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| Rememberance Day In Canada; November 11th | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 8 2004, 09:44 AM (297 Views) | |
| brewster | Nov 8 2004, 09:44 AM Post #1 |
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Winemaker Extraordinaire
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I originally posted this last year in ATC, so some of you may have see it there. I apologize for that, but I think it's important that Canadians remember... I just returned from a Remembrance Day Service here in my little town of High River - It was a very moving experience. We Canadians don't wear our patriotism on our sleeves like Americans do, and I think it's often to our detriment. I would like to share some of our moments for which we can be most proud... ( This is more for other Canadians to remember, but Americans are most welcome to listen in...) World War I: The battle of Vimy Ridge; (1917) Vimy Ridge had been fought over by the British and the French since 1914, with no gains at all. In 1917, the Canadians (fighting for the first time ever as a single, strictly Canadian unit) broke through and captured the ridge, the first major, permanent break in the interminable trench warfare. The Battle of Amiens; (August 8, 1918) The Canadians totally destroyed the Germans at Amiens, a battle which German General Ludendorff said was "The Blackest day in the history of the German Army." This was the beginning of the end of WWI, as in the next 100 days, under General Currie, the Canadians led an Allied assault which captured 500 sq miles (in a war when ten yards was celebrated) 228 cities, towns and villages, 31,000 prisoners, 570 heavy field guns, 1000's of machine guns and mortars, and destroyed 50 German divisions (1/4 of Germany's entire Western Front). World War II: The Battle of the Atlantic; (All through the war) Beginning in 1939, Canadian Destroyers and Corvettes continuously patrolled the North Atlantic. Particularly before the Americans joined, and while the Brits had a little party of their own called the Battle of Britain, Canadians were a very large part of the Convoy Shield, to the extent that at the end of WWII, Canada had the third largest Navy in the world. (Kinda sad when you look at our present situation) D Day - Juno Beach; (June 6, 1944) Given the central landing right in the middle of the two British invasion points, the Canadians had some of the toughest beach conditions to face. (Although the Americans faced some tough stuff once they came ashore!) The Canadians came under heavy fire initially, but they managed to break through, and One Troop of the 1st Canadian Hussars was the only unit in the entire Invasion to reach its Final Planned Objective on D Day. Netherlands; (1944-45) While Montgomery and Patton fought the Germans and each other for glory across France, (I assume you've all seen the movie) the Canadians were given the job of heading north, clearing most of the beaches of V2 rocket bases, etc. In the process, they liberated large parts of Belgium and Holland. 76,000 Canadians gave their lives in this "secondary" phase of the war. By the way, this battle cleared the port of Antwerp, without which getting supplies to the troops moving into Germany would have been virtually impossible. (One of the most touching parts of the ceremony today in High River was a small Dutch contingent leaving a wreath in "Thank You" to the Canadians who liberated them...) Korean War: To our shame, Canada has mostly forgotten our part in the Korean War, but we have much to Remember: The Battle of Kapyong; (April 22-27, and on till May, 1951) In Mid April, it became evident the North Koreans and Chinese were massing for a major "end it all" offensive. The Americans’ 1st and 9th Army were stretched too thin, and had to pull back and regroup. This left the South Koreans alone to take on the massed offensive. They simply could not do it, and were soon being overrun. It was far more serious than was generally recognized at the time - The entire South Korean Army was on the verge of annihilation, and at that time, the entire war would probably have been lost. The S Koreans had only one route to safety, which was guarded by Australian and Canadian troops. As the S Koreans retreated, the entire Chinese army descended on the Aussies, who fought a sterling rearguard action while many of the S Koreans passed, but finally the mass of Chinese and North Koreans was too great, and the Aussies had to fall back. At this point, the mass of retreating soldiers, hobbling wounded, and hard charging Chinese all fell back on the hill the Canadian 2nd Princess Patricias (2PPCLI) were defending. From April 22 to 27, the PPCLI fought the Chinese to a standstill, then held till the Americans regrouped and pushed the Chinese back to the "Kansas Line", well north of the Canadian position. For this action, Truman awarded the Aussies and the PPCLI the United States Presidential Citation, the only non-American UN force to receive this honour in the Korean War. (By the Way, the PPCLI is the Canadian contingent fighting alongside the Americans right now in Afghanistan) Sorry for the long post, but Canadians need to be reminded sometimes... |
My Favourite CampsiteBow Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country, Alberta | |
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| sylley2000 | Nov 8 2004, 10:30 AM Post #2 |
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Sylvia, Grand Bend ON
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Thanks Brewster, I'll wear my poppy from the Legion and recite, "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. *** Too many paid the ultimate price for them to ever be forgotten. ![]() Sylvia |
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| BuddyIAm | Nov 8 2004, 11:02 AM Post #3 |
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November 11th is America’s Veterans Day. And after paying our respects. Don’t forget it is also the beginning of the Fasching Season.. |
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"The truth lies in a man's dreams... perhaps in this unhappy world of ours whose madness is better than a foolish sanity." "Facts are stupid things." - Ronald Regan "Ideas are more dangerous than guns. We don't let our people have guns. Why should we let them have ideas?" --Josef Stalin | |
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| tomdrobin | Nov 9 2004, 07:55 PM Post #4 |
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Let us hope the pride of rememberance day is not forgotten. And, that Canada doesn't forget, that freedom isn't free. But, must often be defended and payed for by sacrifice of those willing to take up the fight. |
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| brewster | Nov 10 2004, 09:55 AM Post #5 |
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Winemaker Extraordinaire
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Many of us in Canada also feel something needs to be done.
