As we pause at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to remember and thank those who gave their lives to preserve our freedom and values, it’s important to also not lose sight of the dual message of Remembrance Day.
Although the horrors of the First and Second World Wars inexorably fade from memory with the passage of time, we must never forget the bravery or sacrifices of those Canadians who left their families and hometowns to fight tyranny in faraway lands—thousands of whom would never return.
We must never forget the price paid for the way of life we enjoy today.
But Remembrance Day also serves as a haunting reminder of the insanity of war; and the fervent hope that future generations of young Canadians never again have to experience what our veterans did.
Naive and idealistic? Perhaps. Since the end of World War II, Canadians have fought and died in Korea and Afghanistan, as well as countless other countries while serving in other conflicts or on peacekeeping missions.
Sadly, mankind likely always will be plagued by the scourge of war. But as we stand at cenotaphs this Monday, let’s honour the fallen with a solemn vow to pursue peace so that those who follow—our children and grandchildren—are spared a similar fate.
Lest we forget.
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