Lest We Forget- Remembrance Day 2019

Today is Remembrance Day here in Canada. In the UK, they observe Remembrance Sunday (yesterday), and in New Zealand they observe Anzac Day on April 25th. In Canada, we observe Remembrance Day on 11 November at 11am. We honour the men, women, and animals who have given their lives for our freedoms, rights, and democracy, and remember their sacrifices. You will commonly see people wearing a poppy in remembrance. There are often services in civic spaces, military cemeteries, legions, and other places. (We often commonly observe it in school in the day before, as it is a day off of school, and limited work.)

I know that in the UK, poppies have become somewhat politicised. Thankfully here in Canada, they have largely stayed non-partisan. We wear our poppies in remembrance- a small gesture for those who have often given everything and more. You will notice that here in Canada, nearly all of our poppies look identical. They are given out by the armed forces (with a box for you to donate), and I appreciate that we all wear the same symbol.

I was quite interested in this memorial while I was in London, a memorial to the Women of World War II. It is in Whitehall, quite close to the Cenotaph (and not too far from Westminster). You will notice different sets of uniforms on it; it features seventeen outfits. They are emblematic of the countless roles that women took in the war, including the Women’s Land Army, welding mask, and a nurse’s uniform. It was erected in 2005, and although it unfortunately was vandalised in 2015, it has been restored to its original appearance. It is a wonderful reminder that there are many who served and are not typically remembered. In Canada, Indigenous soldiers were not recognised until the 2000s- remember to look for the hidden history.

However you are marking Remembrance Day 2019, I hope that you can take a moment or two to remember.

Until tomorrow,
The Historian
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