November 11 – A Day of Remembrance

As member nations of the Commonwealth, both Australia and Canada remember those who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations, as well as honour the contributions and suffering of all those who have served, on Remembrance Day (Canada) / ANZAC Day (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps Day). A tradition begun in 1919, after WWI.

Following Remembrance Day ceremonies held on this day on Parliament Hill and in communities across Canada, Canadians pause for a minute of silent to reflect on those who have served in the past, and who serve our nation today. At the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month.

In Australia ANZAC Day is commemorated at a dawn service. The ODE (from For the Fallen, a poem by the English poet and writer Laurence Binyon in 1914) is solemnly spoken –

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Last year some Ukrainian troops held a ceremony on their training grounds. Amidst the shelling and shooting they faintly and formally repeated Australia’s ceremony. It brought tears to our eyes.

Postcards to the Front (Canada/Канада) met with a Gr. 5/6 class to discuss how the mail system works, both civilian and military, the meaning of Remembrance Day in Canada, and the Postcards to the Front project. Students wrote postcards to Ukraine’s Defenders as well as to veterans and to troops of Canada’s armed forces, presently serving all over the globe.

Please take a few moments to write a couple of postcards with messages of support to Ukraine’s Defenders, and send them on to your Postcards to the Front branch located in either Australia or Canada. We’ll be sure that the Defenders get your cards. Thank you!

The poppy postage stamp was issued on the 100^th anniversary in 2021 of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance in Canada. The poppy has become one of Canada’s most evocative and enduring emblems. One way Canadians honour the more than 117,000 Canadians who have died in service to their country (from Canada Post).

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