Lest we forget.
One thing they need to remember is that it didn't end with WWII and continues to this day.
One thing they need to remember is that it didn't end with WWII and continues to this day.
Remembrance Day
- Thread starter bob the dog
- Start date
I consider it all a continuation of the water war between Ur and Lagash five thousand-odd years back.
On the same weekend in 1997, two of my guys took their lives.
One was in the former Yugoslavia, and the other was at home in Canada.
One hung himself in his quarters, a young single kid. The other shot himself, a father and husband.
At the memorial, I looked into the eyes of one's two children, neither older than ten.
I still see them now—their tears. The little girl was blonde with curly hair.
She was crying for her Daddy while her brother stood, his face bunched up, trying to hold it all in.
I wore my dress uniform for the last time that day.
When I left the memorial, I went home and hugged every one of my boys.
Secretly, I vowed never to leave them asking, "Why?"
In 1998, I was medically released.
The weight of the guilt and loss of self-worth nearly pulled me down.
Remembering is a small price to pay for a lifetime of freedom.
We will remember.
One was in the former Yugoslavia, and the other was at home in Canada.
One hung himself in his quarters, a young single kid. The other shot himself, a father and husband.
At the memorial, I looked into the eyes of one's two children, neither older than ten.
I still see them now—their tears. The little girl was blonde with curly hair.
She was crying for her Daddy while her brother stood, his face bunched up, trying to hold it all in.
I wore my dress uniform for the last time that day.
When I left the memorial, I went home and hugged every one of my boys.
Secretly, I vowed never to leave them asking, "Why?"
In 1998, I was medically released.
The weight of the guilt and loss of self-worth nearly pulled me down.
Remembering is a small price to pay for a lifetime of freedom.
We will remember.
Been there. Felt the weight.
Glad you made it through OK.
We will never forget.
My uncle in Banff on his way to Algeria to chase Rommel across the desert.
Never forgotten.
Not only those who gave all, but those who suffered after.
Not only those who gave all, but those who suffered after.
I was stationed in Germany. The LAST thing I wanted was "hometown beer!"
Canadian Forces Chaplain General Guy Bélisle appeared at Ottawa’s National War Memorial on Monday to lead his first Remembrance Day reflection under a controversial new directive, which the Opposition Conservatives have called a de-facto military prayer ban.
“In the spirit of peace and gratitude, this moment prompts us to reflect on the sacrifices of our heroes and their families,” said Bélisle in his brief remarks, which noticeably did not include any variation of the word “prayer.”
This was a departure from the Chaplain General’s attempt to bridge the secular and spiritual worlds in his remarks at last year’s ceremony.
“May these words I share now be, for some, the prayers of your heart (and) for others a reflection of your heartfelt thanksgiving,” he said at the time.
The shift in language comes after Bélisle independently issued a fall 2023 directive decreeing that military chaplain-led public reflections be “inclusive in nature” and “respectful of the religious and spiritual diversity of Canada.”
The directive was issued in response to a 2015 Supreme Court of Canada decision banning prayer in some public settings.
Bélisle nevertheless agreed to put a temporary pause on the new policy after receiving several complaints in the lead up to last year’s Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Under the military’s pre-existing policy, chaplains were allowed to lead public prayer, so long as they first invited those not accustomed to prayer to instead engage in “silent personal reflection or contemplation.”
Bélisle says that the military is bound by law to abide by the 2015 Supreme Court decision on religious neutrality.
Rev. Scott McCaig, bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Canada, said in a statement on Friday that he disagreed.
“The forbidding of all religious expression at… military events does indeed give the impression that the government is preferring non-religion over religion,” wrote McCaig.
“This is contrary to the ‘Saguenay decision’ of the Supreme Court which requires government neutrality on religious issues, precisely to protect the religious conscious rights of all.”
But Monday’s ceremony wasn’t totally godless affair, ending with a benediction from Ottawa Rabbi Idan Scher.
“May God guide us in remembrance (and) give us the strength to unite in the face of adversity,” proclaimed Scher to close out the proceedings.
apple.news
(I’m not religious, but I’m glad they found some kind of balance)
“In the spirit of peace and gratitude, this moment prompts us to reflect on the sacrifices of our heroes and their families,” said Bélisle in his brief remarks, which noticeably did not include any variation of the word “prayer.”
This was a departure from the Chaplain General’s attempt to bridge the secular and spiritual worlds in his remarks at last year’s ceremony.
“May these words I share now be, for some, the prayers of your heart (and) for others a reflection of your heartfelt thanksgiving,” he said at the time.
The shift in language comes after Bélisle independently issued a fall 2023 directive decreeing that military chaplain-led public reflections be “inclusive in nature” and “respectful of the religious and spiritual diversity of Canada.”
The directive was issued in response to a 2015 Supreme Court of Canada decision banning prayer in some public settings.
Under the military’s pre-existing policy, chaplains were allowed to lead public prayer, so long as they first invited those not accustomed to prayer to instead engage in “silent personal reflection or contemplation.”
Bélisle says that the military is bound by law to abide by the 2015 Supreme Court decision on religious neutrality.
Rev. Scott McCaig, bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Canada, said in a statement on Friday that he disagreed.
“The forbidding of all religious expression at… military events does indeed give the impression that the government is preferring non-religion over religion,” wrote McCaig.
“This is contrary to the ‘Saguenay decision’ of the Supreme Court which requires government neutrality on religious issues, precisely to protect the religious conscious rights of all.”
But Monday’s ceremony wasn’t totally godless affair, ending with a benediction from Ottawa Rabbi Idan Scher.
“May God guide us in remembrance (and) give us the strength to unite in the face of adversity,” proclaimed Scher to close out the proceedings.
Chaplain general leads Remembrance Day 'reflection' in Ottawa amid prayer ban row — National Post
The directive was issued in response to a 2015 Supreme Court of Canada decision banning prayer in some public settings
I went to a small countryside memorial and wrote my childhood friend's name on the back of a poppy and laid it in the dirt.
Rest easy, Brent, I won't forget you.
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/80003263?Brent%20Donald%20Poland
Rest easy, Brent, I won't forget you.
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/80003263?Brent%20Donald%20Poland
