I just finished watching the televised Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa. Prince Charles and Camilla were there, even. When Charles exited the car, he was wearing a Canadian green uniform for the occasion (he is the Colonel in Chief of many units, and as such is allowed to). More interesting, though, was when newscaster Peter Mansbridge mentioned that Charles saluted with the "sloped Canadian salute" rather than the "flat British salute" in terms of his hand.
I didn't know there was such a distinction, and as such the completist in me wanted to know a little more about it - off to Google.
Instead, I found an interesting little video of a little boy in Belgium.
Canada was the commanding force during the Liberation of Belgium in 1944, particularly during the Battle of the Scheldt. As such, Canada has a bit of distinction during Belgian memorial ceremonies.
This year, a little Belgian boy awaited the Canadian troops taking part in the service . . . and the Canadians repaid him in full:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=622_1236062375
In case anyone has felt me to be a little too heavy with my stories these past few days. Just a reminder that remembrance can also bring a smile to our faces.
If you really haven't known me that long, it's likely you haven't seen me at this time of year yet. If you have, then you know the deal - as always, the avatar will change back after the 12th.
November 11th: Remembrance Day for Commonwealth Nations, Veteran's Day for Americans, Armistice Day for other countries as well as for those who choose to stick by the old terms.
It's a day we're supposed to look back and remember that freedom isn't free, and that entire generations have fought with their lives so that we no longer have to. We only need to give a couple minutes at 11am on Wednesday to do so.
I tend to give a little more - this is my way of remembering:
This year, I'm going to put my Remembrance Day posts in my Metropolis World. As always, I don't demand that anyone take their time to read these stories, but I do encourage it. Though I won't deny a great sense of personal satisfaction in doing these write-ups, my goal is strictly to pass along a story that perhaps no one has heard about just yet. These are stories that you almost feel ashamed that you don't know; these are stories that you never want the world to forget . . .
This year, I'm going to tell stories that I should have learned about years ago, given my personal status as a second-generation Chinese-Canadian. We'll start with a man in the right place at the wrong time, who became a spy for the British during World War Two: Agent Bill Chong.
It's less than a week until Remembrance Day on Wednesday.
I need to start gearing up for my annual thing again. I don't have a lot of drawn out stories planned just yet - just a lot of bits and half-complete images so far. I think I'll save those images and such for the last day, and it should be good.
For the rest . . . we'll have to see. Anyone have any ideas?
This also reminds me, I need to pick up a poppy still . . .
There was a general feeling by the spring of 1918 that, in one way or another, the war was about to end. The Russian Army had just pulled out of The Great War due to the Bolshevik Revolution, and all the German forces on the eastern front were no...
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Now that all that election-type stuff is out of the way, I feel it important to touch on some other important matters - nothing new, just a whole lot of history . . .
It's November 10th today. A day away from Remembrance Day.
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