Remembrance Day

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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Low Earth Orbit
OK, let's say Czech beer is older (assuming it is). Is a Ford Model T superior to a Lamborghini Diablo? It's older. You could argue that the Italians "learned to make cars" from Ford.
Pilsner
By far the most popular type of beer in Germany is pilsner, generally known as ‘Pils’. The light-golden beer with the dry hoppy aroma is very popular in the North, West and East. The name goes back to the Czech town of Pilsen. The quality of the beer there was so bad in the mid-19th century that a group of “citizens with brewing rights” decided to build a brewery in the town. They appointed Josef Groll from Bavaria as master brewer. He arrived in Pilsen with a new recipe for bottom-fermented beer which his father had developed. In this brewing method slow alcoholic fermentation takes place as the yeast cells collect at the bottom of the fermenting liquid. Originally, top fermenting yeast was used, where the yeast settled near the surface. Pilsner is typically served in a classic glass, the stemmed ‘beer tulip’.

I prefer the Budweis lagers like Kozel and Czechvar.
 

Tecumsehsbones

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Mar 18, 2013
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Pilsner
By far the most popular type of beer in Germany is pilsner, generally known as ‘Pils’. The light-golden beer with the dry hoppy aroma is very popular in the North, West and East. The name goes back to the Czech town of Pilsen. The quality of the beer there was so bad in the mid-19th century that a group of “citizens with brewing rights” decided to build a brewery in the town. They appointed Josef Groll from Bavaria as master brewer. He arrived in Pilsen with a new recipe for bottom-fermented beer which his father had developed. In this brewing method slow alcoholic fermentation takes place as the yeast cells collect at the bottom of the fermenting liquid. Originally, top fermenting yeast was used, where the yeast settled near the surface. Pilsner is typically served in a classic glass, the stemmed ‘beer tulip’.

I prefer the Budweis lagers like Kozel and Czechvar.
Lager is for the evening. Pils is for breakfast and lunch.
 

Retired_Can_Soldier

The End of the Dog is Coming!
Mar 19, 2006
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There are always a couple of morons who want to hijack Remembrance Day.

Ottawa high school principal apologizes for song played during Remembrance Day assembly​


The principal of an Ottawa high school is apologizing to students, parents and guardians after an Arabic-language song was played during the school's Remembrance Day service.

The assembly for students and staff at Sir Robert Borden High School on Monday included the song 'Haza Salam' being played.

"It has come to my attention that the inclusion of the song 'Haza Salam' in the program caused significant distress to some members of our school community," principal Aaron Hobbs said in a letter to Sir Robert Borden families Monday evening. "For this, I would like to offer my apologies."

'Haza Salam' translates in English to "This is Peace." On YouTube, there are several different versions of the song 'Haza Salam' and it has become a song to oppose the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
 

bob the dog

Council Member
Aug 14, 2020
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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.
My utmost respect. Guessing you looked pretty sharp in full dress. Don't give up on it.
 

spaminator

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 26, 2009
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Decorated Canadian veteran warns of Russian dangers in High Arctic
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Liam Casey
Published Nov 11, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read

Canada must defend itself against an emerging Russia in the High Arctic, says one of Canada’s most decorated veterans, a man who helped defeat Germany in the Second World War.


Richard Rohmer, an honorary lieutenant general and former major general in the Canadian Armed Forces, took a breather inside Queen’s Park on Monday after helping lead Remembrance Day ceremonies outside.

The 100-year-old was a reconnaissance fighter pilot in the war, helped attack the Germans from the sky on D-Day and in 1945 took out a key bridge in Holland, leaving the retreating Germans without an escape route.

Adolf Hitler’s army surrendered soon after that.

Rohmer is now sharing a warning for Canadians about the freedoms they enjoy.

“We’re starting to get great messages now about the need to defend our High Arctic against the Russians who are sitting on the other side of the water,” he said.

“And it’s time we started to defend ourselves, which we don’t.”


Over the summer, the Pentagon warned of increasing Russian destabilizing activities in the Far North, along with more naval co-operation between Russia and China in the area.

Climate change is also leading to worries about Canada’s sovereignty in the North, a vast, remote area that may become more accessible to Russia and China as the Arctic Ocean thaws.

“We have to build up our forces again,” said Rohmer, who flew 135 missions in his P-51 Mustang during the Second World War.

“It’s good for Canadians to learn about the military on days like this so that we can start to get more interest among the young people.”

An image of the famed plane was etched into the Veterans’ Memorial wall outside of Queen’s Park in 2006.


But Rohmer was unable to accomplish one final mission: Get the name of the wall engraved on the side facing the legislature, which is currently blank.

So during his speech, he asked Premier Doug Ford to step up.

“It is the Veterans Memorial wall and a few words, letters, somehow, premier, on that side would be helpful to let all strangers know — when they appear and see this wall, they don’t know what it is,” he said.

“At the moment, it’s just a blank wall, but the premier is the kind of man who likes to get things done and I’m giving him another suggestion.”



Ford smiled and nodded.

Nearly 150,000 Allied troops stormed the French beaches on D-Day, including 14,000 Canadians. About 359 Canadians were killed that day and another 5,000 died in the ensuing months of battle.


Rohmer, a lawyer and prolific author, returned to Normandy this year for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. He was part of D-Day and played a critical role in Germany’s defeat.

In the lead up to the end of the war in 1945, Rohmer was an artillery specialist as a fighter pilot. One day, he had instructions to take out a key bridge held by the Germans in Holland with a “super heavy artillery gun,” he said.

As he zeroed in on a bridge on the Meuse River in Venlo, he took heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire.

“I was shot at a lot,” he said with a grin.

He pulverized the bridge.

