Remembrance Day has been a proud Canadian tradition ever since the end of the First World War in 1918.  Another tradition is reading the poem In Flanders Fields, written by Canadian Lieutenant John McCrae, or listening to the bugling of the Last Post. We may have been a young nation but we rose to any military challenge.

Picture trudging your feet through wet sand while frigid water laps against your waist on Juno beach all while bullets are whizzing past your head. Now imagine if you fail, your country and its people are at stake. In the First World War 66,665 Canadian soldiers lost their lives and 46, 998 were killed in the Second World War.

The last Canadian veteran from the First World War died in 2010. It almost feels as if we lost part of our history. Some wonder if Remembrance Day will continue and if it will be relevant to younger generations.  

We say yes, this day will be upheld especially now when we have younger veterans from the conflict in Afghanistan.

Young people today see Remembrance Day as a holiday, or an hour assembly spent listening veterans talk about their experiences. They may see someone at the mall with a donation box and poppies but are unaware of the significance of the wars or what was at stake.

We have a proud military history. Canada’s war efforts are absent in many movies and books. We need to educate younger generations so they know about our country’s role in these conflicts.

Honour our veterans and if you meet one say thank you. Their sacrifices are the reason we have the freedoms we enjoy today.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a moment of silence will be held across Canada to remember our veterans and the sacrifices they made for our nation.

Attend an event or watch one on TV.  Wear a poppy: whose bright red colour symbolizes the blood spilled on the battlefield. Remembering these wars and the sacrifices, we may be able to avoid future conflict.