The Commerce Times

Remember the past, today and tomorrow

While the gap between the World Wars and the present day continues to widen, Remembrance Day in Canada remains a revered and honoured tradition. Poppies decorate winter coats and ceremonies commemorate those we have lost in the wars of the past. Currently, November 11 represents a history that many Canadians can relate to today.

Second World War veteran George Campbell believes that although Remembrance Day may have been less valued in the past, it has made a comeback.

“Everything goes on a cycle to me: it goes up and it goes down. Now why do they think of veterans today? Because we have soldiers in Afghanistan, and they are dying over there,” he said during a luncheon at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 66 headquarters. “And not as fast, thank God, ‘cause when we lost them… like at Dieppe, we lost thousands in an hour.”

Although the loss experienced during the World Wars was substantially more severe, Remembrance Day is meant to honor veterans and soldiers of all wars.

“I don’t think it should be just World War One and Two,” Campbell said. “It should be all veterans, veterans of Korea… or anyone that’s a veteran. And they don’t have to be overseas.”

With the number of Second World War vets are dwindling, the definition of Remembrance Day is starting to change. Awareness for younger generations is necessary to carry on the significance of the date and those values.

Ingo Herbst, an acting sergeant at the military base in Petawawa, believes that this torch is being passed along.

“I think there are individuals replacing [World War veterans] and filling their shoes,” Herbst said. “Hard to fill but they’re going to carry on the customs and traditions.”

One of the ceremonies being held in Toronto took place at Swansea Town Hall, just south of Bloor West Village. The Swansea community has particular connection to the day of remembrance as 22 Swansea men lost their lives in the First World War. The Swansea Memorial Public Library was instituted to honour these men and others in the community who fought during the War.

Sarah Doucette, the organizer of the service for the past five years, said that as the memory of the World Wars becomes more distant, Remembrance Day will take on a different meaning.

“I think [Remembrance Day] will change,” Doucette said. “In our area [of Swansea], it will remain important because they’re part of our community, but also with the [wars] that are going on today, it will remain important.”

One example of how respect for the troops is being brought into current times is the Highway of Heroes, the stretch of the 401 that carries the bodies of soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan. The grassroots phenomenon shows that while Canada often adopts an anti-war ideal, people still show support for the troops.

However, Campbell says he feels that there are some issues regarding war that get deferred on Remembrance Day.

“Thank God we don’t have a war as a war,” Campbell said. “But if we did, it would be a lot better than this fighting terrorism. Pretty hard to do, when they go in and bomb a country, just like the Yankees did when they dropped the a-bomb, which shook up Japan in an awful hurry. And this I wouldn’t like to see but it would be a lot faster getting things done than years in Afghanistan and still not making any headway.”

Whether you are for or against war in Afghanistan, all Canadians should still pay their respects to our troops of the past and present. It’s important to take the time on November 11 to remember those who have died and those currently involved in conflicts worldwide.