Remembrance Week

[John McGillivray]

Well it’s time for Remembrance week on History Television. Here are links to some of the shows which people may find of interest.

The Devil’s Brigade

http://www.history.ca/microsites/devilsbrigade/

In Korea with Norm Christie

http://www.history.ca/microsites/inkorea/

Black Watch: Massacre at Verrieres Ridge

http://www.history.ca/ontv/titledeta...?titleid=90177

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by John McGillivray
In Korea with Norm Christie

http://www.history.ca/microsites/inkorea/

[/url]

Not that I'd disparage any other eras, but this one rings true in the passing of our own Art Johnson this year.

Art, whom I'd met personally, will in my heart this 11 Nov.

Art Johnson has been in my heart and mind especially a lot today as well, I tought about and remembered so many, personally, today. Family soldiers. Strangers soldiers. All wars. I do miss Art a lot and think a lot about his service and what he sacrified for us all Art's name is still at the top of my "Buddies" list, I just can't bring myself to remove him. I miss exchanging emails and PM's with him.

(pretend this is Drambuie) to Art and Catherine from me.

My thoughts are also with our todays Vets missing their Fallen comrades and their families experiencing perhaps their First Remembrance Day without their loved ones Fallen in todays warring.

Tears, Gratitude, and Pride ...

Karmen.

I just read this in Canoe, Winnipeg Sun, written/told by someone serving today, and talking about the diference in his "Remembrance Day" for him and others now.

By RUSSELL D. STORRING

The National War Memorial will once again be the focus of the attention for Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa today. (Sun files)
One of the smallest, and yet one of the most meaningful Remembrance Days for me came as the sun started to rise on the horizon, and a light breeze whipped the dust of the Kandahar airfield into our faces.

It was 0630, and as we would be on the road during the Remembrance Day ceremony, Maj. Atherton had arranged to have the padre conduct a little ceremony before we left. Standing with my fellow soldiers, our rifles slung, our helmets off, with our Coyotes and LAV III's idling in the near distance, we bowed our heads and prayed.

The irony of heading into possible danger on Nov. 11 wasn't lost on any of us, and for some of those standing in our small group this ceremony probably had a little more meaning to it than it might have before.

Two days earlier, as our convoy headed from Kabul to Kandahar, we were ambushed near the town of Ghazni. Small arms fire erupted in the dark beside us, spraying the vehicles with a hail of bullets. Four rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) tore through the convoy's path, passing harmlessly between vehicles and flying off into the night.

We had thankfully avoided injuries, and now stood around the padre in the early morning light, remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in wars, battles and peacekeeping missions.

Far-off places like Vimy Ridge, Ortona and Cyprus, and not-so-far-off places like Tarnak Farm and Kabul made it that much more personal. I thought of how many soldiers before us, whether on peacekeeping duty or in wars, who, just like us, had an impromptu moment to reflect and remember before carrying on, possibly into harm's way.

As the ceremony finished, we donned our helmets, climbed into our vehicles and headed out into the early Afghan morning.

As we readied our weapons, I thought of how odd it was that on a day we are supposed to be remembering the fallen, here we are ready and prepared to fight if the need arises.

At 11 a.m., as I continued to glance at the passing countryside, I thought of as many Canadian battles as I could and wondered what would have been going through the men's minds back then.

I knew that in a few more short months, I would be headed home, unlike soldiers in the first and second world wars -- they stayed until the job was done, or they were injured or killed.

I can't even imagine what that would do to a person's psyche. Maybe the thought of fighting global tyranny or fighting the good fight sustained both the soldiers and the families for years on end.

It is something that, even after three tours, my family and I can't fathom.

Now almost a year later, I will be standing on parade in Trenton with my fellow soldiers, many of whom I have served with in Afghanistan, and others who are preparing to leave shortly.

There is no threat to life or limb for me this year, but I know there are thousands of our fellow soldiers, fellow Canadians, who are still in harm's way on this Remembrance Day, risking their lives to do what Canada has asked of them.

This Nov. 11 should be no different than all the others, as we remember those who have laid down their lives for us in far off places like The Somme, Vimy Ridge, Ortona, Caen, Hill 355, and Kapyong.

Yet this year it is different.

This year we have to remember the 43 Canadians who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, in places like Kabul, Kandahar, Panjway and Pashmul. We also have to remember Canadians who continue to die in the service of peace while serving the UN in places like Kiyam, Lebanon.

