Blog Dis
To honor the fallen...
2025-11-11
[This one's for you, Dad 🥰]
Disconnection can easily occur when one generation removed fails to learn from the previous generation, or when prior generations are regarded as being less than worthy of in-depth, historical understanding by younger generations — the very persons who benefit, to connect to the experiences of past generations, their country's history and/or their family's past. Well, this is the ideal. We all know that ideals are illusions.
There. I said it. Sometimes, the younger generation, as expected, isn't always the wisest, despite how highly they may think of themselves, and their present-day knowledge and struggles. The young have yet to live as long as older generations, and this is an obvious statement, tho' it has relevance. So, allow me this indulgence, to highlight how all generations are linked, and how we each are touched in some shape and form by one another, and able to make an impact.
Every year there are volunteers who sit by themselves at tables in grocery stores with a donation bowl, offering poppies for sale, under the branding of the Royal Canadian Legion. Their purpose of selling these poppies is to encourage donations. It doesn't matter what amount you can afford. It's up to the individual to decide how much they're willing to pay to purchase a poppy for their lapel. These monies contribute toward bettering the conditions of Veterans, many of whom scrape by on finite support. It saddens me that every year, too, it's covered on local news how unattended Legion containers in shopping malls are stolen, after donations have been collected a week in advance. To my mind, these thieves are as disconnected to the reality of the month of November as they come — failing to recognize who made the ultimate sacrifice, for the good of the whole.
Maybe you're thinking, "Well I never asked anyone to sacrifice their life for me." This isn't an inaccurate sentiment, because you are entitled to your feelings, but as I generally like to say, consider the source: it's coming from the mind of an immature individual. Yet, it's also harsh and naive, to knowingly dismiss these sacrifices. So, and given the ceremonies held in each city, as well as National news coverage, I'm taking it upon myself to serve up some tidbits, something that anyone can research for themselves but which may be more convenient for you to simply read this post.
Remembrance Day began as Armistice Day in 1918, to commemorate the armistice agreement that ended World War 1, signed on November 11th and took effect at 11 AM — hence why we recognize the eleventh month, eleventh day, and eleventh hour. This significant time was the very moment when hostilities had ceased. Now, we recognize that all military personnel who've served and lost lives, and who continue to serve in this modern age, all deserve to be shown our deepest respect, for us to participate, to reflect and demonstrate our understanding of the significance of this date.
I've attended Remembrance Day commemorations for decades, mostly in centretown Ottawa, where our War Memorial is located and where thousands attend to pay their respects. The numbers of surviving World War II veterans have dwindled in Canada, represented by as little as over 9,267, as reported by Veterans Affairs Canada. The majority alive today are in their late 80s and 90s, those who fought in World War II and the Korean War, of whom my father was one. My Dad (may he RIP) fought in Korea as a gunner for two years, and when he returned to Canada, in the early 1950s, he received zero recognition. The only organization that turned up at the airport to offer support was the Salvation Army. While my father was alive, this was one organization to which he'd make donations, owing to them having recognized his service.
I cry when I attend a Remembrance Day ceremony. It's nearly impossible not to cry. When you stand amongst the crowd, you're not alone. Others too are shedding tears. The ceremonies are deeply moving. We've all been touched in some shape or form by Veterans who answered the call to defend their country. Does their sacrifice seem worth it? Absolutely, most definitely yes! The ultimate sacrifice is for someone to give up their life, for without these individuals having fought, we might all be goose-stepping, rather than to have our cherished freedoms. Our brave men and women were successful in bringing an end to Hitler's reign of terror throughout Europe. We owe our thanks as well to the USA for entering into World War II, in December 1941, despite the grudge that some carry, that they took too long to make this decision, given that WWII began in 1939. In the end, however, over 400,000 Americans died in WWII.
The Canadian Navy at one point in time was regarded as the largest naval force in the world but this harkens back to World War I when Canada answered the call to send naval ships. It's estimated more than 66,000 Canadians (and Newfoundlanders) died in World War I, a combination of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, the Royal Canadian Navy, and British Flying Services.
And some 45,000 Canadians died in WWII, while 55,000 were wounded, and 1.1 million Canadians and Newfoundlanders had served in total.
