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OUR OPINION
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Day to remember
11/05/08
Never forget.
Remembrance Day is approaching and hopefully millions across the country and around the world will take time to reflect.
It’s easy to get caught up in our daily frenzy of activities and let this poignant day slip by, but in a world all too familiar with conflict that’s not acceptable.
It’s important to remember that lives lost in war - long ago or more recently - were not lost in vain.
And it’s also important to honour those who fought and survived, still living with the haunting images of war.
Losing young people from our own country these days strikes a chord not only with Canadians in general, but with younger citizens in particular.
When the world is in relative peace, Remembrance Day can be a difficult day for youth, not to mention many adults to relate to.
Too often it turns into another day off, just to sit around and keep oneself occupied with chores or a bunch of other events until we head back to the office November 12.
And even though folks might go through the motions of attending services, the concept of war and loss is hard to connect with when things seem peaceful.
Those basking in prosperity and peace can feel far removed from what it cost to provide them, at least in part with their comfortable circumstances.
It can be even tougher if you don’t have a relative or family friend who fought in battle.
You don’t have the rich opportunity to learn first hand what it was like to endure such unimaginable, frightening circumstances.
But with the current loss of young men and women overseas hitting the headlines almost daily, the meanings of Remembrance Day are close to home.
We grieve for these young lives recently lost, and are reminded of the loss of thousands of Canadians who gave their lives during the First and Second World Wars, the Korean conflict and peacekeeping missions around the world.
We are reminded of the millions who lost their lives around the world as well. Some known and specifically honoured for what they gave, some tragically lost in the haze of time. But no matter when the losses happened – in the 1930s, the 1950s or today, families and friends are united in their grief.
That brings to mind another characteristic of Remembrance Day - we’re united in a common cause no matter what our background or personal connection to the concepts of war.
There are services across Central Alberta to take part in, organized by local branches of the Royal Canadian Legion.
It’s a wonderful thing to see people of all ages attend these services and help keep this priceless tradition alive.
Ultimately, too much has been lost and too high a price has been paid for anyone to have careless attitudes about such an important day.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR INVITED |
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Letters to the editor are welcomed by the Red Deer Express, especially new contributors. We attempt
to publish a cross-section of public opinion. Preference is given to short letters of broad interest or concern.
Letters addressed to others are seldom used. We reserve the right to edit for length, taste, clarity and to
eliminate inaccurate or libelous statements. |
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