Today marks Remembrance Day — a day to “honour those who gave their lives to serve our country,” according to the Royal Canadian Legion. Across Canada, the U.K., and many other Commonwealth countries, people will take time to pay tribute to the individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in support of the values Canadians often take for granted.
The Legion, Canada’s primary veteran advocacy organization, offers several ways to observe Remembrance Day.
Wear a poppy
One can find poppies for sale at various vendors, businesses, and public places this time of year. Wearing one on your left lapel shows your observance of the important day, with all proceeds going to support veterans at local Legion branches. The symbolism of the poppy comes from the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Canadian World War I Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. Its poignant opening lines will be heard at ceremonies across the country on Monday: “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.”
Attend a ceremony
Across Canada, hundreds of public ceremonies will also take place, hosted by Legion branches and other organizations to raise local awareness of Remembrance Day. These ceremonies often include speakers highlighting the importance of Remembrance activities, recognition of local individuals involved in the armed forces, and religious devotions harkening back to the gratitude that defines the day. The Legion hosts a website, available here, that lets users find a ceremony near them. A search of ceremonies within a 50-kilometre radius of Toronto produces 45 results, showing no shortage of public recognition on this important day.
At York, ceremonies are planned for all three campuses — Keele, Glendon, and Markham. They all begin at 10:30 a.m. and take place at Harry W. Arthurs Common (Keele), York Hall’s West Quad (Glendon), and the East Green flagpole (Markham). “At 11 a.m. on [November 11], the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare,” says the university via press release. “Remembrance Day honours the men and women who were killed during the two world wars and other conflicts.”
Two minutes of silence
The central element, however, are the Two Minutes of Silence. The Legion encourages everyone to observe two minutes of quiet reflection at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, corresponding to the time, day, and month when hostilities ceased in World War I. They say this can be done anywhere — whether “working, sitting in our living room, or standing at a national ceremony.”
However one chooses to recognize Remembrance Day, taking a few minutes out of your day to appreciate and show respect to those who contributed so much to the Canada we know today, is always important.