If these numbers mean little to you, especially those who died, then try to imagine one of these individuals having been your grandparent, or great- grandparent, and how their legacy was passed down through your family lineage. They were loved. They were devastated. They had no choice but to move on with life, despite the loss. My father lost an older brother in World War I. And, I recall one time how my Dad talked about the pain his father endured, having never recovered over the loss of his son. Because I'm an Air Force brat, owing to my father having served in the Air Force, I continue to appreciate this linkage. My older brother served for over 22+ years in the Navy, and I also have a nephew who served 4+ years in the Navy, and who's now a commissioned officer in the Air Force.
The military life isn't for everyone, and every military wife who has raised kids alone, for a length of time, while their spouse was posted in some God-forsaken tundra, can attest to the challenges that military families face. It doesn't mean that you're expected to appreciate these sacrifices, though it won't hurt either to be made aware of them.
So before you turn your nose up at anyone serving in the military, I would ask you to consider the services of other dedicated professionals, like firefighters, deep-sea rescue personnel, doctors tending to casualties in war zones, doctors and nurses in emergency wards, war correspondents, peacekeepers and various other social workers and professionals like paramedics, and all those in law enforcement — all these individuals put themselves on the line. Some day you may be one of the persons who'll benefit from their aid, from doing a dangerous job. You had never asked them to choose these professions, yet in your time of need, they will be there for you. This is the frame of mind that recognizes the larger picture, rather than solely the problems at the end of your nose.
Incidentally, the famous poem, 'In Flanders Fields', was written by a Canadian doctor and soldier in World War I, and is regarded as one of the most famous poems, throughout the world. The symbol of the poppy, too, is a registered trademark of the Royal Canadian Legion. If you were to search for the word poppy on 'X', the image will not come up.
It isn't a requirement of you, if you're young or old, to participate in Remembrance Day. Now, I prefer to watch the proceedings on my monitor, vis-a-vis live news, in order to hear the proceedings vs standing amongst the crowd without clear listening access to the commemorative speeches. However, if you're interested in broadening your perspective, there are a number of remarkable movies to help highlight the horrors that soldiers and civilians had faced. My list is below. I'll typically watch one of these movies each year, and come away feeling shell-shocked, owing to their graphic content. These are war movies, after all, and as much as movies may romanticize the whole notion of war-time buddies, and fighting to the death, alongside each other, it's worthy to note that their sacrifices should not be understated.
It's estimated that 15 to 22 million were killed in World War I — a combination of military and civilian personnel, through disease, hunger and mass killings. Whereas, in World War II, some 50 to 85 million were killed, making it the worst and deadliest conflict in the world's history. The Soviet Union suffered the worst casualties, in the range of 24 million. These numbers are utterly staggering to me, and just repeating them here, makes me want to cry. The significance of these deaths means that military personnel had answered the call, to fight the ultimate fight, to sacrifice in order to win against tyranny, not just on behalf of their country, and their fellow soldiers, but also on your behalf, and all progeny to come.
Freedom comes with a cost and there can be no future without freedom. Eighty years have passed since World War II, and if you consider that a new generation is born every 15-20 years, this further accentuates the fact that at least four generations have been born since WWI ended. It truly warms my heart when I see young persons in Ottawa holding special commemorative initiates to show their respect. I shall not ever forget. Nor, shall I forget my father's service, or when he spoke on those rare occasions about his two years of service in the Korean War — that he couldn't understand why he survived, when he had watched each one of his buddies get blown to pieces. [A gunner, incidentally, is an artillery crew member].
On a personal note, and this comment pertains to when Ottawa was under lockdown during the Freedom Convoy, what irked me greatly was the TV coverage of convoy supporters urinating on the War Memorial — an example of how a younger generation several times removed knows no bounds when it comes to showing their ignorance.
Here is a my list of Remembrance Day selections, some of which I've recently discovered, and others I've re-watched multiple times:
1. Schindler's List
2. Saving Private Ryan
3. Stalingrad (1993); Russian
4. Fury
5. A Midnight Clear
6. Sisu (Finnish)
7. Passchendaele
8. Das Boot (1981); German French & English
9. Hacksaw Ridge
10. The Flowers of War
Image of me and Dad.
