Honouring veterans despite pandemic
Five meaningful ways families can mark Remembrance Day in a COVID world
I’ve always taught my boys how lucky we are to live in Canada, and I’ve explained to them that we owe our freedom to the brave men and women that fought for our country. Nov. 11th provides a wonderful opportunity for all of us to honour our veterans.
Here are five meaningful ways to celebrate Remembrance Day this year:
1) Learn something about our history – Learning about our past is important, and Remembrance Day is a perfect time for parents and kids to learn together. Watch documentaries, get books from the library, and talk to veterans in your family. Chatting with my grandfather (who was a Second World War veteran) really helped my children feel connected to history. My oldest son even did interviews with him (and documented his service) for a school project.
2) Offer financial support – The Royal Canadian Legion uses Remembrance Day to raise money to support veterans. You can do your part by buying a poppy, donating, or purchasing something from the Poppy Store (PoppyStore. ca). Offering financial support to this important cause will ensure that the legion will be able to continue their vital work.
3) Send a letter or card – Veterans Affairs Canada has a wonderful program called “Postcards for Peace.” Postcards for Peace allows young people to send postcards with messages of thanks to those who served Canada in times of war, military conflict and peace. Rather than simply talking about the importance of veterans, this program allows kids to actually “do something” to honour our Canadian Veterans. You can access all the details on their website at: www.veterans. gc.ca/eng/remembrance/ classroom/postcard-forpeace
4) Make a craft – Remembrance Day crafts are especially great for younger kids who may not fully understand the history of what we are celebrating. I made one of my favourite Remembrance Day crafts with my youngest son a few years ago: a popsicle stick frame. Start by having your child paint four crafts sticks green. After the paint has dried, use a 4x6 photo as a guide, and glue the ends of the popsicle sticks together to form a frame. Then, cut 16 small hearts from red paper (my son used a heartshaped punch, but freehand works too). Glue four hearts onto each corner of the frame to create four poppies. Glue black buttons into the middle of the poppies and allow the glue to dry completely. Finish by taping a picture of your favourite veteran to the back of the frame or have your child draw one. You can add a ribbon for hanging, or you can attach magnets to the back.
5) Attend a Remembrance Day ceremony – As a little girl, my parents always took me to watch my grandfather march proudly in the Remembrance Day parades. Now, I have the privilege of taking my own boys to the annual ceremonies in my community. It’s a wonderful way to show respect and honour veterans. If ceremonies are not held in person this year due to COVID-19, try taking in a televised service.
It’s really important that we all take some time to show our respect to our war heroes and peacekeepers. I encourage you and your family to try one (or all) of these simple ways for celebrating Remembrance Day this year.