Remembrance Day is Tuesday

NDP MP Dan Harris is bringing back a bill to make Remembrance Day, Nov. 11th, a statutory Bill C-597 would make it a national statutory holiday, like Canada Day. It varies provincially.

Hubby's father

holiday.

It is a federal 'holiday.' Many years I can recall my first husband staying home, while I toddled off to school to attend our school ceremony. He simply slept in, like many civil servants.

They were wonderful events in the 25 years I was a teacher. I recall, in Teacher's College (1981), one of my peers speaking of the two veterans who came to participate in her school's assembly. One, feebly using a cane, made his way painstakingly into the assembly. He was from WW II. She shuddered when she thought of the WW I vet they'd asked to participate, but he trotted in quite ably! Every year we had vets in. It was meaningful to both the veterans and the students and staff.

Perth War Memorial

The National War Memorial
draws a big crowd.
This ceremony is on TV.

The kids participated in a variety of activities, all culminating in a Remembrance Day assembly. I often worked on the program for the school. Usually, teachers would take turns helping to organize assemblies: Nov. 11th, December Holiday assembly, Education Week assembly. I liked working on this one, as I wanted to help set the tone. Too often, back in the 80s, speakers would talk about 'the men who served'. I convinced many to understand that women served in many ways, here and abroad. Is it ever tough to create a culture of inclusive language!

What would the kids do?

One year we created a classroom play, which we performed in front of the school. We wrote prose and poetry. All of my students had a webportfolio of their classwork, where they would put their poems and stories.
These days, there are a lot more songs and books about our Afghanistan veterans.

"Highway of Heroes", was co-written and co-produced by The Trews and Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar) and was inspired by the 2006 death of Captain Nichola Goddard from The Trews' hometown of Antigonish, NS. Canada's Highway of Heroes, is the section of the MacDonald-Cartier freeway named to honour those who have sacrificed all in service of country. You can purchase "Highway of Heroes" world-wide exclusively via iTunes. Net proceeds from sales will benefit the Canadian Hero Fund, an organization that assists the families of Canadian military personnel through academic scholarships. 




JP Cormier has written a new song about modern wars and our veterans.

We'd had a musician in to facilitate music one year, and our class wrote a song honouring our Peacekeepers. It was amazing. I integrated music, art, drama, language arts, and technology into my curriculum.

One year our entire school wrote to troops serving as Peacekeepers.
We ended up with a Pen Pal, PO1 Dennis Irwin, HMCS PRESERVER, who sent us photos. My grade 4/5 students made it into a video, putting the song we'd written to the photos.


We were on the tail end of the Cold War, and we talked about the nuclear bombs hidden deep in the earth. We played the What If card.
What if...fighters became talkers
 What if...everybody loved instead of hated
 What if...wars turned to peace
 What if...weapons disappeared 
 What if...guns became lollipops
 What if...wars never happened
 What if...bombs turned to balloons
 What if...the people that fought for us lived
 What if...uniforms became blankets
 What if...blood became juice
 What if...children lived instead of died
 What if...fighting and wars stopped and we all became happy
What if...
What if...
What if...

by Kelsey 

We read a lot of books.
    

The GIFT OF FREEDOM:
How Ottawa welcomed the
Vietnamese, Cambodian
and Laotian refugees
By Brian Buckley

They wrote about war on a personal level. One did research on the Vietnam War (her family fled from Vietnam), others wrote about the Gulf War. One of my students told us about running to the
hills to escape the gun fire. I taught kids who were Vietnamese Boat People. Other kids had fled the Civil War in Somalia.


We listened to the song about Francis Toliver. Do you know about his story? They answered some questions about the song and the event.

Francis Tolliver

The main character or narrator in this song is Francis Toliver. Francis Toliver came from a place called Liverpool which was located in England. The story took place in the time of World War 1, at Christmas Eve and in their trenches where they slept.
The story took place in Belgium, Germany, in Flanders and in No Man's Land, which is not a very nice place to go because I think that is where the war was for some of the time. On Christmas Eve a weird thing happened but it was nice, what happened was that the 2 sides of the war started to exchange goods, show each other photos of their families, they ate chocolate, they smoked cigarettes, they had a soccer game and some of them played the violin. They drank stuff and they sang songs like Stille Nacht or, in English, Silent Night and they sang God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. The next day they began war again and some of the soldiers got court martialled.