Love you Dad!
Disconnection can easily occur when one generation removed fails to learn from the previous generation, or when prior generations are regarded as being less than worthy of in-depth, historical understanding by younger generations — the very persons who benefit, to connect to the experiences of past generations, their country's history and/or their family's past. Well, this is the ideal. We all know that ideals are illusions.
There. I said it. Sometimes, the younger generation, as expected, isn't always the wisest, despite how highly they may think of themselves, and their present-day knowledge and struggles. The young have yet to live as long as older generations, and this is an obvious statement, tho' it has relevance. So, allow me this indulgence, to highlight how all generations are linked, and how we each are touched in some shape and form by one another, and able to make an impact.
Every year there are volunteers who sit by themselves at tables in grocery stores with a donation bowl, offering poppies for sale, under the branding of the Royal Canadian Legion. Their purpose of selling these poppies is to encourage donations. It doesn't matter what amount you can afford. It's up to the individual to decide how much they're willing to pay to purchase a poppy for their lapel. These monies contribute toward bettering the conditions of Veterans, many of whom scrape by on finite support. It saddens me that every year, too, it's covered on local news how unattended Legion containers in shopping malls are stolen, after donations have been collected a week in advance. To my mind, these thieves are as disconnected to the reality of the month of November as they come — failing to recognize who made the ultimate sacrifice, for the good of the whole.
Maybe you're thinking, "Well I never asked anyone to sacrifice their life for me." This isn't an inaccurate sentiment, because you are entitled to your feelings, but as I generally like to say, consider the source: it's coming from the mind of an immature individual. Yet, it's also harsh and naive, to knowingly dismiss these sacrifices. So, and given the ceremonies held in each city, as well as National news coverage, I'm taking it upon myself to serve up some tidbits, something that anyone can research for themselves but which may be more convenient for you to simply read this post.
Remembrance Day began as Armistice Day in 1918, to commemorate the armistice agreement that ended World War 1, signed on November 11th and took effect at 11 AM — hence why we recognize the eleventh month, eleventh day, and eleventh hour. This significant time was the very moment when hostilities had ceased. Now, we recognize that all military personnel who've served and lost lives, and who continue to serve in this modern age, all deserve to be shown our deepest respect, for us to participate, to reflect and demonstrate our understanding of the significance of this date.
I've attended Remembrance Day commemorations for decades, mostly in centretown Ottawa, where our War Memorial is located and where thousands attend to pay their respects. The numbers of surviving World War II veterans have dwindled in Canada, represented by as little as over 9,267, as reported by Veterans Affairs Canada. The majority alive today are in their late 80s and 90s, those who fought in World War II and the Korean War, of whom my father was one. My Dad (may he RIP) fought in Korea as a gunner for two years, and when he returned to Canada, in the early 1950s, he received zero recognition. The only organization that turned up at the airport to offer support was the Salvation Army. While my father was alive, this was one organization to which he'd make donations, owing to them having recognized his service.
I cry when I attend a Remembrance Day ceremony. It's nearly impossible not to cry. When you stand amongst the crowd, you're not alone. Others too are shedding tears. The ceremonies are deeply moving. We've all been touched in some shape or form by Veterans who answered the call to defend their country. Does their sacrifice seem worth it? Absolutely, most definitely yes! The ultimate sacrifice is for someone to give up their life, for without these individuals having fought, we might all be goose-stepping, rather than to have our cherished freedoms. Our brave men and women were successful in bringing an end to Hitler's reign of terror throughout Europe. We owe our thanks as well to the USA for entering into World War II, in December 1941, despite the grudge that some carry, that they took too long to make this decision, given that WWII began in 1939. In the end, however, over 400,000 Americans died in WWII.
The Canadian Navy at one point in time was regarded as the largest naval force in the world but this harkens back to World War I when Canada answered the call to send naval ships. It's estimated more than 66,000 Canadians (and Newfoundlanders) died in World War I, a combination of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, the Royal Canadian Navy, and British Flying Services.
And some 45,000 Canadians died in WWII, while 55,000 were wounded, and 1.1 million Canadians and Newfoundlanders had served in total.
