It seems almost clichéd with each Nov. 11, an editorial writer reminds readers to take a moment to mark Remembrance Day.
It is after all a day which dates back officially to 1931, and of course marks a truly historic day, with Nov. 11 being the anniversary of the Armistice agreement, on Nov.11, 1918, that ended the First World War.
Even prior to that our military fallen were remembered each year. Before the Great War, Canadians honoured their overseas war dead on Paardeberg Day, (Feb. 27), the annual anniversary of the Battle of Paardeberg in 1900, during the South African War, Canada’s first foreign military victory.
The relevance of remembering those who have sacrificed so much as members of the Canadian military, both in times of war, and through peacetime efforts, of course remains important, maybe now more than usual.
A key element of remembrance is the simple term ‘Lest we Forget’.
According to Wikipedia; “the phrase ‘Lest we forget’ is commonly used in war remembrance services and commemorative occasions in English speaking countries, in particular Remembrance Day and ANZAC Day. Before the term was used in reference to soldiers and war, it was first used in a 1897 Christian poem written by Rudyard Kipling called ‘Recessional’. The phrase occurs eight times; and is repeated at the end of the first four stanzas in order to add particular emphasis regarding the dangers of failing to remember.”
The emphasis regarding the dangers of failing to remember is paramount to our current time.
Tensions between the United States and North Korea are high, with both sides rattling sabres which threaten war. Many support a military solution to the threat of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and his country’s continued testing of their nuclear capabilities.
For those thinking military actions should be so easily bandied about as a solution should do a search on the Internet for photographs of the devastation after the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the Second World War. The phrase ‘lest we forget’ quickly comes to mind when viewing the stark images.
In the United States, one of our key allies, non-violent protests by professional football players kneeling through the national anthem has galvanized a nation with President Donald Trump wading into the debate like a proverbial bull in the China Shop.
What is being lost in the fist thumping is that soldiers in the U.S., and here in Canada, have died by the thousands to ensure we still live in a world where we can worship as we see fit, where we can peacefully protest in support of our views.
Again, lest we forget comes to mind, for if we forget we may lose what so many died to protect.
That is why Remembrance Day is so important, to remember our fallen soldiers, and what they died for.
And to learn from the tragedies of war so we can work diligently not to go down that path again unless as a last resort.
