As many know, August 4th marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. Canada’s participation in the First World War shaped the country and Canadian identity. More than 650,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the First World War, with more than 66,000 of them losing their lives. While traditionally, the Legion does not commemorate the start of conflicts, in recognizing the significance of this historic milestone, we are offering some suggestions for ways you can commemorate and Remember.
Lest We Forget Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M720ICH_Ne0
http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history/videos
Every year on Remembrance Day I think about my grandfathers, father, uncles, and the 6,000 First Nations soldiers who served alongside the Canadian Forces throughout the First and Second World Wars.
These men and women were not Canadian citizens and not subject to conscription efforts. Regardless, they volunteered and stood as allies with their settler brothers — nation to nation — in defence of the land and our collective freedoms. They made valuable contributions to the war efforts and earned more than 50 medals throughout both conflicts.
Our soldiers fought for the shared values of freedom and democratic rights for all. However, these soldiers returned from the war and quickly realized those freedoms and rights did not equally apply to them as they did their non-native comrades.