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This week we remember our fallen soldiers in both World Wars, Korea and other peacekeeping missions world wide. Over 120,000 Canadian soldiers died serving in The Great War and The Second World War.

They died for us, and we will always remember their sacrifice.

In WWI and WWII Canadians were not only considered expert and professional soldiers, they were feared by the Germans as an omen of impending attack. Time after time Canadians soldiers accomplished what some considered impossible at the time, and we should be very proud.

One of the most memorable war poems in history was written by a Canadian soldier on the killing fields of Flanders during the Second Battle of Ypres (1915):

http://creation.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/poppy_lg.jpg

In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The success of the Canadian Army was decisive in the Allied victory in both wars -- The quality of the Canadian soldier was second to none.

One of Canada's most famous battles in the Great War was at Vimy Ridge in 1917. The Canadians assaulted over an open graveyard (previous French attacks had failed with over 150,000 casualties) and achieved complete victory in 3 days resulting in 3,598 dead and 7,000 wounded.

The capture of Vimy was more than just an important battlefield victory. For the first time all four Canadian divisions attacked together: men from all regions of Canada were present at the battle. Brigadier-General A.E. Ross declared after the war, "in those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation."

Canadian soldiers in WWII played a major role and participated in all theatres of war: The Pacific / Asia, N. Africa, Italy, Western Europe, Britain and the Atlantic. Most notably, Hong Kong, The Battle of Britain, Battle of Ortona, Juno Beach on D-Day, Caen and the Liberation of Belgium and Holland.

If your interested in learning more about Canada's contribution in both World Wars I have a site you can visit: http://www.wwii.ca.

If you get a chance to thank a veteran this week, or ever, do not hesitate to do so!

I always have time too think about our fallen soldiers not just on November 11. My Grandfather is a tribute too me at this time. I respect and love him for what he did for me as well as the others he served with at the time. If you have the time I recommend Pierre Berton's Vimy Ridge book!
It certianly is a tribute to the personality of Canada as well as the country at the time!

My grandmother's first name was Vimy. It was a name chosen by my great grandfather (of the family my mother was adopted into), who was badly injured in the battle of Vimy Ridge. Thankfully it wasn't a fatal or disabling injury, and he lived a long time after the war was over (though not long enough for me to ever meet him).

We should be eternally grateful; these brave men and women fought and died so their descendents could continue to live in a free, beautiful country... and argue about what land belongs to who if the country pulls itself apart in an age of relative peace and prosperity.

It is disappointing how remembrance day is not taken seriously by many of the younger generations. These people sacrificed some of the best years of there lives so that we may live in peace and freedom.

I heard somewhere that our country was one of the top 5 military forces in the world at the time. These people are the greatest heroes our country has ever seen. They not only saved our country, and much of Europe, but they built our country into what it is today. It is a real shame that many younger Canadians are generally unaware of the sacrifices made by our soldiers. It is awful the way some of our companies treat these people. I remember a few years back, a CIBC near where I live wouldn't let them sell poppies on their property, after that time I made sure never to go to CIBC again, and I hear many stories like that.

i respect the soldiers that faught in WWII. the deserve all the respect in the world.

and you're right! most younger people don't take it seriously anymore which is really sad.

I heard somewhere that our country was one of the top 5 military forces in the world at the time.
...something like that. I think it was: we produced the world's 3rd largest Army and posessed the world's 4th largest Navy by the end of WWII. Quite impressive for a nation less than 12 million people.

yeah, we were had such a hugh power. the wasn't it...pearson? who said that we were going to be a peaceful nation and we would be the peacekeepers?

I've been wearing my poppy.

Great thread!

i hope we never forget what those brave men and women had done for us all.

At the end of WW2 Canada had the third largest navy in the world!

I have been wearing my poppy for over a week, and shall continue wearing it up to and including friday...

I also agree that there is a bit less knowledge of the significance from younger generations, but that always happens as events go further into history... That being said I don't think it is as bad as some on the thread seem to make it. People around here are still pretty respectful with it.

