Lest we forget

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

I was quite surprised that Canada celebrates the Remembrance Day - or Veterans' Day, as it's know here - even more than the Brits. Today is even a national holiday in British Columbia (though not in whole of Canada although they are talking about it).

Poppies are everywhere, practically everyone is wearing them, young and old. Even I got one last week when a veteran reminding me of my grandfather was selling them, but they seem to have a tendency to drop off so I don't have it anymore.

I have to say to my shame that I didn't even know that Canada was involved in the Second World War, but they themselves seem to be very proud of their part. But they in fact were involved, both in Europe and in the Pacific, and were on the five nations in the D-Day landing. Canadian industry was greatly affected by the manufacturing of planes, ships and weapons, and they not only supplied food to their own troops but to their allies as well. It was no small effort: over a million Canadians volunteered to help in the war - this was over 10% of the (then 11 million) population.

Maybe it's one of those things - I don't think anyone in Europe would say that Canada had a big part to play, they often play down the role of US in the war (especially war in Europe). Whereas here they want (and need) to believe that all those deaths and injuries were not in vain and that they had an important role to play.