Just a thought… If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders fields. [John McCrae]

As Rob and I have walked the small Pleasantville streets of Sidney, BC the past week, we have both noticed and commented on the proliferation of poppies on people’s lapels. And not just in our age range or skin tones.

Don’t believe the hate that spreads on the internet at this time of year about “those people” who don’t wear them. Sometimes our poppies fall off our lapels; sometimes they’re at home. Just be kind and wear your own is our motto.

On a beautiful large lawn near our home overlooking the ocean there is a display that we almost literally stumbled upon during a dark dog walk the other night. Here’s what we saw.

Around the country today, Canadians of all ages will take a moment – or hopefully more – to remember the sacrifices of the men and women who have fought on the side of righteousness; who have given their sanity, their body parts, years of service and, in many cases, their lives to serve Canada.

And it warmed Rob’s and my heart to see a story on our local news that you might have read or watched last week about an app, founded by a Canadian vet, that has mapped out gravesites from across the planet to share the stories of thousands of fallen soldiers. For it is in this telling, in bringing these brave men and women back to life, that we are reminded of the happiness they felt (the founder’s grandfather died in a mine blast after visiting his brother posted in nearby Normandy). Just as in the words of John McCrae, who “lived, felt dawn, saw sunset’s glow – loved and were loved….”

Here’s a link to the story on CBC if you haven’t already seen it.

To Ryan Mullens: you deserve the Order of Canada. You have found a modern way to remember old-fashioned love of country, bravery, and dedication to the fight against fascism.

For many today, tears will fall, not just in memory of horrors past, but in despair for what is to come. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” George Santayana said. Today we do remember history.

After today, it remains up to us to support the side of righteousness and remember that, as Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men [and women] to do nothing.”

We remember. And we thank you from the bottom of our hearts today – and always.