The red badge of remembrance will soon be among us again, reminding young and old of the courage and valour Canadians of past generations displayed in struggles against tyranny and oppression.
Today (Friday) marks the start of the annual poppy campaign. It runs through to Remembrance Day (Nov. 11) and the annual ceremony at the Cenotaph in downtown Barrie. A national campaign, poppies will adorn collars and lapels across the land.
According to Rev. Laurie Sutherland, “our emphasis is on remembrance, on those who have been killed in the military.”
But as chaplain of Barrie’s Royal Canadian Legion branch, Sutherland said his Remembrance Day prayers will also go out to “those who have put their lives at risk for the good of others,” including police officers, firefighters, health-care workers and others.
The Remembrance Day ceremony, during which those in attendance are asked to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m., is well attended, with numbers growing each year.
“Everybody is welcome. They come by the hundreds,” said Sutherland, who added, “who knows what faith they are.”
The reverend’s faith comment touched on an article in Wednesday’s Advance, which he, and local Legion officials, felt focused too heavily on religion, specifically the Christian nature of prayers offered during the ceremony.
That’s only one aspect of Remembrance Day, he said, adding, “I generally read from the Old Testament, which is Hebrew scripture.” A prayer is concluded “in Christ’s name.”
“We are remembering sacrifice and suffering.”
Members of all religions are welcome at the Legion, said Debby Cook, past-president of the branch and master of ceremonies for this year’s Remembrance Day.
“In our application for membership, there is no mention of religion. It’s a non-issue.”
The community, said Cook, is extremely supportive of the Legion, particularly of its poppy campaign. “We are sure that the city of Barrie will continue the excellent support it has given in years past.”
There’s no reason to think otherwise. Buying a poppy and remembering the sacrifices of veterans is as non-political and non-religious an issue as there could be. One may oppose specific government policies and take issue with past military endeavours, but hopefully not to the point of rejecting a gesture as benign and respectful as wearing a poppy.
And as Cook pointed out, the annual poppy campaign gets support from young and old. Cadets are a big part of the campaign, stationing themselves outside of stores to sell poppies. Members of the Kiwanis Golden K club deliver the poppy boxes that sit on store counters, and pick them up Nov. 12.
“The community is behind us 100 per cent,” said Cook.
Tagging days are today and tomorrow (Saturday); poppy boxes hit store counters tomorrow.
I try to get to the Remembrance Day ceremonies every year. If for some reason I can’t, I try to remember to observe two minutes of silence. Rev. Sutherland says it best with these words he offers every year.
“We are met today to observe two minutes silence. Two minutes out of a whole year of minutes in remembrance and respect and honour of fallen comrades.”
Who doesn’t support that?
