Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day here in Canada, known as Veterans Day in the U.S.A. It's the same holiday, celebrating the armed forces on the day of the armistice for World War I. In British Columbia, it is a statutory holiday which is lovely for me because that means I don't have classes, but I also appreciate that this puts this holiday on par with other holidays that everyone likes so much (I'm thinking Labor Day).
I've noticed a difference between Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the U.S. For the past two weeks, people have been wearing poppies (I just tried to put a footnote about this, thanks, grad school) and there have been memorial commercials, I guess that's what they're called, on TV. As for those poppies. In 1915, a Canadian military physician wrote a poem called In Flanders Fields that commemorated the men who had died in war there. (I've included the poem at the end of this post.) The symbol of the poppy was picked up from it and became a national symbol. England, as well as other commonwealth countries, followed suit. I don't recall anything particularly significant about Veterans Day. The best I can do is some liturgy/memorial service held way back when I was in 4th grade, or thereabouts, because I did a reading and that's when I learned the word 'armistice'.
Anyway, it's nice to see a stronger presence about why we're celebrating the day and who we're honoring. Prince Charles and Camilla just did a tour of Canada so they had both Canadian and English versions of the poppy on their lapels. I think they participated in some memorial events as well. That was new for me, a lot of press coverage of the royals because indeed, Queen Elizabeth is sovereign and head of state in Canada. I didn't realize they were going to be hanging around (they were definitely right in my neighborhood!) otherwise I would've gone to catch a glimpse.
So, this is my cultural post of the month (maybe year?). Another little thing I appreciate about Canada.

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.
-John McCrae (1915)