"Lest We Forget" - Remembrance Day and Why Western Nations Respect It

A day the western world takes a moment to remember who fought died and sacrificed so much for us in all countries and wars

Those who fought and lived through those times are now almost all gone, they've grown old and passed away. Some are still with us but most of all we know is from the record books and old articles and photos. It’s easy for us to look back and see what caused those wars and how we would do things differently today.

I always wondered what those soldiers would think today if they saw what the world turned in to since then. I do not believe this is the society they fought for. Of course the technology we have today was unimaginable but what about how politics plays out or how we treat the planet knowing what now know. Is this the world they fought for? These soldiers truly believed they were saving their country from annihilation or in the least a dramatic change in the status quo. Many of them would have fought for free; they didn’t need to be paid though they were. They knew they were protecting their way of life and families back home.

Can soldiers say that today? Do they feel that when they go to battle in foreign countries are they thinking “This will save my world back home?" I’m sure they each have their own reasons to go to war today, I’m just wondering that also.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-2553182

It seems like America’s recent wars were all led to increase their influence rather than protect their nation and way of life. I know many soldiers but I have not really discussed this. I worked in an army surplus shop and they’d come, buy and sell stuff. Some were my friends and they did enjoy the money. Canadian soldiers get $50,00CAD bonus when they serve overseas on top of their salary. So in Canada we have more soldiers than we send and they compete for the privilege to go abroad and fight. I have heard it is similar in America.

Many Countries were involved. Canada and Australia fought under the British flag and often we are not properly acknowledged as much as we feel we should be. We are getting more recognition these days thankfully. I guess they had to if they wanted to fight with them now that we have the choice.

Well my point is we are fighting different wars for very different reasons. All soldiers deserve to be remembered if not for their causes then at least for their valor and bravery.

Enjoy this historic poem called Flander’s Field for where it was written by a Canadian during World War 1. It is taught in most public schools to children. I don’t think I know a single Canadian born citizen that doesn’t know this poem.

https://suttonplacehotelcompany.wordpress.com/tag/flanders-fields/

Wikipedia can sum it up best here
"In Flanders Fields" is a war poem in the form of a rondeau, written during the First World War by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. He was inspired to write it on May 3, 1915, after presiding over the funeral of friend and fellow soldier Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, who died in the Second Battle of Ypres. According to legend, fellow soldiers retrieved the poem after McCrae, initially dissatisfied with his work, discarded it. "In Flanders Fields" was first published on December 8 of that year in the London-based magazine Punch.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Flanders_Fields

http://www.calgaryhighlanders.com/history/10th/history/stjulien.htm

It was also used as propaganda to help recruit more soldiers for the allies.
At precisely 11:11am on the 11th month we are all to stop what we are doing and take a moment to think about those who did so much. Which is the date and time WW1 peace treaty was signed.

This battle was a game changer in the war. Modern warfare was changing.

http://slideplayer.com/slide/4622902/

And let’s not forget that regardless of the reason to go for war it’s almost certainly a stupid preventable one. All soldiers on any side would prefer to not battle once they are face to face with it.

(All images credited as require)

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I hope you found this article interesting and unique..

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Please see other posts of my Life in China 请参阅我在中国生活的其他邮件
https://steemit.com/cn/@solarguy/a-truly-haunted-place-i-discovered-in-the-hillside-of-dalian
https://steemit.com/cn/@solarguy/my-trip-into-an-abandoned-defunct-chinese-bomb-shelter
https://steemit.com/life/@solarguy/dalian-china-summer-s-end-canadian-style-bbq-bbq
https://steemit.com/cn/@solarguy/go-topless-and-support-international-women-s-rights-day