Remembrance Day touches every generation
Canadians can honour those who served in several ways
Every year the faces change, getting both older and younger at the same time.
A Canadian veteran may be a man in his 90s who served in the Second World War, or a young woman who toured Afghanistan — both carry with them experiences few other Canadians understand, both are living remembrances of those that never came home.
“Every generation has its veterans,” says Brad White, dominion secretary and executive director of the Royal Canadian Legion, Dominion Command. “I’m a ‘Cold Warrior’ myself — I spent 23 years in the military.
“But there is a new group of veterans that are out there,” he says. “I’m pushing 60-odd years old right now and these (men and women) are 19, 20, or in their early 20s . . . Most of them probably spent more time on the front lines than anybody did in World War II, or Korea, or even on a peace-support mission.”
These service members spent years away from home in dangerous or tragic circumstances — some returned with injuries or trauma and some gave their lives. No matter the generation or era, says Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan, Canadians are indebted to the service and sacrifice of our armed forces.
“Our veterans have served during the two world wars, the Korean War, peace support operations around the world, and in our country’s mission in Afghanistan,” O’Regan says. “Canadians understand that our freedom, our prosperity and the opportunities available to all our children are possible because of their sacrifices and achievements.” While we honour Remembrance Day each year — wearing a poppy, observing a moment of silence and reflecting on courage and loss — the passage of time also brings new anniversaries and milestones. O’Regan says 2017 was a unique time for Canadians.
“This year is special as it not only marks Canada 150, it also marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War battles at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70 and Passchendaele, and the 75th anniversary of the Second World War’s raid on Dieppe,” he says.
“These were just a few of the many times that tested the strength, determination and dedication of Canada’s fighting forces.”
Veteran Affairs Canada, the Department of National Defence and the Royal Canadian Legion offer Canadians additional ways to pay their respects this Remembrance Day:
Donate Izzy dolls In June 1994, while removing landmines on his third peacekeeping tour, Master Cpl. Mark Isfeld was killed in Croatia when a mine exploded. He was almost 32 years old.
Isfeld’s death created a poignant phenomenon among Canada’s military and humanitarian groups — more than 1.5 million soft wool dolls, named ‘Izzy dolls’ in his honour, have been given to children all over the world. The tradition started because Isfeld felt heavy-hearted after seeing a child’s doll amid the rubble of a bombed home — he told his mother about it, and she began knitting the small dolls and sending them to her son, so he could give them to children.
Today, the reactions to the dolls are almost heartbreaking. In one instance cited by Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC), a doctor recalls finally seeing the last patient of the day, who had waited for many hours.
When asked what she had come for, the woman told the doctor, “Well, it’s my son’s birthday today and I heard there were dolls.”
After both of Isfeld’s parents died, Shirley O’Connell, based in Perth, Ont., has taken on the role of “Izzy doll mama.” O’Connell runs workshops in Ottawa to knit the dolls and supplies the military and other humanitarian groups. For more information about knitting and donating the dolls, O’Connell can be reached at soconn37@gmail.com.
HPIC is among the groups that continue to distribute the dolls, as part of its medical kits. Visit hpicanada.ca to donate — every $1donated to HPIC delivers at least $10 of medicine to a vulnerable community.
#CanadaRemembers Use this hashtag on social media to connect, engage and learn from fellow Canadians.
“Across this country, millions of Canadians will be honouring veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members and the brave women and men who have made incredible sacrifices in our defence over the years,” O’Regan says. Write to the troops On the Department of National Defence website, you can post an online message for the troops, as well as browse messages other Canadians have sent.
You can also mail cards and letters addressed to “Any Canadian Armed Forces Member” to one of the current overseas operations — from Sudan to Ukraine.
Visit forces.gc.ca/en/write-to-thetroops/index.page.
Join the Legion “We encourage people to become engaged with their branches and their local communities because that’s really where the rubber hits the road,” White says, “supporting your community and the people in your community.”
You don’t have to be a veteran to join the Legion — visit legion.ca/join for details.