Remembrance Day 2021

Remembrance Day – The Free Press

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Thursday, November 4, 2021 Page A9

The Free Press

Memorial services and special events

THANK YOU VETERANS & FAMILIES

WE SHALL NOT FORGET – EKC REMEMBERS THOSE THAT SACRIFICED ON OUR BEHALF

f Remembrance Day Hours f All branches closed November 11 f All branches return to temporary branch hours November 12 EKCCU.COM CR ANBROOK • ELKFORD • FERNIE • SPARWOOD

Page A10 Thursday, November 4, 2021

Remembrance Day – The Free Press

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The poppy: an enduring symbol of remembrance marks 100th Anniversary He would never have imagined that the red poppy would soon become the symbol of our fallen soldiers.

November 11 is when we pause to reflect on the men and women who served and who are currently serving our country.

After the publication of McCrae’s verses, poppies took on symbolic meaning, representing at once remembrance, rebirth, hope and the blood spilt in war.

The poppy has been the official flower of Remembrance Day since 1921. Immortalized by the poem “In Flanders Fields”, by John McCrae, the poppy ensures that the men and women who gave their lives shall never be forgotten.

The poem, which became widely known across the Commonwealth of Nations and in the United States, speaks of the poppies that thrived on fields in Belgium and Northern France where some of the war’s bloodiest battles were fought.

When he wrote his poem, Lieutenant Colonel McCrae had just lost a fellow soldier, who died in combat. An expression of his anguish and a reflection of his surroundings, John McCrae wrote these 15 lines in 20 minutes. He was in a field where multitudes of wild poppies grew among the simple wooden crosses that marked the improvised graves.

After the end of the war on Nov. 11, 1918, Madame Anna Guerin of France pushed to distribute poppies on the anniversary of Armistice Day to raise funds for veterans and to honour those who died in that conflict.

On July 6, 1921 the forerunners of the Royal Canadian Legion adopted the poppy as the flower of remembrance.

Today, the poppies we wear on November 11 help us to be mindful of the sacrifice of the brave Canadian soldiers of this war and every other armed conflict in our nation’s history.

The Royal Canadian Legion, who through the sale of these poppies provides support for veterans, suggests that the flower be worn on the left lapel of our garments, close to our hearts.

In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Lest We Forget Remembrance Day 2021

On November 11, we take pause to honour and remember the veterans who have proudly served and continue to serve our country.

Fernie Mountain Lodge 1622 7 Ave, Fernie BC 250.423.5500 Toll Free: 1.866.423.5566 www.bestwesternfernie.com

Causeway Bay 102 Red Cedar Drive, Spawood I 250-425-2003

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Remembrance Day – The Free Press

Thursday, November 4, 2021 Page A11

Remembrance Day Services Thursday, November 11 741 2nd Ave, Fernie, BC (250) 423-4661 www.FernieSA.ca

Lest We Forget Lest We Forget In honour of our veterans and the men and women in the Canadian Forces currently serving our country. cotr.ca

We Will Remember To those who served on the frontlines of conflict; thank you for bringing us to today.

HONOUR OUR VETERANS Sparwood, BC Royal Canadian Legion Branch #081

CENOTAPH CEREMONY at the Sparwood Public Library 10:55 a.m.

Families can designate Legion personnel to lay their wreaths at time of purchase, if desired. Families can choose to lay their wreaths themselves at the ceremony or privately throughout the day.

To protect all - masks recommended and social distancing to be respected.

Everyone welcome back at the Legion in Centennial Square following the Ceremony.

Proof of vaccination and mask required on entry, no luncheon due to restrictions.

Thank you for your support

Page A12 Thursday, November 4, 2021

Remembrance Day – The Free Press

www.thefreepress.ca

Three Indigenous war heroes to salute on Remembrance Day

To our Veterans We salute you.

1791 9 Ave, Fernie, BC Phone: (250) 423-4222

We thank all those who have served and are currently serving.

