Lest we forget Christmas

We shouldn’t have to delay decorating for the fact that we should be paying our respect year round.

Christmas decorations will be up soon if they aren’t already and people will still honour the veterans on Nov. 11, many of which include our very own relatives.

We don’t get mad at those who put up decorations for Halloween before Thanksgiving. We plan for numerous occasions months in advance, such as Valentine’s Day or Halloween. One can decorate for Canada day weeks or over a month in advance, but when it comes to Christmas decorations before Remembrance Day, it becomes an issue.

Christmas is one month and two weeks after Remembrance Day, and for some it is their favourite holiday.

Remembrance Day is no different. Although it is a day off of work or school for many, it is a day of remembering those who sacrificed their lives so we could have our freedoms today.

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Why would we take only one day out of the year to remember those who gave everything, and respect and remember them year round.

Our veterans fought for our freedom, and our respect.

Sometimes things are beyond our control, like working schedules or family members becoming ill.

People will celebrate Christmas early, but it doesn’t mean that they won’t pay respect to our veterans by going to a cenotaph or wearing a poppy.

Of course, there are people dead set against it.

An anonymous source, believes it’s to each their own, but wouldn’t decorate until after Nov. 11.

“It just feels wrong. Like our soldiers fought for our freedoms with blood and guts, it just feels they deserve more respect that’s all,” said the source.

One of the biggest questions raised is what were the veterans fighting for? They fought for our freedom.

Keira Meldrum has family that served overseas and still continues to do so.

“There can be holly on your door and a poppy on your chest. You can sing Jingle Bells as you drive to the cenotaph on November 11th. You can do any of that because Canada is a free nation thanks to their sacrifice. Lest we forget,” said Meldrum.

“I won’t think less of you for decorating for Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate around that time, Nov. 1st or sooner. Why? Because we all have our favourite holidays,” said Meldrum.

If you truly care about veterans, then you’ll wear a poppy, go to the cenotaph and thank those remaining who sacrificed. Pay your respects by actually thanking those who fought. Not by paying your respect by treating it as just another day off, sitting in front of the television or lounging about in bed.

Get up and thank a veteran, thank those who are still fighting in combat overseas. Respect and thank our veterans every day of the year, not just the one. They fought for us for days on end, in brutal conditions. It wouldn’t be right to thank them just one day of the year.

Don’t get upset over people who also love other holidays that still have months to come.

What truly matters is that we don’t forget about those who so valiantly fought in the war so that we could have and continue to have the freedoms that we have today. Lest we forget.

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Authors

Kayla has always had a passion and an interest in radio and journalism from a young age. Her future aspirations include working across North America as well as overseas. She is currently in her second year of Digital Communications and Media at Lethbridge College with a focus on Digital Journalism. Her keen interest in writing and public speaking stems from the age of seven when she joined her local 4-H club. During her 11 years in 4-H, she competed in many public speaking events, including a provincial competition in her home province of British Columbia. In her spare time, Kayla likes to go out hunting, camping and be out in the backwoods in her hometown of Jaffray.

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