Fix them so they won’t fall out?
These wiley old guys were the same ones who defeated Hitler. You didn’t think they were stupid, did you?
Fix them so they won’t fall out?
These wiley old guys were the same ones who defeated Hitler. You didn’t think they were stupid, did you?
In Holland each student is assigned a Canadian Soldiers Grave, They are to maintain it with flower’s, keep it neat & tidy etc…
When I was our branches Youth & Education Officer I showed a video to the teachers in my area that were in charge of the Remeberance Posters & Poems for their respective school to be submitted, This was produced by the Royal Canadian Legion. The Video subject was on how the Dutch kids look after the graves,
When the video was over i did not see a dry eye including mine.
“Every year we are losing more & more Vets that have served to protect freedom and every year we see more & more of that nonsense.”
This from the London Free Press today from an article entitled Thank You Very Much :
“On average, about 500 Second World War veterans in Canada die each week, Diamond said.”
I seen the article sitting on a table in a coffee shop this morning, with a picture of a young girl
crying and getting a hug from a vet speaking at her school.
The web version doesn’t do it justice.
Exile, I guess she gets the gist of remembrance day, and let the humility overflow ?
“How Many Poppies Have You Bought?” Not nearly enough.
For heaven’s sake, Laura, of course those that fall off don’t represent the fallen. I just thought those who keep losing theirs might feel better.
I personally use the flag pin when I really want it to stay on.
Speaking of the fallen ones, I visited WWI and WWII cemeteries last fall. When you see the thousands of grave markers, as well as the memorials to those with no known grave, you might realize that several hundred people could lose their poppies every year and never represent them all.
“Exile” is an idiot and a tool.
I’m not that old, but I am surprised that I am the only one here that remembers the phrase “never again”. I remember that specifically.
Displaying the red poppy doesn’t just commemorate our war dead but also the commitment to never again allow the circumstances of their sacrifice.
It’s much more a peace symbol than the soft-mouthed platitudes of the “peace” movements that dot the political landscape now. It’s a pledge of peace forged in a furnace of the bones of the dead. It says, we will buy our peace with blood if need be. It says, I am SO committed to peace that I would give my life for it, as so many did. Throw our own bodies on the pyre of peace to keep it burning.
Wear a red poppy? You are commited to lasting peace and are helping back it up.
Wear a white poppy? You want something you aren’t willing to pay for.
One of my Grandfathers was mustard gassed in the trenches of Belgium during WWI, the other served in WWII. Both were very reluctant to talk about their tours because they wanted to spare us the horror that they endured.
I try to keep my poppies by using a bit of tape on the end, but always drop a toonie in the bin when I go to a store. If we take fewer poppies while giving a bit more, the profit per unit increases.
Another thing we can do is join our local Legion. You don’t have to go, even though you can have a nice time. It’s a great way to feel connected to those we love who are gone now.
Plus, it demonstrates to the younger generations that we REMEMBER! Maybe they will remember us.
Sean P., what you said is beautiful. Peace is not free. If we’re not willing to die for it, we won’t have it.
That’s far too simple for some people to understand.
God bless our vets and our fighting men and women.
P.S. I always buy LOTS of poppies every year, even though I have a collection on my bulletin board. It’s the least I can do. Then I wear them with pride. (I also tell the vets who are selling them how grateful I am.)
“Sean P., what you said is beautiful. Peace is not free. If we’re not willing to die for it, we won’t have it.”
Freedom isn’t free.
No, there’s a heavy f***in fee,
And if you don’t throw in your buck ‘o five
Who will?
Early this morning I went into a Second Cup for a coffee, and placed by the till was a poppy donation box. Imediately I looked down and realized mine was missing. Damn, it’s on yesterdays coat. So while fishing in my pockets for more change, I noticed that none of the employees were wearing a poppy. Without saying a word I pulled a ten out, donated it and grabbed a handfull of poppies. I quietly passed one to each of the ladies behind the counter and two to the couple lined behind me. Two people thanked me, the rest kinda stood there. To this minute I don’t know what made me do it… but I might do it again tomorrow.
