2009 Wear a Poppy Thread.

[Puppet Guy]

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to do violence against those who would do us harm"

- George Orwell

[redforever]

Every year Stuart McLean of The Vinyl Café honors a past veteran. Last year, he relayed stories from various people, about war experiences. All the stories were interesting, but the one that really moved me was one written by Chris Irwin, who went with his parents and family to Vimy Ridge and surprised and honored them with a bagpipe tribute. He had some misfortune in that he forgot to pack in the reeds to his bagpipes. But miraculously, he found some with help from a teacher in the town they were staying. I listened to Stuart McLean reading this story on the radio. You can download it too, I think you would enjoy it. The experience of Chris Irwin is found at about the 23 minute mark of the download.

The following link gives you the gist of the story,

http://news.guelphmercury.com/printArticle/558291

and you can download and listen here.

Subscribe in iTunes Download the latest mp3

[worth]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Anyone know what the deal is with that memorial cemetary on Memorial Drive? More specifically, is it permanent or is it just here for the next couple weeks?
I just noticed it today, it's a couple blocks west of center street. A few hundred crosses with names on them, lined up in the typical "Flanders Field" alignment.
I haven't driven Memorial in a couple weeks, but I'm sure I would have noticed it had it been there before. It also looks kinda temporary because there's temporary fencing around it. Seems like the kind of thing that would be a shame to deconstruct. Of course, it also seems like the kiind of thing some punk vandals or some anti-war lunatic would vandalize.

I'm not sure if what's there right now is permanent or not, but they are building a Calgary Soldiers Memorial:

http://www.calgarysoldiersmemorial.ca/

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/colum...04031-sun.html

[J pold]

Originally Posted by redforever

Every year Stuart McLean of The Vinyl Café honors a past veteran. Last year, he relayed stories from various people, about war experiences. All the stories were interesting, but the one that really moved me was one written by Chris Irwin, who went with his parents and family to Vimy Ridge and surprised and honored them with a bagpipe tribute. He had some misfortune in that he forgot to pack in the reeds to his bagpipes. But miraculously, he found some with help from a teacher in the town they were staying. I listened to Stuart McLean reading this story on the radio. You can download it too, I think you would enjoy it. The experience of Chris Irwin is found at about the 23 minute mark of the download. [/B]

Stuart Mclean is simply fantastic, I listen to Vinyl Cafe every week and have read a number of his book. Last weeks story was very moving, when he played his bagpipes at the end I started to well up.

There is a story titled "Remembrance Day" from a couple of years ago. The story is about Corporal Eddie Ginger Mathison and the last post card he wrote back home to Canada before he died in the first world war. I've listened to this story a number of times and every time I do I am so overcome with emotion that it has brought me to tears.

[peter12]

Bwahahahahahahahhaa.

I donated exactly $5.25 today for my poppy. Old guy at the table was about 75 with a chest full of medals and perfect posture. I had trouble looking him in the eye. We are such a soft generation.

[Berger_4_]

What the frig?

If I'm not mistaken, CaptainCrunch was involved with the military. So I don't think it'd be advisable to call him a dickless idiot in a thread about something he knows a good deal more about than you.
God, I hope he snaps on him.

Anyways, I just threw whatever change I had on me when I was in Shoppers the other day. Only thing is that I've only got one. I'd like to donate to a veteran in person, but there seems to be a real lack of them around the university area.

One other thing...where are the services being held in Calgary?

[JohnnyB]

I would wear a poppy if I could get one here. Remembrance Day is one of the cultural days I miss most about Canada.

[icarus]

CaptainCrunch has served in the Canadian Forces I believe. Considering the way you have attacked him and elsewhere RougeUnderoos, two longstanding and respected posters on this board, and without contributing anything yourself, I expect your days are numbered. You won't be missed.

[icarus]

I am going to vent here, because I think this is the appropriate thread.

At least twice in the past couple of years, I have been asked (once in Australia, once in England) whether Canada has a military. It is asked innocently but it makes me really irate.

My grandfather was one of the few Bomber Command pilots to survive WWII, his uncle was killed in August 1918 after surviving Vimy, Passchendaele, the Somme amongst other battles. Sapper Stephen Marshall, whom the Flames honoured with their pregame ceremony on Saturday, was a friend of a friend.

Wear a poppy to remind not only Canadians but the rest of the world of our country's human contributions in times of war.

Magnum PEI, Rememberance Day is not about the objectives or methods of war, it is about the people. Some of those people chose to fight but some didn't have the choice. To choose not to remember all who served is disgraceful, in my opinion.

As for Ireland during WWII, it remained neutral because its government was only willing to go to war once its own national security was threatened (as with the US), but it assisted the English war effort in countless material ways of its own volition (as the US did prior to Pearl Harbor).

[CaptainCrunch]

I think its important to look at some of the great Canadian war heros in the days leading up to the 11th

First up Tommy Prince

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Prince

Roy Brown

the man who shot down the Red Baron

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Brown_(pilot)

The Great Experiment

The Devils Brigade also known as the 1st Special Service Force

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil's_Brigade

The Great Ace Billy Bishop

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bishop

John McCrae
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCrae

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by peter12

Bwahahahahahahahhaa.

I donated exactly $5.25 today for my poppy. Old guy at the table was about 75 with a chest full of medals and perfect posture. I had trouble looking him in the eye. We are such a soft generation.

no doubt, if I was called into action - I would be dead within 20 minutes!

[North East Goon]

One of my biggest pet peeves is how Rememberance Day is not a stat holiday - show some damn respect gov't of Canada or more specifically the financial markets of N.America!!!

[redforever]

The Final Judgement

The Army Soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

'Step forward now, Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep....
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

'Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell.'

[redforever]

Canada's Afghan dead, their profiles and where they were from.


http://www3.thestar.com/static/googlemaps/starmaps.html?xml=afghan_dead.xml

[CaptainCrunch]

I've seen that poem before, one of my favorites

[CaptainCrunch]

Juno Beach invasion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_Beach

[SinceDay1]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

One of my biggest pet peeves is how Rememberance Day is not a stat holiday - show some damn respect gov't of Canada or more specifically the financial markets of N.America!!!

Remembrance Day is a federal statutory holiday. All federal public servants receive Nov 11 as a stat. Not all provinces, specifically Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland, recognize Remembrance Day as a stat though. Many employers in Alberta award the November 11th holiday at a different time, usually over the Christmas break. That, in itself, is disrespectful but the wheels of commerce must grind on I guess.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by SinceDay1

Remembrance Day is a federal statutory holiday. All federal public servants receive Nov 11 as a stat. Not all provinces, specifically Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland, recognize Remembrance Day as a stat though. Many employers in Alberta award the November 11th holiday at a different time, usually over the Christmas break. That, in itself, is disrespectful but the wheels of commerce must grind on I guess.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day

At my company we work on Remembrance Day and give a day off between Chrismas and New Year's so people can spend a longer amount of uninterrupted time with their families. It certainly isn't meant to be disprespectful and has nothing do to with the wheels of commerce grinding on. The work-a-day world is hard, and it wears people down. I think an extended break is nice at the end of the year - much nicer than a Wednesday off in the middle of a week.

[worth]

We normally get Nov 11 over Christmas, but this year we get it on the actual day and i'm quite happy for this as I will attend a ceremony. Most likely the one at the Military Museum.

[CaptainCrunch]

Everywhere I work I've made it totally clear that I refuse to work on November 11th. As a day I find it incredibly important to get out to either the Military Museum or the ceremony in Banff and pay my respects to those who have passed before us for us.

If anyone tries to make me work that day I pretty much harshly refuse.