Monday, November 11, 2013

We remember -- all over the world

Every evening at 8 p.m. in the city of Ypres, Belgium, our Canadian war dead are remembered along with other soldiers of the Commonwealth. The last post is played at the Menin Gate, a monument that holds the names of 54,896 soldiers who were killed in Flanders and have no other known grave. I have been fortunate to visit the Menin Gate for the evening ceremony, which was attended by a handful of people rather than the crowds in the video below.

During the German occupation in WWII, the playing of the Last Post was not allowed, but the very evening of liberation, September 6, 1944, the people of Ieper (the city's Flemish name) picked up their daily remembrance where they left off. Thanks to supercanadiandude for posting this video (and several others on the Remembrance Day theme).

Today we remember our war dead, our veterans, and those presently serving in places of war. Our family attended the indoor ceremony at the University of Alberta, where those who died, veterans and present day service men were remembered and honoured. God bless and keep them, and may we all strive for peace.


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