Every year on Remembrance Day, we honour those who served and fought to protect our freedom and our country. We honour every generation of veteran and soldier: those who are no longer with us; those who are still here to share their stories; and those currently serving in the battles being fought in Afghanistan.
Our reflection upon the sacrifices they have made is an important one and their contributions should not be taken for granted. Time is a fleeting thing and though, with its passing we grow our history, memory fades. Stories are lost and we have to say goodbye to the people who helped make that history and, through their sacrifice, gave us our future. We need to thank these people today, ask to hear their stories and do what we can to share those stories with generations to come.One way is through programs like The Memory Project (www.thememoryproject.com), which is crucial to educating adults and children alike, through its online archive of stories, images and first-person accounts. There we can learn about Toronto natives like Carol Duffus, enlisted with the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service during the Second World War, who recounts the time she spent assisting naval officers to plot the routes of escort ships across the Atlantic in a real version of Battleship. There's stories from other Second World War veterans like Edward Borland, who served in the 48th Highlanders of Canada, and who recalled the surreal and devastating experience of witnessing his first war casualty when a fellow soldier was hit in the chest by a German shell. And there's tales like the one from Norm Dawber, who as a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot during the Second World War, had to parachute from his burning plane as it was being shot down. He says of all the sounds he heard around him as he floated to the ground - the gunfire, the exploding bombs - it was the sound of birds chirping that resonated with him the most.These moments have been captured in live interviews by The Memory Project, along with thousands of others that help to paint a real, personal account of a time most of us can hardly imagine living through. If you know a veteran, suggest participating in the program, or ask to hear their story yourself. At the very least, thank them today for their contribution.