Lest we forget

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause in memory of the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives in military service.

Two minutes before the armistice went into effect, at 10:58 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918, Pte. George Lawrence Price was felled by a bullet. Price would become the last Allied soldier — and the last of more than 66,000 Canadians — to be killed in the First World War.

They died fighting at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Passchendaele and Ypres — battles remembered for atrocious conditions and Canadian valour. In Ypres, Canadian soldiers were exposed to German gas attacks, yet continued to fight, showing amazing tenacity and courage in the face of danger.

In many ways, the identity of the young country was forged on those bloody battlefields.

A total of 619,636 Canadians had served during the war, beginning in 1914. As of November 2009, only one veteran was still alive: John Babcock, 109, who was born on an Ontario farm and now lives in the United States.

Lest we forget our comrades that continue to serve

nothing more to say, but let's keep it at the top.

For all those who fought and died so Canada could remain free, and to those who continue to fight and die, a grateful nation salutes and honours you!

R.I.P
Edward Walter Pollard
who was my Grandfather, Who died March 26, 1945, during a bombing mission over the Andaman Sea defending Canada from the Japanese.

LEST WE FORGET

Twenty percent is so much better than seventy percent, but the loss of even one of this gallant band is a loss to all decent humanity everywhere. And besides, if the person killed in action is you, or the one you love, then the odds are one hundred percent in this case. They knew that, these great crusaders, but they went anyway. Too many of them are now with God.

We may never see their like again.

- Allied Supreme Commander General Dwight David Eisenhower, on hearing that the casualties on D-Day were much lower than initially projected

In 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.

- John McCrae

Sometimes, people get their priorities screwed up...

Bless them all, they gave what they had and diddn't doubt what they were doing it for.

I have to add that I'm thouroughly disgusted these days witht he lack of caring and even the ammount of people I see everyday NOT bothering to even do so much as wear a poppy.

I feel lucky to be part of the CKA community where we may not always agree but we always remember.