Lest We Forget

I absolutely love Remembrance Day in Canada.  When I think about everyone wearing their poppies it is one of the few times that I still feel homesick.  In my opinion Remembrance Day is one of the most patriotic days in Canada.  I love the spirit of unity when everywhere you look you see a beautiful red poppy.  My 5th grade teacher had our class memorize the poem, "In Flanders Fields, written by John McCrae, which is the inspiration for the poppy as a national symbol.  I've always loved that poem and I've remembered it the rest of my life.

The USA celebrates Veterans Day, but it's not the same here.  I don't feel that spirit of unity and there is a specialness missing.  I'm glad the USA gives a day to honor veterans, but I feel like Remembrance Day is so much more.  Even in just the name, Remembrance Day.  It's a day to remember our national history, and our shared world history.  We can learn from the past, the wars that have been fought and lives lost do not need to be repeated.  I take Remembrance Day as a day to look into my own past and remember the important lessons I've learned.  I don't want to repeat the same mistakes over and over again, so it's important to remember.   Remember the promises I've made, remember what's truly important in life, remember those who've given the ultimate sacrifice, their own life.  When I think of sacrifice, I can't help but think of the sacrifice of our Savior.  He laid down His life for each of us, that we might find joy on earth and through our covenants find our way back to live with Him again.  I remember Him on Remembrance Day.