“But I finally knocked the bridge down overnight and that was the last bridge that the Germans had to get out,” Rohmer said.

“So that caused the German army to ultimately surrender.”

Next May, Rohmer plans to return to the Netherlands, where he finished his tour of duty.

“I want to be there for May 5, the day the war stopped and Holland was liberated,” Rohmer said.
 
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spaminator

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Lest we forget Canada's history of slavery, settlement, discrimination
Sacrifice of Canadian troops came second on Remembrance Day at Old City Hall Cenotaph


Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Published Nov 11, 2024 • Last updated 2 days ago • 4 minute read

Lest we forget our fallen troops.

However, not until you are taught a lesson in past racism, land settlement and slavery.

Even on Remembrance Day at Toronto’s Cenotaph honouring the war fallen who gave Canada its freedoms, the event couldn’t begin without a reminder of what could perhaps be the reason you don’t see many people wearing poppies in 2024.

It took a while to get around to the sacrifice of Canadian troops. There were other matters to attend to first. Namely Canadians are “settlers” who engaged in “slavery” and “discrimination.”



As it said in the program, “MC Aretha Phillip, chief of protocol for the City of Toronto, brings remarks including the territorial land acknowledgment.”

It lasted three minutes.

“I would like to begin by acknowledging the Indigenous people of these lands,” Phillip said. “It’s important that we reaffirm our commitment and responsibility to improving relations between nations and learning about the rich history of this land to better understand our role as residents, neighbours, partners and caretakers in this place we each call home.”



“The City of Toronto acknowledges the land we are meeting on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit. We also acknowledge the Williams treaties, signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.

“The City of Toronto also acknowledges all treaty peoples including those who came here as settlers, as migrants either in this generation or generations past including those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly those brought to these lands as a result of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery. We pay tribute to ancestors of African origin and descent. In keeping with this tribute during this remembrance week, the city commemorated the contribution of No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canada’s only all-Black battalion. Despite facing discrimination, these brave men took up the call to serve during the First World War more than 100 years ago and we are joined today by their descendants.”


Phillip also said “our commemoration is a point of reflection on the past, providing context for the present challenges faced by Black communities and a hopeful future for all people of African descent.”

Spadina–Fort York Independent MP and naval reserve officer Kevin Vuong couldn’t believe his ears.

“This is the second Remembrance Day ceremony under Olivia Chow,” he said. “When my wife and I attended last year’s ceremony, we could not believe what we were hearing.



“Slavery was abolished in 1834, which was 33 years before Canada was even founded. Yet on a day that we were to honour our fallen, brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our country and the freedoms we enjoy today, our city’s leaders told us that we should be ashamed.

“They also disgracefully rushed through the wreath laying and had all elected and diplomatic officials go up at once instead of giving each of us the time to lay a wreath and pay our respects, as is tradition. I was hoping it was a one-time error, but it’s clear this is the new city policy. Under Olivia Chow, our once sacred traditions are being replaced by a radical ideology and self-flagellating narrative.”

The whole day across the country seemed to be filled with veiled and not-so-veiled shots at Canadiana.



As my colleague Warren Kinsella reported on X, there were masked pro-Palestine supporters who interrupted the ceremony in Kingston. As well, Ottawa-area MPP Lisa MacLeod reported that at Sir Robert Borden High School in the nation’s capital, they played a “song in Arabic which did not follow the Royal Canadian Legion protocol” and “distressed Jewish students.”

Kinsella called it “madness.”



Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow didn’t pull any of that kind of nonsense. The problem was it took at while to get to the elected chief magistrate because the unelected protocol person had the microphone for so long.

Chow also offered a shout-out to the non-combat construction battalion that certainly deserves a pat on the back for its contribution to helping win the First World War with the logs they cut and trenches they helped build.

“Their story,” Chow said, is a “powerful reminder of the resilience and strength that diversity bring to our armed forces … despite facing discrimination these brave men took up the call to serve.”


Chow also mentioned Toronto’s premier combat unit, the 48th Highlanders, those who stormed the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago and the service of those who served and died in Afghanistan — eight of whom were from Toronto including fallen Cpl. Matthew McCully, whose mother Valerie McGrady laid a wreath.

There were many emotional moments like that, including veteran military officer Adrienne Batra, the editor-in-chief at the Toronto Sun, also laying a wreath. Emily Cathcart brought a photo of the grandfather she never met, Lloyd Simpson, who worked on Morse code in England in the Second World War, and Michael Harrison, whose dad Ivor joined the navy from Belfast at 16 before coming to Canada after the war and staying here until his death in 2018 at the age of 89.

“My dad and I always came here on Remembrance Day,” said Harrison.

They still do.



But if you look at the crowds at these ceremonies now compared to the past, it’s clear interest in our fallen soldiers is depleting. On the way to this year’s ceremony at Old City Hall, I noticed on the roads and on trains and at Union Station how few people wear poppies.

“It’s sure not like it was in the 1950s,” said Don Cherry, who was fired from television for asking people to wear them.

Lest we forget? Seems many already have.
 
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Tecumsehsbones

Hall of Fame Member
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It is an unpleasant reality that in most countries, the army was used to enforce discriminatory, inhumane policies.

It should be mentioned at ceremonies and celebrations honouring servicepeople.

"Lest we forget" includes "lest we forget they were ordered to do some pretty shitty things, and did."

Down here in South Canada, it remains true that the most Medals of Honor (our highest decoration) ever given for a single action was the Battle (massacre) of Wounded Knee.

Lest we forget.
 

Retired_Can_Soldier

The End of the Dog is Coming!
Mar 19, 2006
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It's one day a year to honor our dead.
If the Palestinians or anyone else wants a day, they should talk to the alphabet folks about handing over one of the other 364 they have claimed as theirs.
 
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