EDITORIAL: Lest we forget: They made the ultimate sacrifice

The tragic irony in observing Remembrance Day this year is that there are wars on two continents.

Article content

The First World War was supposed to be The War To End All Wars. The State of Israel was born from the deaths of six million Jews in Nazi death camps during the Second World War. The ethos of the new Jewish state was “Never Again.”

Article content

And yet here we are.

Anti-Semitism is on the rise again and wars rage unabated.

It’s a reminder that peace is transitory and fragile. If we don’t remember our past, we’re doomed to repeat it. That’s why we bow our heads on Nov. 11.

It’s not a time to mourn today’s news. We do that every day. It’s a solemn, sacred time for many Canadians to honour the service of so many and to learn from their sacrifice. Our pledge to them was that we would never forget. We must keep that promise.

Historically, Canada’s military was always a force for good — in two world wars, in Korea and in peacekeeping missions around the globe. Their noble service is what gave this country a moral authority in international affairs. We’re not as powerful as other nations, but we always punch above our weight when it matters.

Article content

Hollywood has rewritten history. It wasn’t quite the way it’s portrayed in the movies. Canada’s role has been largely edited out. Of the 2,962 Allied pilots who took part in the Battle of Britain, 117 were Canadian. That’s not counting those who signed up directly in the RAF.

Of the 133 airmen who took part in the daring Dambusters raid, 30 were Canadian. Of that number, 14 were killed.

Of the 150,000 Allied troops who took part in D-Day, 14,000 were Canadian. Canada’s population was just 11 million at the time.

While Canadians largely weren’t part of Dunkirk, the character played by Kenneth Branagh in the 2017 movie was Canadian James Campbell Clouston. He calmly evacuated 400,000 men over six days under fire.

Let’s not forget how young they were. For six long years, the fate of the free world rested on the shoulders of young men; some still teenagers.

That’s what we pause to remember at this time. Those who served and those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Lest we forget.

Share this article in your social network