Nov. 11 is Remembrance Day

I shovelled after breakfast on Monday, after our 10+ cm of snow. It is still snowing! More on that in another post.

 Nov. 11 is Remembrance Day in Canada. I worked so hard, during  my 25 years teaching, to help my students understand history. We wrote about it, created moments, wrote and put on plays during assemblies, we interviewed and honoured relatives. 

 This year we shall watch the ceremony on TV. It is always quite moving. That will mean front row seats, and an ability to hear the ceremony. It is -4 ℃, and a chilly one. 

🇳🇱 I've been following a story in the Netherlands. It is the location of the Netherlands American Cemetery (wiki).  I hadn't heard of it, although I know there are many sites overseas from WW II, and people who have not forgotten how humans stepped up for one another. 

There is a terrific project to reveal the carvings from the tunnels under Vimy Ridge. New technology has helped with that. 

In recent news regarding wars and history:

I read a thread on BlueSky about the fact that Trump's people have removed references and honours for Black Soldiers who worked in this burial site, burying thousands of fallen comrades. The site commemorates African-American soldiers who helped liberate Europeans from the grip of the Nazis. These soldiers fought both the Germans and racism. It is shameful, what is going on with these people in power. A familiar story.

a thread on BlueSky

• Official Netherlands American Cemetery Website

follow-up post, part 2

We have to remember and tell their stories. The battle against racism, injustice, and abuse of power, must continue. Sadly. Thanks to all who served in the past, present and future. The black and white photos are from my late mother's collection. They wrote to servicemen during WW II.