107,161 Canadian soldiers have died fighting for Canada and in peacekeeping missions. With this in mind, the National Post’s graphics team reflects on the scale of the sacrifices of our troops.
There is one line from the poem “In Flanders Fields” that in recent times, above all, commands our attention with its call, from the dead to the living, to remember.
“If ye break faith with us who die,” wrote Lt.-Col. John McCrae, “We shall not sleep.”
Starting Thursday and continuing well into the next decade, the Ottawa Citizen will keep the faith through Twitter: starting at 11 minutes after 11 a.m. the account “WeAreTheDead” will recite the names of Canada’s war dead, one each hour of every day.
The association between the poppy and war dates back to the Napoleonic wars, when a writer saw a field of poppies growing over the graves of fallen soldiers.
During the Battle of Ypres in 1915, Canadian Lt.-Col. John McCrae was inspired to write the poem In Flanders Fields on sighting the poppies growing beside a grave of a close friend who had died in battle.
The poem was a great inspiration in adopting the poppy as the Flower of Remembrance in Canada,France, the United States, Britain and Commonwealth countries.
The first poppies were distributed in Canada in 1921.
Today, the volunteer donations from the distribution of millions of poppies is an important source of revenue for the Royal Canadian Legion that goes toward helping ex-servicemen and women buy food, and obtain shelter and medical attention.
PHOTO: Makeshift memorial to Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
At a makeshift memorial to Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier following Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa, Nov. 11, 2006. (Tom Hanson/The Canadian Press)
Paying Tribute To Fallen Soldiers On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause in memory of the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives in military service:
The association between the poppy and war dates back to the Napoleonic wars, when a writer saw a field of poppies growing over the graves of fallen soldiers.
During the Battle of Ypres in 1915, Canadian Lt.-Col. John McCrae was inspired to write the poem In Flanders Fields on sighting the poppies growing beside a grave of a close friend who had died in battle.
The poem was a great inspiration in adopting the poppy as the Flower of Remembrance in Canada, France, the U.S, Britain and Commonwealth countries.
The first poppies were distributed in Canada in 1921.
Today the volunteer donations from the distribution of millions of poppies is an important source of revenue for the Royal Canadian Legion that goes toward helping ex-servicemen and women buy food, and obtain shelter and medical attention.
At public gatherings in Ottawa and around the country, Canadians pay tribute with two minutes of silence to the country’s fallen soldiers from the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Afghanistan conflict and peacekeeping missions.
Also known as Veterans Day in the U.S., Remembrance Day was first held throughout the Commonwealth in 1919. It marks the armistice to end the First World War, which came into effect at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, a year earlier.
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 Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium
Today would have been my mother’s 84th birthday. She passed away on January 12 of this year:
Mom at Ocean World late 1970's
Peggy didn’t make a big deal out of her birthday–but she did other people’s. On April 9th she’d acknowledge that yes, it was her birthday but also her niece Patti as well as (now my memory fails me) deceased dear friend from childhood. It was their birthday, too. She was really, really good at remembering birthdays and anniversaries and such.
I’ve been sifting through the mountainous pile of photographs in my mother’s collection trying to cull the most suitable for her remembrance service at Maple Lake this August 25.* Most of them are from a time before I was born so though they are indeed photos of Peggy, they are not pics of the woman I knew as ‘Mom.’ This one is however very much how I remember my mother.
Notice the camera on her wrist? Ubiquitous when we went somewhere.
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.
I now live in Illinois which borders Missouri but when I was a teenager I drove in my VW camper van cross country. I was moving actually to southern California but as is my attitude still, if you are going to be in proximity of somewhere special try to go there too. Also because of Route 66 mid-20th Century vibe, I opted, when mapping my route pre-journey to make sure I drove some long strips of Route 66 as I drove west. I had 10 days to take in as much as I could of the country. My first-time trip through Missouri was cool in that we were following the rich-in-history-old Ozark Trail Systems that are somewhat in line with Rte. 66 and of course, the sad monument to long-ago practices, the Cherokee Trail of Tears. We made a stop at the well-known Meramec Caverns as well, as they are not far from the Stanton area of Route 66. I remember Missouri very well. There is just such a varied number of activities –so I’ve been back since– a number of times. I’d love to go to Branson–especially this time of year–I just need to have a distant relative leave me an inheritance as I would fully take advantage of the the fun Branson has to offer. I define fun many ways so I’ll mention just a few to be had in Branson.
Branson is an Ozark resort town which focuses on its wholesome country, pop music and family entertainment roots. Branson is a Midwest gem, the entertainment capital.
Two outstanding establishments for the non-entertainment hours depending on your needs and wants are the
Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center. They are situated right in the heart of the “entertainment capital of the Midwest,” so they are able to offer much more than just a place to stay. Consider if you would, these ideas!
Here are some specifics pertaining to activities for Spring 2010 in Branson:
Branson also has ongoing events like the 14th annual Branson Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show, NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament, Branson’s Best Boat and Recreation Show, Silver Dollar City’s Family Spring Break Day and the memorable Young Christian’s Weekend; not to mention a series of amazing concerts on the Branson Landing including shows from 65 South, Colgate Country Showdown with KHOZ 102.9, EXILE, The Nashvegas All Stars, and David Letterman Stupid Human & Pet Trick Auditions!
Both Hilton hotels are within easy driving distance of Branson’s championship golf courses, lakes, museums, theme parks and 49 live entertainment theaters.
For me spa treatment with the one I love would be just the ticket.
I’d book the Romance Package at theHilton Branson Convention Centerwhich promises to wash my worries away with a relaxing spa treatment. Perhaps I’ll take two.
This relax and recharge package includes deluxe, overnight accommodations at the hotel, a full breakfast for two and the complete awesomeness of a spa treatment for two.
Mmm. Doesn’t that sound really nice?
In addition to what you can enjoy in the proximity of the Hiltons there is much more to enjoy and it is a short drive to do so.
Packages for the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel come for every taste and include Hilton’s Bed & Breakfast Package, Romance Package, and Hilton Requests Upon Arrival™ to name but a few.
Be sure to click one of the above links to see and read more about all the great things waiting for you in Branson.
Sidney Crosby wins gold for Canada. (Photo credit: Doug Mills/New York Times)
The depth and breadth of hockey’s place in Canadian culture can be hard to fathom beyond the borders. But it now might be heard, echoing from the north, thanks to a 3-2 overtime victory over the United States in the final event of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
To hear Canadians tell it, the hockey gold medal has come home, where it belongs.
Canada did not win as many medals as it had hoped at these Olympics, which closed on Sunday night, but it won more golds (14) than any country in history. The last, an emphatic exclamation point on the 2010 Vancouver Games, will be collectively cherished more than any other.
This, after all, is a country whose $5 bill has a scene of children playing hockey on a pond, with a quotation from the short story “The Hockey Sweater,” by Roch Carrier:
“The winters of my childhood were long, long seasons. We lived in three places — the school, the church and the skating rink — but our real life was on the skating rink.”
Hockey, the Canadian poet Richard Harrison once said, “is the national id.”
Roberto Luongo w/ victory flag (Photo credit :NYTimes/Stalknecht)
Team Canada Olympic hockey team wins gold/ Photo credit: Doug Mills, NY Times
It is really hard not to gloat.
The men I live with were rather smug about Canada’s loss to the U.S. earlier in the competition. They felt quite sure that the US had a lock on the gold.
There was never a doubt in my mind that Canada would take home the hockey gold. The world’s record 14 gold medals for Canada is the fudgey chocolate icing on my Nanaimo bar.
