Remember on Rememberance Day.

A woman from the Legion recently approached me asking for a donation for the Legion and Rememberance Day. I was happy to give a donation and she responded kindly, saying it was so nice to have some young people donating as many won't. When I asked her why, she told me that some believe that by donating to the legion they are supporting the war. This could not be further from the truth, and that is why I write this letter.

Too often we take for granted the freedoms and rights we have in Canada. Each November 11, Canadians are asked to pause and remember the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom and democracy during past and present wars and conflicts as well as during peacekeeping missions. It is in rememberance of the people and a time to be thankful for the freedoms and rights we have.

The Legion is not about war. The mission of the Legion is to serve veterans and their dependants, to promote rememberance and act in the service of Canada and its communities. I'm sure if you talk to members of the Legion, you will soon realize they are not "pro-war". Many of them fought in a war and would like nothing more than for there to never be another drop of blood shed in any conflict.

I hope that those who question why we have Rememberance Day and a Legion will take the time to find out what it is really about. Part of this is that we remember and support the people, even if we do not support the politics.

I have also seen war protesters at the November 11th ceremony at the cenotaph in past years. I suppose they do not realize that it is because of the people we honour on Rememberance Day that they can openly protest! While I fully support their right to protest (and heck, I may even agree with some of them!), I do not believe that the service is the time or place to do so.

"We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada. The meaning of their sacrifice rests with our collective national consciousness; our future is their monument."*

Lest we forget...


* Heather Robertson, A Terrible Beauty, The Art of Canada at War. Toronto, Lorimer, 1977.