Other kids created tables about the statistics of war.

Here is some information we have gathered from the Canadian Legion's publications.

World War I

Canadians Served	Died	Wounded	P.O.W. (Prisoner of War)
328,736*including 4,518 women	66,573	138,166	2,818

World War II

Canadians Served	Died	Wounded	POW (Prisoner of War)
1,031,902 men*including 49,963 women	44,927*including 73 women	53,145*including 19 women	8,271

 Korean War

Canadians Served	Died	Wounded	POW (Prisoner of War)
26791	516	1,558	33

Gulf War

Canadians Served	Died	Wounded	POW (Prisoner of War)
4074* including 237 women	0	0	0

~Table by Andrew ~information from: Speaker's Guide and Fact Book: Royal Canadian Legion

What do you think about a National Holiday?
Will you attend a ceremony?

It was an amazing day in Canada on Friday

Yes, a beautiful sunny day. If I were healthy I'd have gone down to the Highway of Heroes to wave a flag as the hearse and family passed.

Instead, I watched the loading of the hearse with the casket and thought of his grieving mothers, sisters and extended family. I got off Twitter, since the partisan vitriol was awful, and had to stop following several people who insisted in using this moment for political points.

They also had a ceremony to place two new ceremonial guards outside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which had been closed since the shooting took place there. Two brave young men stood in their kilts, with much pride and respect from those who were able to be there.

The images of people lining the highway at 416 were wonderful. Traffic stopped. People stood quietly as the funeral cortege passed. Citizens, soldiers, and firefighters standing atop their vehicles, all with flags raised, lined the bridges along the Highway of Heroes. Despite some high-profile American TV personalities; e.g., Rosie O’Donnell, criticising our Canadian solidarity, all of my American blog friends were sympathetic, since we support our soldiers. This could happen in any place, at any time. Our men and women in uniform are easy targets.

  

The Hamilton Tiger-cats loaned Ottawa RedBlacks football team their massive, largest in the world, Canada flag. Hundreds of people (150) were on the field holding it up. They didn't have someone in to sing our National Anthem, the crowd all came together to sing. They united the crowd, who felt good to be together in one place, with seatmates and friends beside them.

I was so proud of the way our Nation responded. From the moment Cpl. Cirillo's body left the funeral home in Ottawa, to where he was welcomed home in Hamilton at 7:00 p.m. or so, he was honoured and recognized. It was something like a 6-hour trip, and people waited on bridges for hours until they passed.

Canadian Army ‏@CanadianArmy  Oct 23

Thank you to Canadians & international friends for the messages of solidarity after the tragic loss of Cpl N Cirillo.

The @OPP_ER Tweeted updates of the location of the funeral cortege.
Citizens posted photos of their progress: like this amazing scene.

Matt D @MattDonau 

How can this not make you proud to be Canadian? #highwayofheroes

Then, @OPP_GTATraffic reported their progress around the Greater Toronto Area, following them around to 407, around Lake Ontario.
When they arrived in Hamilton, there was thanks from that city:

Hamilton Police (@HamiltonPolice):

Thank You ‪#‎HamOnt‬ & everyone in ‪#‎Canada‬ & world for standing united as ‪#‎Canadian‬ hero ‪#‎NathanCirillo‬ was brought home ‪#‎highwayofheroes‬

It was another day for reflection. People made sure that they didn't forget Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, similarly killed this past week by someone else with mental health issues.

In the meantime, the perpetrator, someone who knew him has reported, had mental health issues, as well as a $160/day heroin addiction.
In the meantime, horrific shootings in California, two deputies killed, two injured.
And in a Washington H.S., another crazy incident. I am saddened by it all.
Hold fast to family.

1. Washington shooting: police investigate love triangle claims

   The Guardian ‎- 1 hour ago

   US police are trying to determine why a high school student shot dead a female classmate and wounded four others before killing himself, ...