Western FINANCIAL GROUP

Over 7,000 Indigenous Peoples in Canada served in the First and Second World Wars. Of the many who distinguished themselves during their service, here are three that stand out.

1. Tommy Prince Earning 11 medals in World War II and the Korean War, Tommy Prince of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation is the most decorated Indigenous Canadian war veteran. He’s renowned for his marksmanship and covert abilities, skills he learned on the reserve from his father who was a hunter and a trapper. Among Prince’s numerous celebrated exploits was locating an enemy camp during a 72-hour trek without food or water, an action that led to the capture of more than 1,000 German soldiers.

2. Charles Tompkins Charles Tompkins was one of many Indigenous “code talkers” working for the Allies in World War II. A Métis who spoke fluent Cree, Tompkins Edith Anderson Monture was in charge of transmitting vital messages using a Cree code he helped develop. The practice involved one code talker translating a message into Cree and transmitting it by radio to a second code talker who would then translate the message back into English. This allowed the allies to share integral information with each other without exposing it to potential radio eavesdroppers.

3. Edith Anderson Monture A Mohawk from the Six Nations Grand River Reserve, Edith Anderson Monture was one of 14 Canadian nurses who served as part of the United States Army Nurse Corps in World War I. She worked at a hospital in France, treating soldiers injured in trench warfare and gas attacks.

After the war, she became the first Indigenous woman to become a registered nurse in Canada.

REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE FERNIE, BC

•10:35 am Motorcade parade to St. Margaret’s Cemetery •10:55 am Cenotaph Service

•11:00 am 2 Minute Wave of Silence •11:45 am Motorcade returns to Legion

PLEASE NOTE that due to COVID-19 protocols this service will be limited to invited guests only.

All others are welcome to view the service on the Fernie Legion Facebook page, or on The Free Press Facebook page where it will be streaming live.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we shall remember them.

Remembrance Day – The Free Press

www.thefreepress.ca

Thursday, November 4, 2021 Page A13

Remembering those who have sacrificed everything for our freedoms.

Thank you to all veterans and those in active service from the team at North Coal.

250.425.2713 (Shop) • Sparwood, B.C.

On Remembrance Day… We recognize the many sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform both today and throughout our nation’s history. We honour their courage and dedication, and we thank them for their contribution to our country.

Thank You, Veterans.

113 Red Cedar Drive, Sparwood 250-425-6489 * 792 2nd Avenue, Fernie 250-423-4607

Page A14 Thursday, November 4, 2021

Remembrance Day – The Free Press

www.thefreepress.ca

5 facts about Remembrance Day An easy way to honour our veterans From the last Friday in October until November 11, Canadians are encouraged to purchase and wear a poppy. This is an easy way to show you remember those who died for their country. Additionally, donating to the Poppy Campaign directly supports Canadian veterans and their families.

On November 11, Remembrance Day ceremonies are held across the country to honour the courage of Canadians who fought to defend our way of life. Here are five facts to help you better understand this important occasion.

1. The First World War officially ended on November 11, 1918, with the signing of an armistice agreement. This occurred at precisely 11 a.m. — that is, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

2. Every year, Canadians observe two minutes of silence on Remembrance Day. This is to honour the more than 2.3 million Canadians who served and the more than 118,000 who lost their lives since the start of the First World War. 3. Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday for federal government employees. Six provinces and the three territories have also designated November 11 a statutory holiday.

4. Remembrance Day is celebrated by a number of other Commonwealth member states, including the United Kingdom and Australia, as well as other countries such as France, Belgium and Poland.

5. Canada’s National Remembrance Day Ceremony is held in Ottawa at the National War Memorial. The event is presided over by the Governor General and is attended by the prime minister, veterans’ organizations and the general public.

For more information about Remembrance Day, visit legion.ca/ remembrance.

We will remember—today, tomorrow and always.

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