Once again people are walking around, wearing their poppies to remember not only the veterans of the past but also those soldiers who serve in the armed forces today.
In many parts of Canada the day is a statutory holiday first, and a day to remember the sacrifices of the past second. People have every right to enjoy their days off when they come, however, this is one of those occasions where we have the chance to build off of a day and do more for those people who have earned our support.
You do not have to search hard, especially in an online world, to see the cost of the conflicts Canadians have been, and are currently still involved in.
But it is no longer just about the battles the soldiers face in a combat zone. We are in a crisis of time to hold onto the stories of the past. I have been lucky in university, time spent overseas, and working in this industry, to have heard many stories from veterans of many conflicts.
Holding on to these stories should be something of a mission for us, because once those who have served are gone, the stories will also be gone forever.
This may not seem like concern for many people but it should be. History is of great importance moving forward into the future.
The stories of the past are part of the fabric that helped build the country in which we live.
Watching a show online or on television is great, but sitting down with someone is a different experience all together.
In the almost 100 years since the start of the First World War, many Canadians have made the ultimate sacrifice on the field of battle.
The numbers are staggering when you take the time to think about them. So many soldiers have lost their lives, not to mention those who came home with both physical and mental battle scars.
For those who come home with these wounds, more has to be done. The soldiers’ struggles are not just to survive but also for some, how to come home and continue on.
Around this time of year we hear the occasional story of what life has been like for those who come home but after Nov. 11, silence will once again return for another year. People will once again move on to Christmas and the stories of Santa coming to town.
But who is being naughty by acting this way.
Citizens and the government need to work year round, and not just come out for a day in support of these warriors.
The stories are there of men and women who are working hard to make sure all of the soldiers and their families receive the support they desperately need.
As research and technology advances, hope above all else must be there to see this adjustment back to their pre battle lives.
This is not the argument of whether you believe in why the men and women of the Canadian Armed Services are involved in conflicts or peace keeping duties.
That is a moral issue with which each person would have their own opinion.
If you do not believe in the cause then you have the ability to take that battle to to your local Members of Parliament and stress the need to bring the soldiers home. If the war in Afghanistan is one you do not think Canada should be involved in, then step up to have your voices heard. This does not mean you attack the soldiers who follow orders.
This is about remembering the past, hoping that at some point people learn from it, and above all else, looking after those who serve us both on Canadian soil but also when they are needed overseas.
Lest we forget…all year long.
