Very moving tribute. What really angers me is that I have to temper my respect for the service and sacrifices of the likes of your guest writer with my contempt for the political leadership for using them as virtue-signaling social experiments. Leave the DEI and genderwang in the faculty lounges where they belong!
In the 90's I always enjoyed hanging-out with the Canadian officer exchange program transfers. They were mostly helo pilots, but that was ok. They were sharp and professional and as I recall, ready to do their duty (eg--ready to die, as needed) for God and country. They implicitly understood the bigger (biggest?) mission (peace through strength); and their US officer colleagues could smell it on them. And that made for fast and easy brothers in arms.
One of the privs of living in West End Vancouver is walking distance to a small cenotaph with a small, neighbourhood-sized ceremony. It's beautiful every year. Last year:
Canadians have not fought for their own country in 210 years. Always for others, for our colonial masters and allies: the English, French, and Americans. (We were not in Afghanistan fighting for those poor girls, or we'd still be there, *they* still need us; We were fighting for Americans.) We die for other's ambitions.
I go every year because it's the biggest anti-war rally on Earth.
I remember my parents, both officers in WW2, this day. I showed their medals and photos to my daughter's grade one class. We must ask ourselves if the rapid, dramatic participation increases in WW1 and WW2 could be repeated. Or do we have to maintain more than a million in uniform, just in case? Will humans even fight future wars in person? Do we need anti-tank weapons if there are no more tanks - because they are too vulnerable? And if we don't know how to fight a future war, should we double down on the last ones? Doing nothing is a lot cheaper than doing the wrong thing. My modest proposal is to give a big raise (50%?) to all who serve. This will help recruitment and retention - both quantity and quality. It will take us a long way toward the 2% NATO target. And most of this will be spent (and taxed) at home.
Thank you for this.
My grandfather served in the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) his entire adult life.
My father served in the Provost Corps during the liberation of Holland and then transferred to the RCAF for a further 10 years.
(I spent 22 years in the RCN and 16 more as a Reservist...).
Our family is not unique. We aren't special. And we don't wish to be lauded.
Remembrance Day is no doubt important to many who haven't served, but to those who have, a day doesn't pass without us thinking of absent friends.
Very moving tribute. What really angers me is that I have to temper my respect for the service and sacrifices of the likes of your guest writer with my contempt for the political leadership for using them as virtue-signaling social experiments. Leave the DEI and genderwang in the faculty lounges where they belong!
The soldiers I have met/housed are now dead from drug addiction and suicide. My own WW2 veteran father died of alcoholism.
I honour them and hope we can truly support those who make it home
In the 90's I always enjoyed hanging-out with the Canadian officer exchange program transfers. They were mostly helo pilots, but that was ok. They were sharp and professional and as I recall, ready to do their duty (eg--ready to die, as needed) for God and country. They implicitly understood the bigger (biggest?) mission (peace through strength); and their US officer colleagues could smell it on them. And that made for fast and easy brothers in arms.
One of the privs of living in West End Vancouver is walking distance to a small cenotaph with a small, neighbourhood-sized ceremony. It's beautiful every year. Last year:
https://brander.ca/dora/20231111.html
I attend with my grandmother's WW1 medal in my pocket; her husband's safe at home:
https://brander.ca/EEC/
This year while scanning her diaries, I found out the staggering story of how her boyfriend died:
https://www.kenoragreatwarproject.ca/canadian-infantry/ross-john-alexander/
Canadians have not fought for their own country in 210 years. Always for others, for our colonial masters and allies: the English, French, and Americans. (We were not in Afghanistan fighting for those poor girls, or we'd still be there, *they* still need us; We were fighting for Americans.) We die for other's ambitions.
I go every year because it's the biggest anti-war rally on Earth.
Got today's photo done early to get off to the ceremony: http://brander.ca/doraspage/20241111.html
Remember Bill Gibb.
I remember my parents, both officers in WW2, this day. I showed their medals and photos to my daughter's grade one class. We must ask ourselves if the rapid, dramatic participation increases in WW1 and WW2 could be repeated. Or do we have to maintain more than a million in uniform, just in case? Will humans even fight future wars in person? Do we need anti-tank weapons if there are no more tanks - because they are too vulnerable? And if we don't know how to fight a future war, should we double down on the last ones? Doing nothing is a lot cheaper than doing the wrong thing. My modest proposal is to give a big raise (50%?) to all who serve. This will help recruitment and retention - both quantity and quality. It will take us a long way toward the 2% NATO target. And most of this will be spent (and taxed) at home.
No words, except thank-you.
Excellent pieces. Thank you for sharing these.