[Hime Themis]

Gentle Persons

Today at 11am I shall be standing at our national cenotaph observing what in Canada we refer to as Remembrance Day. To all who have served their countries in all wars my thanks for your sacrifice and prayers that we may eventually learn that what you have endured should not be repeated.

Respectfully
With Prayer.
Squire Hime Themis

For those who do not know our traditions.

http://remember.sympatico.ca/


LEST WE FORGET
We Remember

By John McCrae (1915)
The Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.




Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day
The first Thanksgiving Day in Canada after Confederation was observed on April 15, 1872, to celebrate the recovery of The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness.

No record is found of a Thanksgiving Day between 1872 and 1879.

From 1879 to 1898, both inclusive, it was observed on a Thursday in November. In 1899, it was fixed on a Thursday in October, where it stayed until 1907, with the exception of 1901 and 1904 when the date was fixed on a Thursday in November.

From 1908 to 1921, it was observed on a Monday in October, the exact date being appointed by proclamation.

From 1921 to 1930, the Armistice Day Act provided that Thanksgiving would be observed on Armistice Day, which was fixed by statute on the Monday of the week in which November 11 fell.

In 1931, Parliament adopted an Act to amend the Armistice Day Act, providing that the day should be observed on November 11 and that the day should be known as "Remembrance Day".

Accordingly, the old practice was resumed of fixing Thanksgiving Day by proclamation, and it has been since 1931 on the second Monday of October, with the exception of 1935 where, after Thanksgiving Day had been fixed on October 14, it was decided to hold the general election on that date. A new proclamation was issued deferring the observance to October 24, a Thursday. This resulted in a great deal of controversy and the practice of observance on a Thursday was not pursued in future years.

From 1936 to 1956, inclusive, a proclamation was issued yearly to appoint the second Monday of October as Thanksgiving Day. In 1957, a proclamation was issued fixing permanently Thanksgiving Day on that day, thus eliminating the necessity of an annual proclamation.

Prior to 1867, there had been proclamations issued in Canada, the first one recorded being for 1799. The following is a list of the dates of the proclamations and observance of General Thanksgiving Days, and reasons therefore.

Poppies

Wreaths of artificial poppies used as a symbol of remembrance.
Poppies are sold every year as an act of remembrance to fallen soldiers at war.The poppy's significance to Remembrance Day is a result of Canadian military physician John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields. The poppy emblem was chosen because of the poppies that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their red colour an appropriate symbol for the bloodshed of trench warfare. A Frenchwoman, Anna E. Guérin, introduced the widely used artificial poppies given out today. Some people choose to wear white poppies, which emphasises a desire for peaceful alternatives to military action.

The Royal Canadian Legion suggests that poppies be worn on the left lapel, or as close to the heart as possible.[22]


Canada
In Canada, the poppy is worn by many members of society during the two weeks prior to November 11.

The Canadian poppies consist of two pieces of moulded plastic covered with flocking with a pin to attach them to clothing. The head portion of the pin is bent at an angle in a simple unusual design that requires a unique machine at manufacturing. Originally the poppies were manufactured with a black centre. From 1980 to 2002 the centres were changed to green to represent the green hills of Flanders. Current designs are black only; this reversion caused notable confusion and controversy to those unfamiliar with the original design.[23] Until 1996, poppies were made by disabled veterans in Canada, but they have since been made by a private contractor.[24]


LEST WE FORGET

[Comrade Yev]

Repeat topic is repeated.

[Hime Themis]

Gentle Persons

I am sorry I was unaware that a post on our Canadian Traditions had previously been posted. Would you be kind enough to post the link please.

Respectfully
Squire Hime Themis

This post has been edited by Hime Themis: 11 November 2008 - 08:47 AM

[Comrade Yev]

http://forums.cybern...showtopic=39018

[Hime Themis]

Good Comrade Yev

I have read that post it is a recalling of Canada's Involvement in WWI.Rememberance Day in Canada pre-dates that and celebrates the sacrifices of our troops and peacekeepers to this day. Please read both posts as they contain a large amount of different information so all may learn.

Respectfully
Squire Hime Themis

This post has been edited by Hime Themis: 11 November 2008 - 09:19 AM

[Squiggers]

On a side note, this seems very accurate to me:





Remember those that were lost. If we do not, their sacrifice will have been in vain.

[Hime Themis]

Noble Squiggers

What a powerful image. I thank you for the reminder of those lost most recently and what the served for.

Respectfully
Squire Hime Themis

[danizduhman]

That is an interesting cartoon. Makes you think.

[Squiggers]

Aye, it sure as hell made me think.

For one, and i'm not ashamed to admit it, it made me well up a bit.

[Kaiser Frederick II]

Lest we forget.

[Squiggers]

Oh, plus they came up with another sequence today.

Makes a change to previous years where he only did the one day strip...