Red, like the poppy
November 14, 2005
By Cam Tait
He was wearing a red toque Friday. Red gloves covered his clapping hands as he stood in front of the line. He had a genuine look of appreciation, of respect, of some kind of understanding. Men, some seven or eight times his age, walked by in formation...something they were taught decades ago and will never forget. After the ceremonies ended in Ottawa, with the Parliament buildings in the background and the War Memorial also in view, the young boy probably joined his family and friends, perhaps for lunch at their favourite fast food joint.
The young boy in the red toque and the red gloves was a representation of Canadian youth who had the day away off school last Friday. It was a national holiday: Remembrance Day, a day when we set aside time and thoughts of those 117,000 Canadians who gave the supreme sacrifice so that we can have the lives we enjoy today. As the years pass, concern has surfaced that we are going to forget about our veterans. A report came out last week suggesting that 50% of Canadians were going to a Remembrance Day ceremony. Sadly, the other half said they had other things to do.
Interesting, isn't it? We live in a country where we can choose any career we want and any recreational activity. We have that luxury. And we all know why we have that luxury: because people fought to preserve our way of life.
I find that figure of 50% interesting on several levels. Surely, technology has to be a factor. People get their information through several mediums. Television, the Internet, newspapers, and more. We also must consider that time is not on our side and we are losing more veterans every year. Moreover, the older generation is slowing down and aren't as mobile as they once were. Getting from the kitchen to the living room may be a great effort now, never mind making one's way through a crowded public place on a cool November morning.
I want to give people the benefit of the doubt here. Even though numbers might suggest people aren't attending the Remembrance Day ceremonies like they used to, I really believe people are still taking a moment to reflect and give thanks for our Canadian veterans and all they went through. We would be living in a somewhat cold and thankless society if we did otherwise.
The key is to keep their stories alive long after they have left us. It's a challenge we all must embrace and take action on. The torch has been given to us, with great trust, and it is our national duty to carry it with pride and understanding.
Some of the greatest stories we tell are about people whose names we don't know and will never know. We've seen pictures of our Canadian forces at harbours and airfields, waving goodbye to loved ones as they leave on missions overseas. We see those faces - some smiling, others weeping - and marvel at the courage and conviction they have, so that we can live a life full of freedom and potential. Like the young boy clad in red last Friday morning, we may never know their names. But we share the same heartfelt hope: that they come back.
Cam Tait is a sports reporter and columnist for the Edmonton Journal. He covered community investments and volunteers for 19 years. E-mail Cam at cam@charityvillage.com with thoughts, suggestions or ideas.
Opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of CharityVillage.com®.
