Lest We Forget

“Seeking to forget makes exile all the longer; the secret of redemption lies in remembrance.” ~Richard von Weizscker

It is Remembrance Day.  In some places in our country, it is a holiday.  Not where I live.  It used to be.  And somewhere along the line, it got changed.  To me, that is a shame.  Not because I think we need another holiday, or another day off, but because I think it is important — perhaps more important than ever before — to remember our veterans, the price that they paid in order to make the world a safer place for all.

I know that some would argue that having a day off does not guarantee that people will honour it as intended.  And those some are right; I can’t guarantee that anyone would do anything differently.  That being said, what I know for sure is that the children of today are finding it harder and harder to understand the sacrifice that was made.  It’s challenging for them to realize the blessing of freedom that they and so many others take forgranted in this country of Canada.  There are still parades and ceremonies that abound — and yet, because it’s not a holiday, fewer and fewer people create the opportunity to find a way to attend and remember.  A major “structure” has been taken away.

Yes, some people — probably most people — do what they can, taking a two moments at least to be silent, give thanks, and remember.  And that’s good.  And it’s important.  For if we ever stop taking the time, if we allow ourselves to forget, we risk losing the understanding of the price that was paid, and we set ourselves up to pay that price again — only with a whole lot of interest.

We must remember.  If you haven’t yet taken the time, it’s not too late.  Take a moment or two; remember and give thanks.  As Terry Kelley sings,  “It’s a Pittance of Time.”