Almost 100 years later, poppies are still displayed vibrantly during the month of November. The year 1921 was when Canadians began wearing the poppy as a symbol of remembrance for soldiers who lost their lives in WWI.
Every year on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, we remember. We remember those who have fallen and those who remain as part of Canadian’s military service.
Each year I write an article about Remembrance Day, where I try to showcase new ways to ensure our children are stopping and remembering. This year Remembrance Day is a Saturday, perhaps this gives some of us the opportunity to be a part of a local celebration as a family.

When I was younger I sat through the Remembrance Day ceremony in school and I remember having to be very quiet and was always awed to see veterans in their military formal wear. We listened to beautiful music, heard veterans speak, friends read poems and everyone participated in a moment of silence. I remember feeling touched by this ceremony, as it was a moment to thank the veterans in our town.
My great-uncle was a veteran and he lived down the road from us. Perhaps this ceremony meant more to me as I knew stories of family members serving in WWII.
I had the opportunity to talk to my great-uncle about the war when I was in grade 5, for a hero project which I did about him. This was a big deal for me, as he was very quiet about the war and never spoke of it in our presence.
I was really grateful and nervous when he agreed to let me interview him about the war. He had such a difficult time talking to me about it, which really says quite a lot since it had happened so long before I was born. He told me the worst moments that he lived through having been when his plane was shot down.
He had hidden in the woods but was found by the Germans and was taken as a prisoner of war.
He also told me about the wonderful moment he was rescued and the beautiful feeling of freedom that he felt and had helped others achieve. He was very modest about his part in the war; I looked upon him with great pride for his bravery and modesty. Remembrance Day has always had a special meaning to me.
As my children get older I definitely plan on keeping my uncle’s and other family members memories alive, and making sure they understand and know the great risk soldiers have and still put themselves in for our freedom and the freedom of our country, both in the past and presently.
At my children’s young age I talk about Remembrance Day in a way that shows how appreciative we are to have soldiers in our country keeping us safe. We discuss how sad it is for soldiers to leave their family and how scary it is to leave our safe country. We read stories about Remembrance Day, wear poppies and make poppies.
Although I feel that this is kind of superficial as there is so much more to discuss I know that the day when I can fully explain what soldiers go through is not too far away. For now, I am happy with this explanation.
Here is a great and easy craft you can make with your little ones this Remembrance Day and you can put it up in your home as another way to remember or gift it to a soldier or veteran that you want to thank.
Fingerpaint Poppies
Let your child dip their finger in red paint, make four red dots around each other to form a flower. Use black paint to make a centre for the red poppy. Next they can finger paint a green stem or use a paintbrush. Create a field of poppies blowing in the wind.
Watercolour Poppies
Smooth out a coffee filter. Using red water paint, make a poppy that almost covers the whole coffee filter, leaving a little bit of white along the edges (you can always trace the poppy if your child asks for it) make a black centre with water colour or marker. Let it dry fully!
Bingo Dabber Poppies
Trace a poppy on white cardstock. Let your child fill the poppy with red dabs, add a black centre with marker or a black construction paper circle.
The size of the gesture you make this Remembrance Day does not matter, that you remember and help your child to remember is what makes the difference. We want the future generations to continue to remember all that we have to be grateful for in this wonderful country.
To all veterans, soldiers and families of veterans and soldiers, I thank you for your service. On Remembrance Day let us all take a moment to stop, remember and thank the men and women of our armed services.
Shawville’s Remembrance Ceremony will be at the Cenotaph on Nov. 11 starting at 10:45.