The Fredericton High School (FHS) Remembrance Day assembly entailed a sea of people with their heads down, though not in solemn thought: hundreds of downcast faces were lit up in the dark auditorium with the soft glow of cell phones. November 11th often divides Canadians, particularly teens, because of conflicting views on the holiday. Some with family military ties connect strongly to the day, while others feel disconnected because they can’t relate personally.
Is there one correct opinion? It’s hard to know, but understanding the day and its significance can help us see the full picture.
When I witnessed my first high school Remembrance Day ceremony, I was included in the sea of screen-lit, downcast expressions. As a 14-year-old, I wasn’t able to wrap my brain around why we had to hear about it. What does this have to do with me? To a kid, the school-wide assembly was simply a barrier between me and the time to get my schoolwork done in class. It felt like a waste of my time — a sentiment I’m sure was shared by many of the students at this past week’s assembly.
While Remembrance Day may not affect me directly, the significance finally dawned on me while listening to a presenter at FHS’s 2022 assembly. The man spoke of the statistics of Canadians lost in both World Wars, along with many other grim facts that paint the picture of why we remember. One fact that stuck with me particularly was the average age of troops who died: ages 18 to 24. While being devastating as a standalone fact, it lit a connection in me.
Many of the wives of these young men, aged 18 to 24, were widowed when they were the same age as me.
Imagine it. You, as you are right now, got married. Shortly after, before even reaching the age of full brain development, your partner is ripped from you by forces outside of your control. That would be world changing.
Maybe Remembrance Day isn’t always about knowing people in the present who serve in the military. For others like me, who may not have any direct connections to the Canadian Forces, maybe November 11th is simply a day to be grateful for the lives that we have today and to feel sympathy for the Canadians just like us, only a century ago, whose lives as they knew them were stolen from them.
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