The Changing Nature of Remembrance

Last Thursday, we held our annual chapel services in tribute to Remembrance Day – in my opinion, one of the most powerful and solemn services in the year. I was honoured that Canon Lennox agreed that I would make the address this year. (The next post is my address from the services.)

As I reflect on the services, it is striking how the nature of Remembrance Day has changed profoundly and continues to change in ways almost all of which are entirely positive.

At the second service, we were once again honoured to have four alumni as special guests:

Curran Egan ’08 – a member of the Alumni Association Executive who spoke last year at the same service and who currently serves as a Lieutenant and Assistant Adjutant in the Royal Regiment of Canada while working towards his PhD in German history at McMaster.

Mike Rickards ‘88 – one of our great class volunteers and ambassador for Appleby, he served in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserves on a series of ships, including on active duty in both the Gulf War and Afghanistan.

Craig Kingsley ’76 – who has been in the Royal Canadian Navy for approximately 30 years, and currently serves at the joint task force center in Toronto. Lt. Kingsley has served on 3 ships, including on active duty in both Gulf Wars, and having received Chief of Defence Staff’s commendation

Tom Holden ’41 – Head Prefect and Head of Powell’s House (1940-41) - Served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) during the second world war an active duty in minesweepers. I was delighted that Tom rejoined us from last year.

 

A couple of changes that are most striking for me compared to what I remember as a child in the 1970s are the nature of veterans who are present and the degree of respect shown.

It seems that military service has shifted back into a position of respect. The 1960s and 70s had a distinctive shift away from honoring veterans in Canada, perhaps mirroring to some extent the US and the divisive nature of the war in Vietnam. While I remember going to military Remembrance Day Services, the ones at schools were fairly low key. And there were very few alumni who would consider a career in the Armed Forces. This seems to have changed in a major way. School services tend to be more creative and engaging for both the studnets and veterans. There are also significant numbers of grads who are at least considering careers of military service either in the regular forces or the reserves. Most importantly, I see a sincere and generous sense of respect by our students and society in general towards those who serve currently as well as veterans

I was delighted that Tom Holden joined us again this year, but note that he represents an ever decreasing cohort, Second World War veterans. In my youth, church and military services would include many veterans from both the First and Second World Wars. It is interesting that at our service last week, veterans of the Gulf Wars outnumbered those from WWII, the youngest of whom would be in their late eighties. It suggests that time is running out to have these veteran share their stories. It behooves schools to do what we can to allow our students to benefit from the experiences of what has been called “the greatest generation.”