Remembrance Day
Celebrating those who have bravely died and honoring those who still keep fighting, Remembrance Day both celebrates and mourns the ending of World War. Always held on November 11, the day marks the ending of World War, which ironically ended on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month. Remembrance day is respected all throughout North America and, like the name suggests, it marks the day when we annually take the time to remember the brave soldiers who died during World War I, World War II and the Korean War which were fought by many brave men and women. Its symbol, worn on every Remembrance Day, is a poppy with blood stained petals and an onyx coloured center. Recognized worldwide, it is instantly associated with both November 11 and the famous poem by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor who wrote the poem in honor of his friend and because of the way the barren field that the troops were staying on burst into a sea of red poppies after the battle. His poem has become a national anthem of Remembrance Day and even today it is still sung at every Remembrance memorial where both citizens and war veterans stand proudly and humbly as they remember the precious lives taken during the wars.
Remembrance Day, to me, is a very special and grave time where one stops to remember the reason why we got our freedom. It’s a time of honouring, crying, mourning, remembering and proudly standing tall. Where families remember relatives, friends remember friends, and a generation to rediscover why we stand here today. However while I would like to say that I’ve always known about Remembrance Day and have always celebrated it, I can’t. South Africa doesn’t celebrate Remembrance Day. In fact, we don’t even know what it is. The first time I learned of Remembrance day was when I was six and attended a school assembly to celebrate it. It was my first year in Canada and I didn’t really know much. The assembly started with a movie and half way through I turned around to my friend and said, I can still remember this, “this is sooo cool!” My friend was not impressed. He told me it wasn’t and that I shouldn’t be saying things like that. Needless to say my perspective on the world got wildly rearranged. For one, I began to understand the real meaning of Remembrance Day. It wasn’t just another history day. It was a day where we gave thanks and showed gratitude towards the soldiers that secured our freedom and for the soldiers that are still trying to secure freedom for others. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit, but it took me years to finally understand Remembrance Day’s importance. Now whenever the guns are shot and we bow our heads to in silence, I proudly take part without confusion or hesitation. Whenever someone else starts laughing or talking during the memorial I glare at them to be quiet. Yes, I’m not a descendant of war but that doesn’t mean I still can’t pay respect to everyone else who is.
