November 11 has always been an interesting and difficult day for me. I’m not exactly sure why it is such a powerful day. Few of my direct relatives were in the military. Only one fought in a war, and I didn’t learn that until late in my high school years. Canada, where I grew up, is not a martial place. When the world wars happened, we followed closely behind Britain in our declaration of war and fought alongside the Allies from the beginning to the end of those two conflicts. We participated in the Korean conflict as well. For the most part, our military focus has been about peacekeeping missions, and we do that very well.
In Canada, November 11 is Remembrance Day. Observed on the anniversary of the armistice after WWI, its focus is to honor the dead, remember the horror of war, and to do all that we can to prevent it from recurring. I’ve always loved studying history. I don’t think I’ll ever forget some of the lessons and photos of WWi from my high school history text. I learned about horrors of the Somme and Paschendale, where as Dan Carlin puts it, lives were simply thrown into the meat grinder. Hard won victories like Vimy Ridge are still celebrated, but in a nuanced way, given the cost.
Living in the US now is difficult when November 11 arrives. In the US, November 11 is Veteran’s Day. It’s the day to celebrate primarily the lives of those who are currently in the military-and there are many of them- as well as the living who were once in the military. Honoring the military dead is mainly done in May on Memorial Day. Because the subject of focus is so different, the nature of the observance is also very different. Growing up, November 11 was a sombre day. It was like a funeral or a wake. In the US, it’s a celebration of sorts. I’m not saying one is better than the other, though I do have my preference.
The famous poem In Flanders Fields was penned by Canadian doctor John McCrae sometime after the second battle of Ypres in 1915. WWI was still being fought when it was written, and the full weight of what was to come had not yet sunk in. All my life a poppy was the symbol worn for Remembrance Day. It symbolizes the blood, and death, and sleep.
At the beginning of World War I, the attitude was similar to that of the first battle of Bull Run in the US Civil War. People from Washington came out to watch, expecting a quick and decisive skirmish which turned into something protracted and horrible. The US in some ways has still not recovered fully from the events of the 1860s. Similarly, the world still reels from the Great War.
I don’t look down on veterans or those in the military, but neither do I exalt them. Many of my US family are currently in or have been in the military. At points in my life I tried to join both the Canadian and US militaries. Neither would have me.
In the next two weeks we’re taking a trip to Europe. We will spend time in Italy with family who are stationed in the Air Force over there. We will also go to Belgium and while we’re there, we’ll visit Ypres. I’m sure that I will weep.
Union General Sherman is credited with saying “war is hell”. I’ve never fought in a war, but I’m sure that it’s far worse than I can ever imagine.
I will remember that.