In memory of Vanessa Yasintha Wambura (August 2003 – August 2023).

Today is November 11th. The day grieved yet celebrated by all nations. To celebrate our freedom, our families, our rights and everything that those millions of soldiers offered. Yet, we grieve the death of many, the loss of our loved ones. The loss of generations. Today is the day where we all join hands, every race, and religion, to tell stories of the soldiers. The most important day in Canadian history. I wish we had a day off from school but that’s ok. It is still perfect to celebrate the day with my fellow students, teachers and other staff included. So, to start my article off, I would like to start it with a poem:

IN FLANDERS FIELDS POEM
The World’s Most Famous WAR MEMORIAL POEM
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

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.

Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915
during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium

Lieutenant McCrae, is just one of the many who fought for our freedom. He had composed this poem out of grief for the loss of his friend one night. I find very uplifting when you see all the generations of men and women wearing the red poppies around this month of November. How about you?

Do you know that Remembrance Day is called Veterans Day in USA? It usually takes place on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month. At our school, we have a grand assembly, were the gym is decorated with reeds filled with poppies, the school gathers together to watch a video commemorating the thousands of soldiers, followed by many presentations by classes of all grades, then, we stand for a moment of silence followed by O Canada, our national anthem. O Canada is sung mainly in English and French, however, many people of different tongues translate it. Here it is, you may sing it while reading me:

O Canada

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

The soldiers of the frightening World War 1 and World War 2, fought for many things. The First World War was based on liberal rights, some women were unable to vote for anything causing an uproar. The First World War was fought from 1914 to 1918, around the time once my grandparents and great-grandparents were alive. Some say, that once the soldiers wanted to die, they would smoke a cigar at night, sending the smell of tobacco and puffs of white smoke, the predator then knew where the person was and killed them. Men and women alike participated in the war, no one was left behind with no role to play. Women, were asked to work as nurses, mending and taking care of the injured soldiers. Around a total of 42,188,810 fought in World War 15,142,631 we’re killed, 12,800,706 were wounded and 4,121,090 were held prisoners or missing. In World War 2 there was 16.1 million soldiers who fought, yet 72 million people died. 6 million of them were Jews, killed during the holocaust. But, Canada was strong, they managed to defeat the predators bringing us Canada. A proud continent filled with many things. Source: Library and Archives Canada plus in class learning.

Please stand for a minute or two of silence. To commemorate all the soldiers, their family and the armed force of Canada…

LEST WE FORGET, UNITED WE REMEMBER!!! THANK YOU!!!

Vanessa Wambura