These pages are dedicated to remembering all of those who fought
and died in the wars for freedom and civilisation for Canada, Britain,
the Empire and Commonwealth; as well as our friends and allies,
the United States of America.
The links here go to various pages here and other sites that
tell the story of the Dominion of Canada's particular contribution in war.
For many years I have sought to encourage an appropriate observance
of remembrance for Canadian youth in schools as well as provide
some guidelines for teachers and principals toward just that.
It is very personally gratifying that this site has been of help for
so many.
It is an opportunity within the school to permit our students,
not only to learn the significance of remembrance, but to exercise
and demonstrate their citizenship in a manner common with their
fellow citizens at the cenotaph.
A sample service for a Remembrance Assembly in school is provided.
Note to educators: Please feel free to copy and adapt it,
along with the other features of this site, to your own needs.
It does, however, follow the pattern which is observed at the
National War Memorial, so please do follow the protocol
established out of respect for our country and the fallen.
The "music" of Remembrance is both unique to the occasion
and is well-established.
I've included the hymns, including lyrics, as well as the bugle
sounds appropriate for the observance, with the sheet music...
(special thanks to our Australian cousins!)
The untiring work in the past decade of the Royal Canadian Legion
and the mainly positive contribution from the Department of Veteran's
Affairs is encouraging. Beware, however, of the VA's 'Canada Remembers'
site. While much of it is accurate and very helpful, in some places it is more
like 'Canada Forgets' with an unfortunate undercurrent of historical
revisionism and anti-British political and cultural bias that shamelessly
views Canada's history through the lens of French Canadian nationalism
so deeply entrenched in the federal bureaucracy since the days of Trudeau.
I welcome your comments; especially from those who have
found it helpful in schools. You are invited to send me a
note with your comments and/or suggestions.
Greg Benton |
