Come Up Here And See

Armistice Day or Remembrance Day as we have come to know it now originated following the end of the First World War, commonly known as the Great War. The Armistice Agreement was signed between Germany and the Allied Forces in Paris on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 0500 hours. The ceasefire went into effect at 1100 hours the same morning. The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

In Canada, from sea to sea, at precisely 1100 hours local time, all businesses, factories, schools, offices and even traffic came to a halt for the two minutes of silence.

Captain John McCrae was serving as a surgeon with the 1^st Field Artillery Brigade during the battles of the Ypres. He wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields” when a friend and a former student died during the Great War. Thankfully the poem was published in England. Today poppies are the symbol of Remembrance Day in Canada.

“IN FLANDERS FIELDS”

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That marks our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;

To you for failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.         John McCrae, Flanders, 1915

Veteran Affairs Canada states that Remembrance Day is intended for remembrance for the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict, and peace. Wreaths will be laid at the base of memorials across our country. Poppies will be worn on the lapels of those wearing military uniforms and those who were never in the military out of respect. Poppies will also be laid across the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Canadian National War Memorial. Parades will be held with different bands so that at 1100 hours everyone is at the memorial to be silent for two minutes. The cessation of the two minutes of silence is cued by the playing “The Rouse” on the bugle. There will be a fly-past of the Royal Canadian Air Force craft. Remembrance Day History/Canada Armed Forces History & Remembrance Day – Wikipedia

Remembrance Day is celebrated so that we remember those who have fought to keep our country free. If it was not for those soldiers who gave their lives and for those who came home our country would not have the freedom that we have today. Not everyone appreciates freedom or gives respect to those who have fought in wars or keep the peace today, but I am grateful. I enjoy freedoms that many others wish that they had but do not. Others are warning us that if we do not appreciate what was done in the past it will be repeated and we will lose our freedoms.

• Dictionary.com describes remember as: to recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory; think again.

God directed Moses to write scriptures of remembrance so that they would not forget what the Lord had done when He brought them into the Promised Land  

• Deuteronomy 6: 8-9 NKJV ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

There are other scriptures that tell us that it is a good thing to remember what the Lord has done for us. We are to remember His wonders.

• Isaiah 46:9 ESV Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,

• 1 Corinthians 11:2 ESV Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

• Psalm 77:11 ESV I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

On this Remembrance Day you will find my husband and I at City Hall Square waiting for the parade, speaking with those who have served in the military either through peace times or war and thanking them for their service. It is because of their sacrifice to protect that we have precious freedoms. I will also be speaking and listening to those who have lost a loved one and praying for them. Remembrance Day is to be remembered, honoured, and respected because of the cost.

Holy Spirit I pray that You will continue to bring to our remembrance of what Your deeds and Your wonders. I pray that we would be a thankful nation for the freedoms that we have and that we would not take them for granted. Help us to thank the military and those who have paid the cost and to remember those who never came back because they were fighting for our freedom. Lord I am grateful, and I trust that our eyes will be open to see that our freedoms are not free, that there is always a cost for our freedoms. In Jesus’ name amen.