Remembrance Day is a time when we gather as a society to commemorate and appreciate those who fought for our freedom and are still fighting to keep others safe. Throughout my time working with seniors, I have learnt some extremely meaningful traditions surrounding Remembrance Day.
Growing up in Canada, Remembrance Day is celebrated yearly in school, workplaces and within the greater community. However, there are many traditions and important pieces to Remembrance Day that go unspoken. This year Molly’s Club wants to share those meaningful traditions to help you, and your loved ones experience a thoughtful Remembrance Day.
Wearing a Poppy is one of the main ways we show our support and appreciation for those who served and are serving in the Military. However, the specific traditions surrounding the wearing of the Poppy tend to go unspoken. A Poppy should be donned on the left side of your top/jacket, over the heart to signify your support and appreciation. Not only is the location of your Poppy important but also when you wear it. Poppies should only be worn during the Remembrance period, starting on the last Friday in October until the end of day on November 11th (however, some do choose to remove the Poppy at the end of the Remembrance ceremonies, which is also accepted). What we tend to forget about our Poppies is that when the Remembrance period ends, they should be packed away/disposed of properly. Meaning, to either store it in a safe, dust free area until the next year (or next time you use it), or to place the Poppy at the base of any War Monument. Poppies may also be worn to funerals of fallen soldiers, commemorative events, or simply just to remember a Veteran.
If you and your loved ones are attending or helping with a flag ceremony, there are many traditions that are important to consider. The Canadian flag is a respected and prideful symbol to all Canadians and Veterans. The traditions surrounding the flag are simple yet important to ensure respect and appreciation is shown for those who served. To prepare the flag for a Veterans ceremony one must ensure it is clean and fresh. Many Retirement Homes, Long Term Care Homes, Hospitals, and more will purchase new flags for the ceremony to ensure they are in perfect condition. However, you can wash your Canadian flag to get it looking beautiful for your ceremony, ensure the washer is set to cold and delicate, and wash with minimal soap (so the colour does not run). Once you have a clean flag to use, the next important tradition is to attach the flag to the pole. While doing this it is extremely important to keep the flag off the ground. Not letting any part of it fall to the floor, drag or get stepped on. The respect and treatment of the flag signifies our support and appreciation for those who gave their lives, therefore, to be respectful the flag must remain clean. The final tradition that can help make your Remembrance Day meaningful and thoughtful is to support a local Veteran in raising the flag. Once the flag is attached to the pole, inviting a Veteran to help raise the flag can allow them to reconnect and pay their own respects to fallen crew mates.
Molly’s Club wants to encourage everyone on this Remembrance Day to spend time with the seniors in their life to learn about these meaningful and important traditions. Talking not only about what you do to commemorate Remembrance Day but also why you do certain activities. Passing down these shared traditions helps those in the younger generation understand not only the importance of Remembrance Day but also the significance behind why. Put on your Poppy, get out into the community and commemorate this day with loved ones.
Thank you to all our Veterans, lest we forget.
Comentários