Remember

Today is the 11th day of the 11th month, also known as Remembrance Day, and coming up will be the 11th hour where me and the rest of Canada will take some time to say thanks to all the soldiers from WWI, WWII, the Korean War, and all the peacekeepers for all they have done for us to help keep Canada safe. Today is the day where I feel very proud to be a Canadian.

During WWI (1914-1918) over 600,000 volunteers went overseas to battle and by the end of the war more than 69,000 died and 172,000 were wounded. They were very courage for taking on this task.
During WWII (1939-1945) over a million people went to serve in combat and more than 47,000 did not return.
In Korea (1950-1953) over 26,000 soldiers served and 500 died.

The poppy is the symbol for this day because of all the poppies that were growing around the graves of the fallen soldiers. During the battle of Ypres Canadian Lt.-Col. John McCrae was inspired to write a poem after seeing the poppies grow over a close friend's grave.
The first poppies were given out in Canada in 1921. Today the veterans distribute them for a donation to the Royal Canadian Legion which help the exsoldiers live today.

To end my blog today I will leave you with Lt.-Col. John McCrae's Poem

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 with 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.

John McCrae 1915