I'm sitting at the Assignment Desk in the A-Channel Ottawa News Centre. I just stood beside my chair for two minutes, to mark the 11 o'clock hour, while watching our live coverage of the national Remembrance Day service. Remembrance Day certainly seems more poignant to this Baby Boomer, witnessing and reporting on young men (and one woman) coming home in coffins, from what is arguably someone else's war.
What is really cool, however, is that our building is just a couple hundred yards east of Parliament Hill. If the Chateau Laurier wasn't in the way, we could see the Parliament Buildings from here. From the right vantage point in our parking lot, you can see the Peace Tower clock peeking over top the Chateau. Anyway, when the Air Force flypast portion of the ceremony took place, it was like Surround Sound in here, as the jets flew over our building. Cool on one hand, and on the other hand, another poignant reminder of the significance of Remembrance Day.
When I was in elementary and high school, November 11 was a school holiday. A few years after I graduated from high school, the holiday was removed, and kids began going to school on November 11 (if it is a weekday, of course), although some classes would attend the local ceremony. As I recall, it was the Royal Canadian Legion who promoted the idea of it not being a school holiday, because Remembrance Day should be a day to remember the freedom and democracy that our forces fought for, so that kids could go to school.
Lest we forget.
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In Nova Scotia, Remembrance Day is still a holiday for all schools and businesses. It's actually the only day of the entire year that is still legislated as a "closed" business day even after they finally decided last year that some Sunday shopping could be allowed.
Thanks UP... I swear I could remember not having classes in NS on the 11th.... but here in Mtl people said, no way josé! And I began to believe them and doubt my own memories...
I CAN remember that we used to (a week or so before) do extra 'art class' and draw poppies etc and they'd be sent to troops (where-ever they might be) as well as to Vetrans homes and the legion...
I watched some of the coverage yesterday and relaized I owe it to those that went before and those that will go forward that I should haul my ass to Ottawa and take part. Next year... Ottawa.
Kitty: I'll meet you at the Legion next Nov. 11 after the ceremony. We'll hoist a few for the boys and girls abroad.
I was gonna say something about letting our internal Jewish women out to kvetch together, but thought that in this case, a comment like that would be rather inappropriate.
Oh oh - can I come to the hoisting, too? I don't have any inner jewish woman, but I do have an innner beer swiller that I let out occasionally.
Absotively, UP. In fact, you can buy the first round!
Oy, Kitty, I hear ya. Mae would just bore us all, talking about the rough time she had going through The Change, and how her goiter is acting up again. Plus, I hate it when she calls me Schmooey.
Schmooey?
...On the topic of yesterday's ceremonies in Ottawa - I thought it was one of the best in a very long time. Weather was perfect for it.
There is something about how the air grows thick with time standing still at 11 am on 11/11 at the senotaph which never fails to stir my soul and fill my spirit.
besides it's embarassing when my Inner Yenta asks for hot tea (with teabag and extra hot water) and a wedge of lemon and honey and we're in a freaking bar!
and in November her bursitis is already acting up, and I never dress warm enough for her, she laways wants a little sweater, because it's ALWAYS a little drafty...
I hope she likes leopard print sweaters. They don't make buildings like they used to. They're all drafty these days. And for what you pay for that tea in a bar, you'd think they could seal the drafts and turn up the thermostat just a smidge.
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