On the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month - We Will Remember!

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month, we will Remember - the fallen, the living and the serving members of our Armed Forces.


Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae MD penned the poem 'In Flanders Fields', following the death of one of his colleagues.  He noticed how Poppies thrived on the graves of the dead.  During a time of reflection, sitting and waiting for the next casualties, he let his thoughts flow.  Later he would discard the poem, but, it was retrieved by another colleague and eventually first published in the Punch in December 1915.  Poppies would become the symbol of remembrance that continues to this day.

In Canada, Poppies are released on the last Friday of October and can be worn until the end of the Remembrance Day Ceremonies on November 11th.  Buy your Poppy from any of the Royal Canadian Legion members or their designates who will be out in force to sell their poppies leading up to Remembrance Day. If you wear it on a lapel, where it on your left lapel, close to your heart.  

Although some wear their Poppies year round, the Royal Canadian Legion has a protocol list of commemorative events where the Poppy may be worn, they include; 

Battle of the Atlantic, 

the Battle of Britain, 

a memorial service at a Legion Convention and other similar occasions. 

The Poppy may also be worn by Colour Parties when on parade and by members attending funeral services for Veterans or Ordinary members.

Whether you're from Canada or not, loss is loss.  We should all remember those who did what so many of us think we could never have done; have gone where we would not want to go, have seen things we hope we will never see and done things we hope we never have to do.   Yes, they have lost too!  But, their losses, if not physical, are invisible and live on in their mind and soul.  So, before we think they're the lucky ones, we would do well to remember - they too have lost!

On November 11th don't let the call to remembrance of sacrifices go unheeded. For everyone who lost, we pray,...

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!