Sometimes writing an editorial seems to be a repetitive exercise since issues and events tend to repeat themselves year-after-year.
But in some cases providing a gentle reminder is simply too important not to return to a common theme.
Such is certainly the case with Remembrance Day on Friday.
While there are a number of days each year to be marked by particular groups within society, Christmas to Christians, Diwali of Hindus, etc, few should be of greater importance to all Canadians than Remembrance Day.
Our country is what it is today in large part because of the sacrifices of those in the Armed Forces throughout conflicts dating back to World War I.
It does not take more than a look back into the history books to realize how different our world and our Canada might be today, had Allied forces lost either of the great wars.
One shudders to think of the hatred that would have spread across the world had the Hitler-led German forces won World War II. The horror of the concentration camps liberated by Allied forces is testament to what might have spread via a larger and more powerful German-led coalition post the war.
Hundreds of thousands of Canadians volunteered to fight to protect the world from Nazism, thousands dying anonymous deaths on battlefields across Europe, many still lying in unmarked graves.
Their sacrifices protected democracy, and we have that today because of their efforts.
That is why we still have the right to decide who will sit in Parliament in Ottawa, sit in provincial legislatures across the country, or even voting on municipal elections, like we did here in our city recently.
Increasingly those who served in the great wars are passing on. Their numbers dwindle year after year.
The situation makes it even more important that as a community, not just of Yorkton, but of Canada, take time each Nov. 11, to remember those who helped lay the foundation for our country.
We have a country that has its issues, but one that should also be proud of the tolerance and fairness we have fostered in part because we have had the freedom to do so.
So Friday, don’t sleep in late just because it is a day off. Get up and head down to the Gallagher Centre to remember those who served so bravely on our behalf. It is something we can each do to say thanks to those so deserving of it.
