Today was Remembrance day. It's a really important day for me. My Grandfather was a WWII veteran and today I'm always reminded of him and miss him more acutely.
Our veterans are given one day a year for us to honour their sacrifice and it's sad to see that so many people don't acknowledge them. Walking to and from the subway today I passed so many people that didn't have a poppy on their coat.
I cannot believe how anyone could be so disrespectful to the veterans that are still among us. It is such a small, but important gesture and it takes no effort. For everything they did for us the least we can do is remember those that sacrificed their lives so that we could have the pampered existence we do.
We only have one remaining WWI veteran in Canada and there are far fewer WWII veterans every day. What will become of Remembrance Day when we don't have them as a living reminder of what we have to be thankful for? Will they and everything they achieved be forgotten? Will we simply drift back into war because those that don't remember history are doomed to repeat it?
The government of Ontario is partly to blame for people forgetting Remembrance Day. In Ontario Remembrance Day is not a holiday. I think they are setting the first example of forgetting by demonstrating that Remembrance Day is not important enough to mark it as a holiday so people may have the time to observe it.
We need to teach our children why we have this day. We need them to know why it deserves their respect and admiration. They are the ones that will remember when we and all the veterans who are direct links to these conflicts are gone.
Teach your kids about Remembrance day. Instill in them a respect for 'Our Glorious Dead' and those that returned from war to rebuild. They deserve more than just one hour of one day in November once a year.
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