...something like that. I think it was: we produced the world's 3rd largest Army and posessed the world's 4th largest Navy by the end of WWII. Quite impressive for a nation less than 12 million people.

I believe we were the fourth largest army in the allies.
1. USSR
2. USA
3. UK
4. Canada

Nevertheless, that is quite a feat considering the vast population differences between Canada and the other 3 countries. Canada really pulled it's weight in the war and for that we should all be proud and grateful.

I would also like to mention an often forgetton part of WWII that we hear little about. This is the Eastern Front (Nazi's vs USSR). This is predominantly due to the ensuing cold war and the hate towards Russia in the Western world. However, it is unfair to ignore the sacrifices of the Russian soldiers and country during that time. Over 20 million civilians and solidiers died on the Eastern front and it would of been impossible for Britian to have held off the Nazi's from invading England if it were not for Russia splitting the German army into two fronts.

The reason I bring this up is because my family is from Russia. They always take Rememberance day very seriously but are dismayed at the fact that nobody talks about anything but the Western front when there was so much more to the War than that. My grandfather died on the front lines a few weeks before my father was even born. Never got the chance to meet him. He died attempting to escape a concentration/death camp as a POW. My dad lived in a city called Kiev (Ukraine) and as the city had no power, water or any infrastructure due to a German attempt to starve the city, my dad does'nt even have an accurate birth certificate to show his real date of birth.

Shows how difficult it is to live in such times and thank god the most of us have never experience war (as soldier or citizen) and just how awful it really is.

^^The Ukrainians are also often over-looked in their sacrifices... Most just mention Russian losses, and so on, but much of the battlefield in the Eastern Front between the USSR and the Nazi's was in Ukraine.

Also for those that didn't know... Ukrainians were held in internment camps in Canada. Somewhat shocking... but it happened.

i lost my poppy :(

i shall go out and buy a new one.

Our soldier’s bravery saved us from being governed by the nazis or the communist.
The communist killed at least 8 million Ukrainians.

http://www.bigeye.com/062697.htm

If you want some tips on how I keep a poppy on here is a couple.

Pin your poppy on and then slide a pencil eraser up the tip of the pin to under the poppy so you can't see it. It stays on forever.

Another one that I do and probably prefer is get a safety pin and very carefully sew it through the the middle on your poppy and....voila..permanent attached poppy.

Our soldier’s bravery saved us from being governed by the nazis or the communist.
The communist killed at least 8 million Ukrainians.

http://www.bigeye.com/062697.htm

That was the Holodomyr though... in 1932-1933... not part of the WWII talley... although I believe over 5 million Ukrainians died in WWII because there were some that were drafted into the Soviet army, and others that created their own army, which fought both the Nazi's and Soviets, hoping for an independent Ukraine... of course we know how that ended.

If you want some tips on how I keep a poppy on here is a couple.

Pin your poppy on and then slide a pencil eraser up the tip of the pin to under the poppy so you can't see it. It stays on forever.

Another one that I do and probably prefer is get a safety pin and very carefully sew it through the the middle on your poppy and....voila..permanent attached poppy.

I just bend the needle :D

Our soldier’s bravery saved us from being governed by the nazis or the communist.
The communist killed at least 8 million Ukrainians.

http://www.bigeye.com/062697.htm


I was'nt talking about the USSR government under Stalin who was very brutal. But it's still a shame that the soldiers and citizens contribution to the Eastern Front are almost ignored due to a communist government, which is no fault of the people of the country who fought bravely.

Besides, Russian soldiers saved us from being governed by the Nazis and ironically the Communists as well. You take out The British Empire, USA, or USSR from the equation and it would be very debatable if the war could have even been won.

That's what I was trying to point out.

This is when they have the guns at Queens Park, right?

The Maple Leaf forever. God bless all who fought overseas.

How can you blame the younger generation when our politicians in Ottawa seem to make it such a key agenda to treat our veterans so poorly? Damn the politicians in this country make me mad.