Like so many soldiers before them, these men and women left the security and safety of their homes, leaving behind wives, husbands, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers to do what Canada has asked them to do; and that is to put Canada before self. Like the rest of us they had futures and dreams for themselves and their children. Yet when asked there was no hesitation, there was no question; they answered the call of service to fight a new war of global proportions.

Answering that call in itself is noteworthy, and I for one am proud to stand beside my fellow soldiers who do just that, and continue to do that every day.

For those Canadians who answered the call and paid the ultimate sacrifice, they have earned a spot that can never be forgotten. They are part of our existence, part of Canada itself, and part of what we are known for.

We are free because of those Canadians who selflessly laid down their lives for ours, so that we can continue to live as we do, as Canadians.

[Hendrik van Oorspronk]

Hello,

Every year in Holland Remembrance day is held at the Monument Holland-Canada in Apeldoorn, a part of the ceremony is that Children lay flowers and crosses at the monument, every year another school from the Comunity of Apeldoorn is asked to do this.
This year our daugthers school had its turn.

Herewith a photo of her waiting for the ceremony.

Hendrik

PS. Nice Ford at the back

I love how you Dutch of Holland all remember and honour the fallen and the survivors/liberators, keeping awareness and knowledge alive amongst yourselves after so long ago.

I'm still so moved everytime I see documentaries and clips of the gratitude, love and joy of the Dutch people for the Soldiers who could be there to liberate them. Wow. THATS TRUE appreciation all the way

Thanks for posting the photo ... awesome to see!

Karmen.

Hi Folks,

Here's a story I enjoyed reading from the local Selkirk, Manitoba paper.



Karmen.

Retail remembrance
Selkirk Wal-Mart observes Remembrance Day with Legion presence

By Alan MacKenzie
Monday November 20, 2006


Veteran Ray Pratt says he’s sold thousands of poppies since he was asked to set up shop at Wal-Mart.

Photo by Mark T. Buss
At this time of year poppies can be found at several stores, banks, restaurants and other public spaces throughout Selkirk. But at least one retailer wants to put more of a face on the Remembrance Day tradition.
Wal-Mart store manager Pat Litzenberger arranged to set up a display inside Selkirk’s big box store featuring a video and members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 42 present, particularly legion member Ray O. Pratt.
Pratt, 80, was approached by Litzenberger shortly after Remembrance Day last year. Customers entering the store can meet Pratt or other legion members, including the Ladies Auxiliary, as soon as they come in. Pratt shows customers who make a donation how to correctly attach their poppy.
“One size fits all,” he said.
“I had approached Ray hoping he could do something to help me do what I want to do, which is to get the message of Remembrance Day out there,” Litzenberger said. “We enjoy our freedom we have today because of what these men did. It’s especially true now with the people who are serving in Afghanistan.”
Litzenberger added that he feels a heightened sense of duty to do something more than have “poppies at the till.”
“I have associates in my store who have either served or have family over there right now,” he noted.

Pratt said he appreciates what Litzenberger is doing, which shows that even a retail giant like Wal-Mart can help out people in a smaller community.
He said Litzenberger and the entire staff have been very helpful and accommodating.
“The staff backs me up a thousand per cent,” Pratt said, noting that some Wal-Mart employees come in on their own time to help out at the table.
Darren Foss, who works in the automotive department, served twice in Bosnia with Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry during the 1990s. He retired from the military six years ago. Several of his medals and sleeve badges are on display and his wife, Shelley, has been volunteering at the display.
“I’m very proud of my husband,” she said. “And my dad served in the Second World War, so this is very close to my heart.”
As part of the display Wal-Mart is screening a music video by Newfoundland singer/songwriter Terry Kelly. The song, A Pittance of Time, tells the true story of an incident in a Dartmouth, N.S. Shopper Drug Mart Store in which a customer refused to observe two minutes of silence in front of his son.
“It’s a very touching video,” Litzenberger said. “It captures how we all feel.”
Pratt’s wife, Diane, is a greeter at Wal-Mart. She will be laying a wreath on behalf of the store at the Remembrance Day service at the Selkirk Recreation Centre, escorted by her husband.
Litzenberger said he wants to make this display a Remembrance Day tradition at the store and bring it back every year. He and Pratt said the customer response has been overwhelming.
The display has been up at the store since Nov. 1. In the first week customers picked up more than 3,000 poppies and Pratt said over 4,000 will be sold by Remembrance Day.
“I got more hugs and handshakes in the last week than you’d care to know,” Pratt said.
Money raised from the poppy sale goes into a legion trust fund, which in turn is used to aid needy veterans as well as their spouses and children.