Remembrance Day - 2019

I'm floundering a bit today.

Remembrance Day is always hard for me. I served in the Canadian Army Reserves, 1972 - 1976. I had signed up (underage by about two months), roughly the same week as the Fall of Saigon in Vietnam. My own family economics made television use both limited and spotty. So I personally do not remember seeing 'the War in the living room'. I did end up having instructors who had served in Vietnam, and most certainly a certain attitude towards combat, which I never have directly experienced, was instilled. Anyone who knows me is aware of how deeply those four years of evenings, weekends and summers effected my developing character as a young adult.

Of my two closest and ancient friends, both had experience on the sharp end. One first during peace keeping in Egypt, then later during drug interdiction in Mexico. The other through two tours with the 101 in Vietnam, and later peace keeping in Cyprus. Through these two, and other associated friends, I have met (often over drinks) a number of men (mainly) who were then, or had been, serving military, in a number of national uniforms. Often being the 'wannabe' at the table, I have tried to listen and learn from the experiences of others. 

One of those friends, although still close in spirit, now lives on the other end of the country. We swap the odd e-mail, keep in tough through Facebook notes. The other has faded back into himself, withdrawn from most all the world and attempts in communication have just failed. 'Radio Check, Over' gets nothing but a quiet static hiss...

For years and years on this day, the three of us would do our best to gather in some quiet corner, hauling out old rank badges and drinking a toast 'to absent friends'. Sometimes a propped up photo with its shot glass holding it up. Over the years, the circle had changed, other 'true spirits' dropping in, our out, as situation allowed. 

But this year, the darkness will only be held back by a single candle. 

And for myself, the last few months have seen the darkness certainly gathering strength.

Artist Unknown - Image stolen from 'Wear Your Poppy with Pride'

Observing students at Laurier in Waterloo last Thursday, two things were obvious.  

• Remembrance Day is clearly a Western / European marking. 

• And a modern generation, who have had such limited personal experience with a 'shooting war', don't much mark it either. 

 Now, in an abstract sense, I understand this. The World Wars were massive efforts, by both military and civilian. In WWI, about 10% of the entire Canadian population were serving military. Of those some 39% were casualties (dead or wounded). Because in many rural communities, the entire population of young men would enlist, train, fight (and often die) together, this impact was devastating.
In WW2, the percentage of serving military was again roughly 10%. The number of casualties was greatly lower, here closer to 10%.
In both cases, there was a general draft / conscription of soldiers, although a great many volunteered. Since WW2, Canadian combat troops have been drawn from the (volunteer) enlisted in either the full time Regular Forces or the part time Reserves.

The Korean War had roughly 26,000 Canadians involved (during the conflict, more after as peacekeepers)
In Vietnam, the total was roughly 30,000.

Since those days, Canadian soldiers have been involved (and sometimes casualties of) many peacekeeping missions worldwide. It is often said Canadians 'invented' peacekeeping. Croatia / Bosnia and Somolia most notably.
Then the Gulf War(s) and Afghanistan.
In truth, some number of Canadian soldiers have almost been in constant overseas combat roles, to some degree, for the last 70 years.






'Lest we Forget' is more than just honouring those who were maimed or slaughtered to create the free democracy we Canadians now enjoy.

It also is about remembering the Responsibility we, as citizens, hold to ensure the next generation also has these freedoms. To be willing to undertake the often violent measures that are need, and to endure the risks involved.

It certainly is about remembering the Cost of our high words and good intentions. The very real debt we all owe to those who have been willing to place their own fragile bodies between the civilian and danger.

Never forget that contract.