Remember the real reasons

The debate whether Nov. 11 should be a statutory holiday seems to have become more prevalent, partly in thanks to a proposed federal bill that didn’t make before Taps was played on the last government.

We have legislation in Nova Scotia that intends to protect the sanctity of how it’s observed here, yet it’s because of the law people get frustrated by what is open and what is not. Why do government employees get time off, but not others, and so forth.

We each have our own stories and connections to those who contributed with their service and sacrifices, extending to modern day military families. Technically, remembering never stops in our family. My father was from southern England, so we grew up with his war stories — intended to teach us lessons — of food rations, bomb shelters, picking up shrapnel on the way to school, the shops, or when their road was blitzed, thankfully only leaving my grandmother with a broken leg.

I’d attend Remembrance Day services with grandad, who had an impressive naval career powering battleships while this was all happening on the home front to his wife and, at the time, only son. Meanwhile, my other grandfather was liberating Holland with other heroic Canadians.

Now they’re all gone, it’s up to me to pass the torch. Old family photos stay dusted on the mantle. Our children’s Remembrance Day art still hangs on the wall near a poppy painting by German artist Guenter Burr, who had his work in several local galleries when he lived here. Not that I can afford to collect art. It’s probably the smallest canvas he ever painted.

You may recall from last year the story of a local granddaughter who recovered family medals from both World Wars she didn’t know were lost and bought them back from a collector out west. I couldn’t afford them either but to me, they are priceless.

Veterans ought to have the last word on how remembrance is handled now and for the future. Veterans from all wars Canadians fought in, not just in Britain’s wars. But it is interesting to take a glimpse at how Britain honours the contributions of its, and our, military service men and women.

Armistice Day was observed after the First World War, but after 1945, the official service was moved to the second Sunday of November and called Remembrance Sunday. There is a two-minute silence on Armistice Day government staff, schools and businesses pause for. It’s an observance there, not a public holiday.

Not surprisingly, debate about how it’s commemorated is usually limited to poppy-wearing etiquette or how to teach remembrance to younger generations. This year a proposal to shorten the official service in London — to reduce time aging participants stood for — first looked as though it was a bomb until Downing Street killed its plan to make Opposition leaders lay their wreaths together as a time-saving measure. PM David Cameron wanted to avoid war among those politicians who thought it was about them.

For Veterans

GoodLife Fitness honours Canadian veterans and those in active duty with free access to all GoodLife Fitness Clubs across Canada for the month of November.

During the month of November, GoodLife Fitness — Canada’s largest fitness club chain — welcomes Canadian veterans and those in active duty to use GoodLife Fitness clubs for free. The month-long open house runs from November 1 to 30, at all GoodLife Fitness clubs across Canada.

“We wanted to give back to the brave men and women who serve our country here and around the world,” says David ‘Patch’ Patchell-Evans, GoodLife Fitness Founder and CEO. “Their courage and commitment to serving their country is inspiring and ensures that all Canadians can enjoy the rights and freedoms we have today.”

The open house recognizes the sacrifices that Canadian veterans and active duty service people have made for their country.

For more information, please call a GoodLife Fitness club in your area. Contact information for each club can be found at: goodlifefitness.com/locations.