The War Memorial in Ottawa.

by Keith Robinson on Nov 11, 2011 at 11:29 AM

Today I remember by spending the day with my father--one of the few Jews who successfully escaped before the Germans occupied Rumania.Crystal KesslerNov 11, 2011 at 11:04 AM

I'm remembering my grandfather who fought with the Royal Netherlands Army during WWII, incarcerated and mistreated by the Nazi regime, and subsequently liberated by brave Canadian soldiers all those years ago. He loved Canada and Canadians so much he emigrated here with my grandmother and 3 young children from a devastated and starving Holland to start a new life. Although he didn't speak much of the war during the later years, he was very proud to call himself Canadian. I am too.CJNov 11, 2011 at 10:59 AM

I'm at home alone today, it's quiet, it's warm, and my heart is drawn to those who have seen conflict. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for our young soldiers, being away from the comforts of home and family, in a cold, strange place, fighting alongside a new-found brother to protect what we today so easily take for granted. I sincerely thank those who have fought, who continue to fight, sacrificing so much to allow me to proudly call Canada my home!! God Bless.CJNov 11, 2011 at 10:22 AM

I am not remembering a family member that has was killed at war but supporting my Dad, Ken Smith, while he attends the ceremonies at the Fort Langley cenotaph.

When my brothers and I were growing up, we always knew November 11th to be a very sad day for dad. He always went to the cenotaph on his own allowing those many memories he suppressed the other 364 days of the year to come to the surface.

It wasn’t until we were older that he started shared some of those memories. It was at this time that we started joining him at the cenotaph. All of our children are now grown and they too join us at the ceremonies.

Dad has only shared some of his experiences of WW II with us; we know he finds it too painful to talk about many of them. He has, however, impressed upon us the shear magnitude of war and its impact on the world. We will be attending the ceremonies with him today to remember not a family member but all of the men and women who were killed so we can enjoy the freedom have today.

True to the meaning of November 11th, dad has passed onto his family the significance of remembering the wars and their fallen soldiers… less we forget.


JoniJoniNov 11, 2011 at 10:23 AM

Today I am travelling to kamloops to take my mom to the remembrance day service.Her two brothers were killed in action during ww2 and are buried in France.She has never missed a Remembrance day service .Kelly McdonaldNov 11, 2011 at 9:53 AM

Take a look at our interactive map of WWII deaths in Toronto, month by month throughout the war: www.globalnews.caLeslie YoungNov 10, 2011 at 3:28 PM

Jeff: What happens when there are no more Second World War veterans with us? Keith RobinsonNov 11, 2011 at 11:09 AM

Keith: That’s a good question. The focus of the ceremonies might well change to more recent events, but then again, the passing of the last veterans from a conflict doesn’t mean that Canadians will stop remembering it. The loss of Canada’s last First World War veterans, for instance, doesn’t necessarily seem to have diminished public interest in that war or in remembering it. If anything, public interest in the First World War seems to have increased during the last ten years or so.

I also think that it can be difficult to predict how public interest and participation can change. Many people attending Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa in the 1970s and 1980s would probably have been surprised to see the size of the turnout in recent years.jeff.noakesNov 11, 2011 at 11:11 AM

Centennial College, Toronto: Margaret Haliburton of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service talks about being one of the first in North America to hear of Hitler's death - after decoding German transmissions. Her division informed the Allied politicians.

by George Browne on Nov 11, 2011 at 11:39 AM via mobile