If these numbers mean little to you, especially those who died, then try to imagine one of these individuals having been your grandparent, or great- grandparent, and how their legacy was passed down through your family lineage. They were loved. They were devastated. They had no choice but to move on with life, despite the loss. My father lost an older brother in World War I. And, I recall one time how my Dad talked about the pain his father endured, having never recovered over the loss of his son. Because I'm an Air Force brat, owing to my father having served in the Air Force, I continue to appreciate this linkage. My older brother served for over 22+ years in the Navy, and I also have a nephew who served 4+ years in the Navy, and who's now a commissioned officer in the Air Force.
The military life isn't for everyone, and every military wife who has raised kids alone, for a length of time, while their spouse was posted in some God-forsaken tundra, can attest to the challenges that military families face. It doesn't mean that you're expected to appreciate these sacrifices, though it won't hurt either to be made aware of them.
So before you turn your nose up at anyone serving in the military, I would ask you to consider the services of other dedicated professionals, like firefighters, deep-sea rescue personnel, doctors tending to casualties in war zones, doctors and nurses in emergency wards, war correspondents, peacekeepers and various other social workers and professionals like paramedics, and all those in law enforcement — all these individuals put themselves on the line. Some day you may be one of the persons who'll benefit from their aid, from doing a dangerous job. You had never asked them to choose these professions, yet in your time of need, they will be there for you. This is the frame of mind that recognizes the larger picture, rather than solely the problems at the end of your nose.
Incidentally, the famous poem, 'In Flanders Fields', was written by a Canadian doctor and soldier in World War I, and is regarded as one of the most famous poems, throughout the world. The symbol of the poppy, too, is a registered trademark of the Royal Canadian Legion. If you were to search for the word poppy on 'X', the image will not come up.
It isn't a requirement of you, if you're young or old, to participate in Remembrance Day. Now, I prefer to watch the proceedings on my monitor, vis-a-vis live news, in order to hear the proceedings vs standing amongst the crowd without clear listening access to the commemorative speeches. However, if you're interested in broadening your perspective, there are a number of remarkable movies to help highlight the horrors that soldiers and civilians had faced. My list is below. I'll typically watch one of these movies each year, and come away feeling shell-shocked, owing to their graphic content. These are war movies, after all, and as much as movies may romanticize the whole notion of war-time buddies, and fighting to the death, alongside each other, it's worthy to note that their sacrifices should not be understated.
It's estimated that 15 to 22 million were killed in World War I — a combination of military and civilian personnel, through disease, hunger and mass killings. Whereas, in World War II, some 50 to 85 million were killed, making it the worst and deadliest conflict in the world's history. The Soviet Union suffered the worst casualties, in the range of 24 million. These numbers are utterly staggering to me, and just repeating them here, makes me want to cry. The significance of these deaths means that military personnel had answered the call, to fight the ultimate fight, to sacrifice in order to win against tyranny, not just on behalf of their country, and their fellow soldiers, but also on your behalf, and all progeny to come.
Freedom comes with a cost and there can be no future without freedom. Eighty years have passed since World War II, and if you consider that a new generation is born every 15-20 years, this further accentuates the fact that at least four generations have been born since WWI ended. It truly warms my heart when I see young persons in Ottawa holding special commemorative initiates to show their respect. I shall not ever forget. Nor, shall I forget my father's service, or when he spoke on those rare occasions about his two years of service in the Korean War — that he couldn't understand why he survived, when he had watched each one of his buddies get blown to pieces. [A gunner, incidentally, is an artillery crew member].
On a personal note, and this comment pertains to when Ottawa was under lockdown during the Freedom Convoy, what irked me greatly was the TV coverage of convoy supporters urinating on the War Memorial — an example of how a younger generation several times removed knows no bounds when it comes to showing their ignorance.
Here is a my list of Remembrance Day selections, some of which I've recently discovered, and others I've re-watched multiple times:
1. Schindler's List
2. Saving Private Ryan
3. Stalingrad (1993); Russian
4. Fury
5. A Midnight Clear
6. Sisu (Finnish)
7. Passchendaele
8. Das Boot (1981); German French & English
9. Hacksaw Ridge
10. The Flowers of War
Image of me and Dad.
Love you Dad!
