Discussions

November 11th is Remembrance Day, Will you Remember all those who have served, defended, paid the ultimate price or have been forever changed representing Canada. Or will have you been caught up in all the commercialization that has seem to have taken over.  
Reports say less people now truly understand the meaning behind November 11th. It seems to be all about the money instead of what matters the most.  
 
It was originally called “Armistice Day” to commemorate armistice agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.—on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. From 1921 to 1930, Armistice Day was held on the Monday of the week in which November 11 fell.  
 
Armistice Day is on 11 November. It's also known as Remembrance Day. A two minute silence is observed at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month because this is when World War I, or the Great War, ended in 1918. But now, this anniversary is used to remember all the people who've died in wars since World War I.  
 
Myself personally I take the time to Remember in my own way, my family like many have been affected by a member that served. How will you Remember?  
 

I have been attending the service in Portage every year since 1996. This year is more special as I'll be sharing it for the first time with my daughter. My brother was a soldier and passed away in 96, between my mother (who sometimes goes to the big Winnipeg one), one other lady and I we lay the silver cross mother wreath there

Can you clarify 'the commercialization which seems to have taken over"?

I think it's safe to say that "the commercialization which seems to have taken over" refers to the fact that we've gone from a time when only necessities could be purchased on Remembrance Day, to now, when shopping is pretty much wide open on Remembrance Day.  
 
I believe that this has changed the atmosphere of the day from being like no other day of the year, to one very much like most other days.

From the time I was very young I always took an interest in people. That interest in people gave me the chance to talk to people who had been affected by war, some of them had even fought in WWI, more had fought in WWII and some in Korea, there were also talks with families that had been affected by war. Very seldom did anyone really come out and talk of the horrors of war, although at times there would be very short stories about things that happened during the fighting and the pauses after these stories sort of reflected the hurt and pain that had left it's mark on these people. The same could be said when at district events and the generation before me would reminisce of picnics and dances where so and so had put on a show or was really outstanding at a sport, and once again there would be a pause, and you realized that they were talking of someone who had not come back from war. There was the odd time where you might be talking to a person and on that day they were remembering the loss of someone close like a family member, and that was where it seemed the pain was the greatest, or maybe could be felt the most.  
 
I will remember like I always do, I will not go to a service, I will stop work shortly before 11 and put the radio on and listen to a service that way, and during the moment of silence I will think of all the pain and suffering and death that all wars bring and then I will return to work.  
 
Maybe time has played tricks with my memory, but when I think back to when I was young and in school, I cannot remember Nov. 11th being a holiday, I can remember the chairs being set up in the gymnasium and the service being held at 11 and the n returning to class after the noon hour, and for some reason it sticks in my mind that the world and business returned to normal after the service, except for maybe some of the vets who stay at the legion to reminisce.  
 
Time does affect the pain and loss and even how this day is viewed, with each passing year the people who have been directly affected by war declines, and even for myself I have those memories of seeing the pain and hurt in people's faces, but that is not something that one can pass on, and maybe that is why so many people just look at it as a holiday, the heartfelt connection to the loss and pain and even the horror of war is being lost by many in the general public.  
 
If nothing else remember these words for they are forever true "lest we forget".

Heritage said "Can you clarify 'the commercialization which seems to have taken over"? "

Join us in a moment of social silence on #RemembranceDay to honour our veterans. #TakePause https://t.co/nPYzIockp6

&mdash: BMO (@BMO) November 10, 2015

 
 
"On November 11 at 11am, join us in a moment of social silence to honour these brave men and women. That means no status updates. No re-tweeting. No nothing.  
 
On behalf of all those who participate, BMO will be giving $50,000 to The Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command Poppy Trust Fund."  
 
We will post this one-time message to your account on  
November 11 at 11:00AM EST. >:>:>: “I took a moment of social silence at 11am to honour our veterans. #TakePause #RemembranceDay http://thndr.me/9hgACS”  
 
BMO has their branding all over it. :/

Go out of your way to find or notice a Veteran of War  
and give that person a Hug.  
 
They need that.  
They need to know that they are not forgotten  
or in any way disrespected.  
 
The war machine gets a lot more negative attention not.  
Those powerful forces take a ton of money and waste it on War.  
 
Many of these vets who survived lost everything back then.  
Many of the WW1 and WW11 vets are all gone but some are still alive.  
They did not realize it the time, the nature of the beast.  
 
There was not very much intelligence used at the time.  
Hitler had financial backing from USA businesses, like Ford.  
USA did not go into that war to stop Hitler and the Nazis.  
 
Canada certainly went into it. Same with Afghanistan and other wars.....  
As for this day, many vets came home a bit smarter than they were when they left.  
They will need a hug.