Prime Minister Martin talks a pretty good game, of expansion and re-equipment. But on this issue as well as many others, actually DOES very little.
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My Favourite CampsiteBow Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country, Alberta | |
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| pentax | Nov 10 2004, 02:30 PM Post #6 |
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Kamloops - BC Interior
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Martin is turning out, more and more, to be a cardboard cut-out of a Prime Minister - and heading a minority government isnt going to help that. |
![]() (thumbnail) ![]() "Kirk to Enterprise - Very funny, Scotty.... now beam down my clothes!" | |
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| cmoehle | Nov 10 2004, 05:26 PM Post #7 |
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Chris - San Antonio TX
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How do you all show remembrance? By wearing a poppy I take it. It is a day we are to raise the flag, not that any day isn't. |
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Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order. --Barry Goldwater | |
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| brewster | Nov 10 2004, 06:03 PM Post #8 |
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Winemaker Extraordinaire
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Yes, definitely by wearing a poppy, and there are ceremonies in Ottawa in front of the Parliament Building, and at each Provincial Legislature. There are also Martial Parades in any City that has a Military Unit. High River has quite an elaborate indoor ceremony, with the marching of all colours of all Regiments, etc. that High River folk have been a part. That is where the little Dutch Contingent did the Thank You I mentioned in the original post. I presume that other communities have similar events. One thing that's probably different is that we actually lower, or dip, the flag in salute to the fallen. |
My Favourite CampsiteBow Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country, Alberta | |
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| august-alberta | Nov 10 2004, 07:11 PM Post #9 |
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Colleen - Cold Lake Alberta
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I think its of utmost importance that our children are taught to know the meaning and the significance of Remembrance day. My daughter's school held their ceremony today and respected the 2 minutes of silence at 11am. There were actually children who cried she told me. Children that are members of the Scouting or Guiding organizations as well as Cadets are encouraged to wear their uniforms. My ex is a member of the Canadian Forces and the 3 of us attend the ceremonies at our local legion. The ceremony includes the marching on of the colours by the colour party, the playing of the last post, the recital of In Flanders Fields, the RC and protostant chaplains from the military base say a few words and offer up prayers. 2 minutes silence is then observed to remember the fallen. Wreathes are then presented by a representative of the donor who is marched up by a member of the military as an escort, and the wreath is placed at the cenotaph. The ceremonies last about 1 1/2 hours by the time all the wreaths are put in place. The odd thing I find about Remembrance Day in Canada is that it is not a national holiday. I find this quite disturbing. |
Colleen
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| pentax | Nov 10 2004, 10:23 PM Post #10 |
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Kamloops - BC Interior
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Odd - we lower ours, to half-mast..... at least those businesses that know proper etiquette - The after 11:00 am, it can be raised again. |
![]() (thumbnail) ![]() "Kirk to Enterprise - Very funny, Scotty.... now beam down my clothes!" | |
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| cmoehle | Nov 11 2004, 05:30 AM Post #11 |
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Chris - San Antonio TX
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Interesting difference. We lower it only on Presidential or State Govenor order, typically for death of a sitting or former President, and, now, Patriot Day. |
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Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order. --Barry Goldwater | |
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| brewster | Nov 11 2004, 08:09 PM Post #12 |
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Winemaker Extraordinaire
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My Favourite CampsiteBow Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country, Alberta | |
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| brewster | Nov 11 2004, 08:11 PM Post #13 |
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Winemaker Extraordinaire
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My Favourite CampsiteBow Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country, Alberta | |
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8:22 AM Jul 11