As a group of young Caledon hockey players headed to the Olympic stadium in Lake Placid last weekend, a poppy adorned their chests. It was a proud moment as a parent.
Four of our young lad’s team-mates carried in the Canadian flag for the tournament’s opening ceremonies and dozens of teams assembled on ice to watch while it and the American flag were hoisted to the rafters. Both anthems were sung, and players were wowed with a lighting ceremony. Parents, somewhat tired from an early start and six-plus hours of travel, were able to appreciate the moment. Hockey is, after all, a team sport, from coaches to kids to parents.
The Caledon Hawks’ fate in the CanAm tournament hosted there was not as magnificent as that of Team Canada in 1932, nor countless Canadian teams since. But they played hard and learned what a higher level of play feels like. More tournaments lie ahead.
Other teams from Canada sported poppies too, proudly walking to and from the arena. While some Americans will know of its significance leading up to and on Remembrance Day, its importance in this country has been ongoing for a century.
Inspired by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields, over 20 million poppies are distributed each year in Canada.
The satisfaction from that early morning dose of patriotism wore off quickly with news bits from home. Work never stops for us on these little junkets.
First, a screenshot of a social media post came in about a school out east telling veterans and service people not to wear their uniform to school. That request was withdrawn within hours after outrage ensued. Canadians may be less pro-military than their cousins to the south, but the majority tend to support men and women who serve their country.
Second was a reminder about Don Cherry’s extrication from the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast five years ago. He directed criticism towards new Canadians who don’t generally support veterans by wearing poppies. Columnists have taken up that cause, as has the National Citizens Coalition recently, pointing out Cherry’s worst fears seem to have a basis in fact. The significance of Remembrance Day, and its solemn regard for sacrifices in two World Wars and conflict since, appears to be losing ground.
Third and far more personal was a little insight into a story we are hearing for the first time from a longtime family friend. Along with thanking the Advertiser staff for yet another well-written Remembrance Day feature, he mentioned growing up as a child in England. In part … “As a three-year-old child taken into the chilly night in the north of England by my mother and placed in a partially, sub ground, steel Anderson shelter I still vividly, even at that age, remember the search lights in the sky profiling the attack of Spitfires against Hitler’s invading Nazi bombers.” Canadians enjoy the life they do thanks to veterans.
After commemorative events were held, the National Post reported “An Ottawa school played an Arabic-language Palestinian protest song associated with fighting in Gaza as the soundtrack to its Remembrance Day presentation, causing outrage and distress for some students and parents …
“Principal Aaron Hobbs defended the selection during one of those meetings, saying it was chosen to bring diversity and inclusion to Remembrance Day that is usually only about ‘a white guy who has done something related to the military.’”
With such examples it would be easy to conclude that our education system is failing kids in a big way. But feeding that stereotype would be a disservice to the many fine educators who capably talk with kids and help them understand sacrifice and the Herculean efforts to stamp out fascism abroad. Parents have a significant role in this too – by guiding their children and speaking out against the likes of Hobbs.
It would also be easy to suggest we have grown soft as a people. Memories fade and for most of us that haven’t experienced grueling hardship during armed conflicts, we become less appreciative of those charged with keeping Canada safe.
Our “normal” in Canada is abnormal for many parts of the world struggling under authoritarian regimes. We are hopelessly spoiled people in that sense.
The torch is ours to carry – let’s honour veterans well.
