Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day (Jour du Souvenir) is observed annually on November 11, the anniversary marking the end of World War 1.
The First World War was the largest conflict the world had ever seen at the time. The war was a result of many factors, including political tension and military alliances. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914 sparked the beginning of a crisis and the war began that same year in August. It would become a bloody four year war with close to 61,000 Canadians killed.
Originally the day was called “Armistice Day” to commemorate the armistice agreement which ended the war on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Vimy Ridge
Considered Canada’s most celebrated Canadian military victory, the battle of Vimy Ridge was fought from the 9th to 12th of April 1917 on the Western Front of northern France. Four divisions of the Canadian Corps fought united and captured the ridge from the German army. It was the largest territorial advance of any Allied force at that point in the war. Unfortunately the cost of the victory was overwhelming; more than 10,600 Canadians were killed or wounded in the battle. Today a memorial stands at the top of the ridge to honour the 11,285 Canadians killed in France throughout the war who have no marked graves.
Remembering
The day serves to remember all the lives that were lost in the line of duty and the countless sacrifices soldiers made to uphold international peace.
Historically there is a National Ceremony on the date each year at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. It is nationally televised and attended by the Prime Minister, government officials, veterans organizations’ representatives, diplomatic representatives, dignitaries, veterans as well as the general public.
What Can You Do?
•Remember those who served and the fallen. Honour their sacrifice.
•Have a respectful moment of silence
•Wear the Remembrance Day symbol, a poppy, with the correct etiquette, that is: on the left over your heart, from the last Friday in October until November 11
Image source: "Remembrance Day Poppy_2=" by Sheba_Also 46000 + photos-Videos is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 ich)*