies in the GTA. Some solemn, some with music, some with flybys in the missing man formation. Some perfunctory performances by politicians who don't get it. But I went every year. I had the day off for a reason.
I do miss working at the bank in November tho....got a chance to round-robin all the Remembrance Day ceremonies in the GTA. Some solemn, some with music, some with flybys in the missing man formation. Some perfunctory performances by politicians who don't get it. But I went every year. I had the day off for a reason.
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I'm pretty sure if that was going to be an issue, you'd be seeing that happening already. The only places where Nov 11th isn't a provincial holiday are ON and PQ. Although is isn't a full holiday in MB, most businesses must be closed from 0900 hrs - 1300 hrs.FSTO said:
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Today's ceremony in Lower Sackville, NS was much smaller and proceed much quicker than traditionally.
About 200 people total. Everyone had masks and were well spaced out. I found many of the changes welcome, but odd and a bit jarring from normal.
We were requested to be be there to provide first aid, if needed.
Otherwise the RCL, media ect effectively conveyed the message to stay home and watch virtually.
The branch is closed after the service, to ensure COVID restrictions are followed.
About 200 people total. Everyone had masks and were well spaced out. I found many of the changes welcome, but odd and a bit jarring from normal.
We were requested to be be there to provide first aid, if needed.
Otherwise the RCL, media ect effectively conveyed the message to stay home and watch virtually.
The branch is closed after the service, to ensure COVID restrictions are followed.
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I did like that for the national service in Ottawa they pre-laid the majority of wreaths before the parade. That is a tradition we should continue there is no reason for Bob's convenience store and local 123 to be laying wreaths while there are people on parade.
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dangerboy said:
Local 123, the Ladies Auxiliary for 123, the Bingo club for 123, the 60 plus Go Getters club for 123...
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My small suburban town west of Toronto. Covid change, ceremony at the Cenotaph was canceled to avoid a crowd? Those in the know attended a small service held at the local Legion parking lot with the town Mayor, our town councilor, and local ex-MP attending.
The 40 or so of us who are not members of the Legion and unaware of the change stood around at the Cenotaph. At 1100 hrs we heard the Last Post from the Legion and responded appropriately.
That is all!
The 40 or so of us who are not members of the Legion and unaware of the change stood around at the Cenotaph. At 1100 hrs we heard the Last Post from the Legion and responded appropriately.
That is all!
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Missed what little ceremony there was because of urgent work, but did deposit my poppy at a small memorial for three locals killed in Afghanistan (attached photo credit: Leith Dunnick, tbnewswatch.com). I went after lunch, and noticed people discretely coming, paying their respects and leaving one at a time.
#WeWillRemember, even if it's not in big groups, or at cenotaphs ...
#WeWillRemember, even if it's not in big groups, or at cenotaphs ...
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lenaitch
Army.ca Veteran
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dangerboy said:
Agree. Normally the weather can be pretty scuzzy and I've stood on parade looking at the old vets obviously chilled through while the parade of 'tier two' wreaths are laid. The sentiment and display of respect is appreciated but there must be a better way. On the other hand, those folks and groups might not attend if they know they can mail it in.
*****
Over the past couple of days, the missus painted poppies on 75 small rocks found around the area, recognizing the end of WWII. Last night at dusk we went around the neighbourhood placing them on random driveways. One of the neighbours runs an email group list and sent out a message on our anonymous behalf. Some positive responses but that wasn't the point.
As an aside, we saw two Foxes and a Barred Owl, all quite unperturbed by our presence.
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