My children and I wear poppies held in place with the ‘poppy pin’ sold by our legion here. For me it is a safety issue for the children. We wear our poppies in remembrance of those who have fought and died for our freedom and those who servem fight and die now. We wear a poppy for my husband, their father, who was killed while serving here, on Canada’s soil.
Today I attended my daughters’ school’s service and the Padre addressed the students wonderfully and brought the meaning of Remembrance Day full circle… the past, the present and the future.
Here is a poem that was read at the first presentation of my late husband’s memorial award at his high school.
It Is the Soldier
by Father Dennis Edward O’Brien United States Marine Corps
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.
Yea, Bruce!!
Amen, Belinda.
And may God grant rest eternal unto your husband, and may light perpetual shine upon him.
God bless you and your family.
As a former member of the RCAF (Before Trudeau kicked our Rs) and a Legion member for many years I can tell those who lose their Poppies and havent the change for another, would go to a Veteran tending a table in a mall, explain what happened, that veteran will give you another. I am very sure of this.
Yo Exile
Its remembrance day,the popy is a symbol to remember those that died ,so you and I can argue your worthless views in English instead of German.
And thanks Belinda nice
That’s a great idea Bruce. There’s a few people I’d like to help stick them in, I mean on, too.
I haven’t lost a poppy in years, I once saw a vet selling his poppies with a poppy pinned to his lapel using a small Maple leaf pin like the kind the canadian government give away. I thought what a good idea, and sought out the same type of pin and use that instead of the standard stick pin that they come with. I buy a new poppy every year, and I don’t stab myself anymore. I’m not old enough to still have a poppy with the green centre, but I remember them from when I was small.
The poppy is an important symbol, and dispite what we may think, the white poppy has been around in England as a smybol of peace for 75 years. Both can stand together without a problem. Personally, I perfer the red and believe that the Veterans stand for something. To me Nov. 11th is about saluting the fallen soldiers and what they gave us. It’s not political … In a nutshell it’s Belinda’s peom … well said.
RED REMEMBERED
Looking back to yesterday
Why we have a right to say
The right, left and the flip floppies
Shouldn’t need question the color of poppies
Facing horror, greed and hate from oppressive foes
Our soldiers marched early into eternity where everyone goes
White wins defeat and freedom’s slip
Accepts enslaved injustice from a tyrant’s whip
Freedom’s defense was the duty of our honorable dead
The least the living can do is remember the color they bled
RED REMEMBERED
Looking back to yesterday
Why we have a right to say
The right, left and the flip floppies
Shouldn’t need question the color of poppies
Facing horror, greed and hate from oppressive foes
Our soldiers marched early into eternity where everyone goes
White wins defeat and freedom’s slip
Accepts enslaved injustice from a tyrant’s whip
Freedom’s defense was the duty of our honorable dead
The least the living can do is remember the color they bled
RED REMEMBERED
Looking back to yesterday
Why we have a right to say
The right, left and the flip floppies
Shouldn’t need question the color of poppies
Facing horror, greed and hate from oppressive foes
They marched early into eternity where everyone goes
White wins defeat and freedom’s slip
Accepts enslaved injustice from a tyrant’s whip
Freedom’s defense was the duty of our honorable dead
The least the living can do is remember the color they bled
Today, at a longterm care center, the grades 3-4 visited. They had red, green, @ black construction paper, and made poppies for everyone. The put masking tape on the back. They heard stories from vets and others. All residents and staff got a poppy. Some students brought pics of relatives who had served and died. Today, the Lethbridge Herald had a 28 page supplement, with the photos of all those that enlisted from surrounding area, along with the units they served with. They do this every year, and every year I read them all. Some were my neighbors over the years, others are names I know, and I am always amazed at how young they were, (and good looking). Many came back, and many never. Tomorrow, I will attend a Remembrance Day Service at the elementary school. In Calgary a group of young students visited the Field of Honor at a local cemetary, with vets present, and placed a canadian flag on every grave. I do think the young people are beginning to pay more attention to Nov 11, and why we celebrate.
