Remember the Fallen

21:40 hrs.
10 Nov 14

     Tomorrow is Remembrance Day in Canada. I think they call it Armistice Day in the Lower 48. Either way, it is the day on which those who have fallen on the service of their country. The National War Memorial in Ottawa and the Cenotaphs across the country are symbolic sites where we honor those from the Boer War at the turn of the last century (1899 - 1902), the Great War (1914 -1918), WW I, and then those from the more global WW II (1939 -1945). Followed only five years later by Korea (1950 - 1953). Officially, Canada did not send troops to Viet Nam but we did have service members attached United Nations Observers as well as a large number who simply crossed the 49th Parallel and joined the American military. In more recent years Canadian Forces members served around the world in many American lead coalition and United Nations actions. Some of them were peaceful and some of them not so peaceful. This scribe was lucky enough to draw the long straw when I served on a peacekeeping mission to Egypt in 1986 (Operation Calumet Roto 1).

     On the day, 11th of November, PLEASE take the time, where ever you are in The Valley (or if you are reading this elsewhere), to pause and reflect on those who have fought for your right to be free in this country. And because of their ultimate sacrifice to this country you are free to pursue any religeon, any political view and any belief you want WITHOUT FEAR OF PERSECUTION!

     And that's why we celebrate Remembrance Day. And that's why we, as Citizen's of Canada, cannot forget those who went before us.