We've found the helpers: we must laud them; The Highway of Heroes

Twitter user ‏@kamakazi19982 posted this photo online Wednesday morning with the message 'OK, so we were on a tour at that war monument in Ottawa a few minutes ago, a few seconds later there was a shooting.' (Twitter)

An image from a Facebook memorial page dedicated to slain Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, right, also shows Cpl. Brandon Stevenson, who chased the gunman that fatally shot Cirillo at the National War Museum in Ottawa on Wednesday.. (Facebook)

 Ron Foxcroft, the honorary colonel of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada regiment, said Brandon Stevenson briefly chased the shooter before returning to the war memorial to try to revive his wounded friend. Foxcroft said he showed "tremendous bravery" in pursuing the shooter


Wise words from Mr. Rogers, who calmly greeted each day.

We are finding more out about the helpers. They reject the label 'heroes', yet not all of us would know what to do. Some spent time taking photos, as bystanders were kept away from the scene, once the Cpl. was being attended to by nurse Lerhe, layer Winters, and Cpl. Brandon Stevenson, his buddy.

They applied pressure to his wounds, gave him CPR, and did what they could.
Nurse Lerhe stepped up. She did her job as best she could, in the face of terrible wounds, since the Cpl. was shot from behind. There were several people helping.

The helpers

Nurse Lerhe gave the Cpl. medical aid

Kevins Vickers, Sergeant-at-Arms
his team brought the shooter down

As It Happens spoke with lawyer Barbara Winters. She ran to the scene.

She first did chest compressions, then, when others took over, she was speaking calmly to him.
While Cpl. Cirillo lay dying, Winters said and did what I have heard done in other times and other places.

"I told him you are loved. You are brave. You are good. Your parents must be so proud of you. Your family loves you. Look at these people who are all trying to help you. We all love you. Your military family loves you. There is a Col. here helping you." 

Barbara Winters, lawyer

Would you know what to say, if there was nothing you could do?

In fact, there was a car crash Nov. 22, in South River, Central Ontario, west of Algonquin Park, in which a young man died at the scene. The ice was bad that day. The road wasn't opened until 3:00 a.m., what a long night. Graciously, one of the civilians who responded posted a message in the comments section:

A small piece of comfort in this sad time

I am writing this letter to let you know that I was one of the indivdual that had stopped at the accident. I am 42 years old and a mom myself. I feel strongly that everyone needs to know he was not alone. Myself and two other young men were with him until the emergency crew got there. There was a sense of peace and that I feel that Chris knew that help was one it way. I reached down and grabbed his hand to try and show him the love and care that his family would want him to know. He held my hand tightly and you knew he felt comfort, I cannot explain it . He was not able to talk well, but was able to get out 'tell my family I love them'. It was not clear but you knew. Myself and the other young men tried the best we could do provide comfort to him. I remember there was a young man about the same age as Kris and he was fantastic he wanted to help so much . If it get forgotten thank you Gabe. You are a in my thoughts. I wish the family all the best and shed a tear for your loss. I hope in someway the family gains comfort.

No doubt it will be comforting. Our imaginations are always worse than reality. While I remember my parents' last days, I better recall the good times and the bright memories. I will always be grateful to the ambulance crews, and those who made their last days, hours and minutes more comfortable.

Today there is something many can do

Highway of Heroes

Highway of heroes.

They will take Cpl. Cirillo's body along the Highway of Heroes today. Many, I know, will line the route along this highway as his body as taken from Ottawa to Hamilton this afternoon. They leave Ottawa today, arriving in Hamilton, his home town later today.

 On August 24, 2007, the stretch of highway between Toronto (from Highway 404/Don Valley Parkway) and CFB Trenton (from Glen Miller Road) was given the additional name Highway of Heroes, in honour of Canadian Forces personnel killed during the War in Afghanistan. Crowds line the route every time a soldier is repatriated

Do you know? I wish I could go. I'm still wrestling with pneumonia. I will be there in sprit.

Canadians in Afghanistan - Repatriation Memorial

After my conference I was asked to go and see the memorial before we went home.
It is very beautiful. There were heart-wrenching tributes to loved ones.
How fitting that it is on the base, near the beginning of the highway of heroes.

This is what my hubby wrote about it, as he visited when I was at the conference:


About 4 km from our hotel near Trenton, just past CFB Trenton, is the new Memorial to our Afghanistan Veterans. It is located in a small park bordering on the Bay of Quinte. The park is a recreational park and the Memorial is just behind a ball field. 

 I know that there was some debate as to where the memorial should be located but I think they got it right. 

