Past sacrifices are being forgotten

On Saturday afternoon, as I browsed the online versions of numerous Canadian newspapers, it struck me that I had yet to see a single article that described the events on D-day 76 years prior, let alone the critical role that Canada played, or the incalculable sacrifice made by so many. From that single 1944 engagement, thousands were lost from both sides. Tens of millions of lives were destroyed during that war. Why such a cost and to what end?

Isn’t this a history that deserves being communicated to Canadians and, in particular, our youth?

When asked about the meaning of remembrance in 2005, Canadian philosopher John Ralston Saul stated that there is “a crisis of memory.” The dearth of #Dday76 coverage by Canadian online newspapers exacerbates this crisis. As we move forward, individually and as a nation, it is critically important to remember who we were and the ideals we stood for, to better determine what we are willing to fight for in the future. However, with decreasing coverage by our national media outlets and in curricula from province to province, our collective memory and understanding of Canada’s military history diminishes at an ever-increasing rate.

Calling attention to our military history is not to glorify it or to promote jingoism. Instead, it is to present facts so that the events of the past can be learned from.

Lest we forget.

Aaron Curtis, Valour Canada, Calgary