Dear editor,
Re: Remembrance Day: Changes to consider (Letter, Nov. 17)
Remembrance Day, Veterans Day, Armistice Day in the USA until 1954, when they change it to Veterans Day, (because of the Korean War) and back in 1938 made it a national holiday, was to commemorate the end of the First World War, basically Remembrance Day was to remember the members of the Armed Forces who had died in the line of duty.
The laying of the wreath at the cenotaph is a day in a formal civic way to remember and say “thanks” to the veteran.
It is the policy in every community - when laying the wreath, it goes in descending order, from the Canadian government, provincial, local, dignitaries, Silver Cross mothers and then as directed by the chairman, business, school children, plus others. This happens at every Nov. 11 ceremony.
My personal feelings are - the prime reason is - on this day to honour the veteran who paid the supreme price; secondary - the veteran who served, and tertiary - the present day serviceman now in the field where he/she may be.
The bottom line is: We are fortunate that the businessman is there to lay wreath, they are thanking the veteran.
In Toronto, on a cold, dark, rainy night people from all walks of life placed over 30,000 flags on Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital lawn.
These gentle souls did not differentiate or discriminate. Businessmen were there in among the “coterie” in helping laying the flags.
Also we cannot differentiate between the front line and a rear echelon soldier, no matter where they served.
They are all there to serve and protect us, they are all veterans and the business community is thanking them.
Frederick B Maniak,
Comox