 The memorial consist of two Maple Leaf shaped stones, one with a relief of a group of civilians and the one other with 158 names of Canadians who died in Afghanistan. No doubt we can be divided on the validity of the mission, as we can on all wars, but the sacrifice of the individuals should not be diminished by this. I have seen many such memorials all over the world but, to me, the new idea of listing the the individual names brings home the true cost of war more than the heroic monuments at many sites. 

 As I approached the site, a man and woman were solemnly leaving it. Visiting at the same time as me were two female infantry members in field uniform (probably on lunch break from the base). They were reading and pointing to names that they knew. There is no abstraction here. 
No reflection on another time or place. 
The hurt was real and there in the moment. 

 After my visit , I walked a short distance to the shore , and sat and watched a pair of swans on the water, while over head, a very large cargo plane turned over the water after take off from the base. Maybe the memorial is not where a lot of people will see it, but it is in a damn good spot to reflect on it.


 
  
 
     

Highway of heroes

The Canadian total = 154 soldiers gone.

Can. Wounded, dead and POWs since WW I

Another 4 soldiers + journalist

In this engagement: the injuries, as well as vets who are suffering PTSD and homelessness, continue to concern all of us.

“Wounded in Action”: 404
“Non-Battle Injuries”: 565
Killed in Action: 93
Non-battle Deaths: 13

Military delivers grim news to dead soldiers' families

Our Highway of Heroes is an important part of the honour Canada bestows on its fallen. Unfortunately, veterans who are injured, wounded and disabled, or suffer from addictions are not similarly dealt with well, according to some stories. Cash settlements, rather than long-term veteran support is an appalling way to treat these people.

On August 24, 2007, the stretch of highway between Toronto (from Highway 404/Don Valley Parkway) and CFB Trenton (from Glen Miller Road) was given the additional name Highway of Heroes, in honour of Canadian Forces personnel killed during the War in Afghanistan. Crowds line the route every time a soldier is repatriated.

Highway of Heroes song - Bob Reid A powerful tribute to our fallen soldiers and to those who honour them. Highway of Heroes song

Highway of Heroes There are many stories of repatriations here, by Cobourg Daily Star photographer Pete Fisher, taken along the Highway of Heroes. 

US Media Tribute to Highway of Heroes U.S. news rarely pays attention to news from Canada, but a touching tribute by Canadians to it's fallen heroes has caught the attention of the U.S. media

Canada has a long history in the arena of war. Vimy Ridge, Juno Beach, the 65th Anniversary of D-Day, all are stories told well in print and in the media.

• Canada's casualties  
• List of U.S. Servicemembers killed since 5/1/03
• 320,000 US Vets Have Brain Injuries
• BBC Figures
• US Military Deaths by Month from Icasualties.org
• Journalist Deaths in Iraq
• Cost of War 
• After 100 deaths, UK troops to pull out of Sangin

Lest we forget

Momento: shadow box

On this very solemn day, we remember. In fact, we remember every time we pass my hubby's father's  photo.

• my mother's first fiance, who died in WW II. 
• young men and women who served, never to return.
• many continue to serve 
• home, wounded in body and spirit.

Dad with his sister -1942

Today, I think of the wonderful teachers and students who are creating moving Remembrance day assemblies. Learning respect for those who have gone before, and how to participate in a ceremony, and to honour our country.

Timely, the protests of current veterans to fight for fair treatment. We honour the dead, but we must treat the living and wounded in body, mind or soul.


Angry veterans rally on Parliament Hill, demand royal commission

Disabled soldiers are demanding the federal government establish a royal  commission to investigate

The women at home wrote to the men

No idea who he was

Our Highway of Heroes has honoured the 152 soldiers from those who have died serving others in Afghanistan.
For a full list: the 152 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan 
Four Canadian civilians have also been killed, including one diplomat, one journalist and two aid workers.


"Highway of Heroes", was co-written and co-produced by The Trews and Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar) and was inspired by the 2006 death of Captain Nichola Goddard from The Trews' hometown of Antigonish, NS. Canada's Highway of Heroes, is the section of the MacDonald-Cartier freeway named to honour those who have sacrificed all in service of country.

You can purchase "Highway of Heroes" world-wide exclusively via iTunes.
Net proceeds from sales will benefit the Canadian Hero Fund, an organization that assists the families of Canadian military personnel through academic scholarships.
The video was directed by Tim Martin.