Each year I go, the numbers are smaller, the children I see are usually laying wreaths in their schools name, and those who served are growing older, I'm not angry just sad, even my family seems just "to busy" to take a little time out at attend the memorial, even the Local RSL seems a little quieter this year The bagpipes always make this erry sound that vibrates right through me, and as the speeches are read, I remember tales my grandfather and uncles would tell me as a child and how they lied about their ages, the willing sacrafices my mother and her family made to give a little the "their boys" And then the "last post" sounded and silence fell, only mared by the passing traffic. 2 minutes silence Then- They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age will not weary them, nor the years condemn at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them. Lest we forget Amazing Grace The national anthem and it was over again for another year I'm not going to get into a polictical debat about the rights and wrongs, or who did what, if your country in apart of this or if you choose to get invoved or not... ......it's about remembering ....... ......not just the fallen....... ......but about those we have loved and lost

Lest we forget...

To remember what our fathers, and their fathers, and theirs, did... what they lived.

Working for the government, we commemorate Rememberence Day each year (along with the two days that we remember fallen Firefighters and Ambos). Today, at 11am, the Ode was broadcast over the PA system and a minute silence was observed. An announcement was made at 10.55 that at 11am the Ode would be broadcast. In the meeting I was in, mobile phones were turned off! At 11am, as soon as the Ode started, every person (about 60 people) stood and remained standing for the Ode, and minute silence. None of those people were Uniformed personnel. All were public servants. There have been photos put up on our intranet - they show, at 11am, people just stopped where they were. We have three honour boards. Two are Fireys and Ambos who have fallen in the line of duty. The third are Fireys and Ambos who fell in war. A small ceremony today was conducted by our Director-General and the Commissioners who laid wreaths. It won't be on the news. It won't make the papers. But the fact that it was done makes it special. Remember all those who put their lives on hold to take a stance against what they felt was wrong. To those who make a carreer in the Military and serve - no matter what their personal opinion is. We may debate for decades right and wrong, but never should we doubt the dedication of those men and women who put their lives on the line, so that we don't have to.

Amen.

We observed it as best as we could...with screaming little kids at a party. I chose to do it an hour later at home wih them settled for a naptime.

Ive been going to the service on sundays for many years and I have noticed a greater number of people, of all ages, attending, its good to see.This year Theo will be going to his first, at ten months he can pay his respects.

Our school will be remembering this morning. The veteran who comes in has several schools he visits so he will participating with us at 9:30 and then off to his "home school" (where he went to school when he was a boy) for the 11:00 service. This service always brings tears to my eyes and I try my best to help my 6 year old students understand why it is so important we remember.

I'm sure my brother, who's back home in Ottawa from Alberta this week, will attend the ceremony at one of his daughters' schools, in his dress uniform.

I wish we could invite/have visit more soldiers from today, rather than the veterans from previous wars. Our youth would definitely connect more with someone younger ... probably most youth would.

Originally posted by clouddancerOur youth would definitely connect more with someone younger ... probably most youth would.

That is so true! When I did my student teaching, I taught The Things They Carried by a Vietnam veteran Tim O'Brien. At the end of reading that book, I had my brother who had just returned from Afghanistan come in and talk about what it was like over there to give the students a comparison. I don't think I'd ever seen the students as engaged as they were. It wasn't meant to be a recruitment, but after listening to him, several expressed interest in that career. It also provided a nice juxtaposition as O'Brien was drafted and not happy about it, while my brother enlisted. Happy Veterans' Day. Thank to all the men and women who have served, are serving, and will serve.

Ame, That is awesome your brother was able to visit the school and talk to them about his experiences. I was lucky enough last summer to visit a local girl scout troop talking about women in the military. It was an amazing experience. I don't know who gets more out of it the speaker or the audience. It warms my heart to hear how many people take Veteran's Day to heart. My thanks go out to all veterans past and present as well, especially those in harms way. They are all in my family's prayers for safe returns to their loved ones. Happy Veteran's Day!

At my kids old school, they had a project where every class sent letters and a package to local troops serving in Iraq. Each class had a different serviceman. When the troops came home, they visited the school, and the kids were all so excited to see them. It meant a lot to the troops too, who had had no idea how much they had meant to the kids.