I just saw an incredible story on TV about a 105 year old woman who still has her poppy that her dad gave to her from Flanders…she had it encased in glass, sealed with silver and pin-backed, and wears it proudly ever Nov.11th! …..imagine..a poppy that grew on the fields of Flanders, picked in 1918…still bearing witness to Canada’s sacrifice and duty..incredible..
I must be a glutton for punishment, but here goes…
I don’t think exile is evil or communist or stupid or anything of the sort (based only on what has been said in this thread, that is). I just think he/she is misinterpreting the situation.
Politicians start the wars…and soldiers are REQUIRED TO FIGHT THEM…whether the war is right, wrong or indifferent. By wearing a poppy and attending the services, you are honouring THE SOLDIERS and their faithful service to the PEOPLE OF CANADA…we are NOT honouring the WAR.
Politicians who will attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies will try to politicize the situation so that they can supposedly score some points with the electorate, perhaps saying that the wars were honourable and just. That is just so much smoke being blown up your arse.
If you don’t like what appears to be the politicization of the poppy and Remembrance Day by someone, then TAKE A STAND and FIGHT IT by speaking out against them!
As an analogy, Christmas has become commercialized and is barely related to its original intent anymore…if you were a Christian, would you stop honouring Christ simply because of how some have distorted the spirit of Christmas? Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!
Remembrance Day is NOT political, though some may try to use it that way…Remembrance Day is for remembering those who fought and died for US. Period. Full stop.
Got it now?
Thanks Hassle. Isn’t it amazing that the kids understand Remembrance Day, yet many adults don’t?
“Yes, it is not as wildly recognized in the US but it appears they respect it as much as we do.”
Uh, you see poppies everywhere on Veterans Day here. I suspect your passenger was just drunk.
I have never seen this white poppy phenomenon down here. I hope I don’t. But if I see one, now I’ll know what it is.
“Politicians who will attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies will try to politicize the situation so that they can supposedly score some points with the electorate, perhaps saying that the wars were honourable and just. That is just so much smoke being blown up your arse.
If you don’t like what appears to be the politicization of the poppy and Remembrance Day by someone, then TAKE A STAND and FIGHT IT by speaking out against them!”
Thank-you, Hassle, for listening to what I was saying. I’ll return the favour: You make a good point and I think your Christmas analogy is very good.
I know that the Legion has the “rights” to the Poppy and I accept that. However, I have a problem with those who say it is not “proper’ to secure your poppy with a “canadian flag” pin in the centre to secure it. What better anchor for that symbol of bravery and sacrifice? I have seen many wear this symbol of sacrifice in this manner and consider it quite appropriate.
“I don’t think exile is evil or communist or stupid or anything of the sort (based only on what has been said in this thread, that is). I just think he/she is misinterpreting the situation.”
Anyone who believes that hundreds of thousands of Canadians volunteered to risk their lives for political reasons is more than just “misinterpreting the situation”. I read about the conditions that these poor SOB’s went through and it makes our sacrifices today seem like nothing in comparison. For instance, I can’t fathom losing a quarter of my friends to disease simply due to bad weather and poor sanitation. Charging machinegun nests by simply walking towards them in extended line. Living for years in a hole in the ground, with only a blanket to cover yourself with at night time, and 3 meals a day consisting of a chunk of unidentifiable meat, possibly some cheese, hard bread, and a cup of weak alcohol. So I read about these things…and then have some idiot come along and try to tell me that these men were simply there to help expand an empire. Sorry bub, I aint buyin’ it. Canada had no real army at the time. These regiments were formed by rich landowners and influential men, who payed the majority of costs out of their own pockets. The men who served in them were volunteers who believed that they were serving their nation, and keeping their countrymen safe. You can quote all the modern “peace” rhetoric you want, but it doesn’t change the facts. These men lived and died so that you could live the life which you enjoy today. Politics has nothing to do with it.