Veteran's Week 2012

 

On Sunday, November 4^th, I had the opportunity to join citizens of Waterloo Region as they took time to remember and honour our Veterans at a memorial ceremony at Veteran’s Green Park in Waterloo. Represented were veterans from the army, navy and air force as well as the Cadets from our area.   Veterans' Week is a time when Canadians honour those who have sacrificed to defend Canada's values of freedom and democracy and is a time to remember all Canadian Veterans and honour those who serve today. We commemorate the sacrifices and achievements of our brave Canadians whose legacy is the peace and security we continue to enjoy as Canadians.

Today's event included an assembly at the memorial, a traditional Veteran’s Day service ministered by Rev. Paul Ellingham, Last Post and Revelle by Lt Chris Patterson, and a wreath-laying ceremony. The sound of the bagpipes resonated throughout the area of the Lament as Adam Annandale approached the flag that sadly waved at half mast. 

This upcoming Veterans' Week (November 5^th-11^th), take time to remember by attending a Remembrance Day ceremony, visiting a local cenotaph or monument, sharing your thoughts of remembrance online, or wearing a poppy with pride. Learn more and find remembrance events and activities in your area at veterans.gc.ca.

Remembrance Day 11-11-11

This post is dedicated to our fallen soldiers and their wives, Mothers, Fathers and family. Today at 11 am, I will bow my head in silence with thoughts of you and all soldiers who have served. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I remember today... and I remember always.

September 11th, 2011 - We Will Always Remember

We honour the men, women and children who lost their lives; those who gave their lives and the Heroes who responded on September 11th. 2001. We pray for their families who have suffered an unimaginable loss.

We pause to remember the fateful day, we remember a day that ultimately changed our world forever. We came together for healing and mourning. Then together we united to exact justice and ensure another attack like this never happened again.

We honour our men and women in uniform who are dedicated to protect us and to keep us safe. We will always remember.

Memorial Reflecting Pools

This Sept. 11, the dedication of the 9/11 Memorial in New York will evoke many emotions: reverence for loved ones lost, gratitude for brave first responders, love of country, perhaps some uplift and peace.
"As you walk up to the body of water, there is a moment of sad comprehension.... You understand the scale and magnitude of what happened here." – Michael Arad, architect
In a solemn ceremony, the families of the victims – as well as Presidents Obama and George W. Bush – will look out on two massive waterfalls that pour into pools formed in the footprints of the former towers of the World Trade Center. The water disappears into dramatic black voids. All around the pools are the names of the victims, incised into bronze sheeting.
Instrumental in bringing about the memorial are three Americans who were strangers on 9/11 but ultimately became linked by the terrible events of the day.
These three men (Joe Daniels, Peter Walker and Michael Arad) turned their initial shock into a memorial, transforming the gaping wound in the ground, a reminder of 2,977 lives lost, into a place of serenity, reflection, and grace.