Keeping memories alive

By Stan Ashbee
Sunny South News

As Remembrance Day 2015 will be observed tomorrow, Glenn Miller from the Lethbridge Legion noted since Canadian soldiers have been to Afghanistan, it seems daily life goes on without the visible presence of war.
“Poppies have been available to the public from the poppy boxes — I notice very few people wear poppies, especially amongst the younger generation,” Miller said, adding it’s more of the older generation wearing them. “It’s probably because they ‘remember’ more.”
Miller believes veterans would appreciate if Canadians wear poppies through Veterans’ Week, as a sign of remembrance.
“That is what the poppy has come to be recognized as in Canada and this being the 100th year of the poem ‘In Flanders Field’ with the release of the $2 coin and the new quarter poppy, that’s just another symbol. There’s just a general lack of the populace wearing poppies during Veterans’ Week. I think there could be room for improvement,” he said.
Certainly, the Canadian military has the navy, air force and army still abroad defending Canada and its values, according to Miller.
“Whether it be a ship deployed or troops overseas and that still continues throughout the year,” he said, and those in the military serving should also be recognized on Nov. 11, as well as the Canadians who have lost their lives.
This afternoon Miller will be at the Coalhurst High School speaking as a member of the Memory Project, a national organization.
“It’s an organization of military speakers and organizations can request a speaker. There’s only two in southern Alberta. Gordon Brown and myself. Brown is a Korean War vet,” said Miller.
Miller said he will be trying to tie in the origin of the poppy into his Memory Project presentation about how it all started.
“I think all kids understand the poppy is symbolic with remembrance but it’s been 100 years since the poem was created by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCRae,” he added.
He said most students nowadays rarely know where Flanders Fields is — when he asks students about its location during his presentations. Flanders Fields is located in Belgium. Miller also uses his presentations to raise awareness of the Canadian contribution overseas.
For the most part, Miller said, Canadians are very fortunate not to have been involved with war.
Miller also wanted students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to know they can take part in the Legion Poster and Literary Contest, which is on now with submissions due by the end of the month.
Miller said there’s only two simple rules.
“The theme is remembrance and using Canadian symbols,” he said.

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