Remembrance Day

Armistice of the World War I occurred on November 11, 1918. From that time on, November 11 became Armistice Day for many countries to honour those who have served their countries during the war.

This day in Canada is called Remembrance Day. On this day, we not only honour all men and women who died in the First and Second World War, also, we honour everyone who has served in the Canadian Armed Forces.

To contribute to the veteran's funding, we buy and wear red poppy pins each year. The association of poppy and veteran came from a Canadian poet John McCrae. He wrote a famous poem
about heavy fighting site in France -- Flanders -- during World War I.

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the cross, row and row." Poppy symbolises
both of the beauty of the landscape and the colour of blood shed during the war.

Remembrance Day is a public holiday for some parts of Canada except Ontario. This day is
dedicated for Ontario students to learn about the history behind Remembrance Day as well as to
learn to respect and honour our veterans' contribution. But for government workers in Ontario,
this day is a public holiday. This year (2001)'s Remembrance Day follows on a Sunday. Therefore, some Ontarians will have a long weekend from Saturday to Monday.

If you have chance to see our Canadian money, please look for our new Canadian
ten-dollar-bill. On it, we even have a red poppy design on the back to honour our veterans.

Reference book:
Holidays, Festivals & Celebrations of the World Dictionary, 2nd edition.
Edited by Helene Henderson & Sue Ellen Thompson (Omnigraphics, Inc.; 1997). p.455 # 1993.

The Time and Again Weekly Calendar -- A Key to Organized Sanity 2000
D.M. Kathrens & M.E. Sawka (Time & Again, Inc.; 1999). p.22.

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