Port Hope Legion Sergeant-at-Arms Vincent O’Hanley and Legion President Wayne Stephens
For more than a century, Canadians have paused on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to honour the men and women who served — and those who never returned — in the cause of peace and freedom.
Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919, marking the end of the First World War. Since then, it has evolved to commemorate all who have served in Canada’s Armed Forces, from the battlefields of Europe to peacekeeping missions around the world. Across the country, Canadians wear poppies, attend ceremonies, and observe two minutes of silence to remember the cost of freedom.
Port Hope Legion Sergeant-at-Arms Vincent O’Hanley says Remembrance Day should hold meaning for every Canadian.
O’Hanley says it’s important to take time today to remember those who fought — and continue to fight — for our freedoms.
He adds that the cost of freedom remains high, with Canadian Armed Forces members still serving in peacekeeping missions around the world.
O’Hanley notes Canada is the only country to have served in every United Nations peacekeeping mission and continues to answer the call whenever needed.
He says that experience has given him a deep respect for Canada’s role in defending peace.
O’Hanley, who has served alongside soldiers from 29 different nations, says Canadians sometimes take for granted the freedoms that have been secured through the sacrifices of those who served — many of whom paid with their lives.
Port Hope Legion president Wayne Stephens also reflected on what Remembrance Day means to him.
Stephens says freedom of speech, the right to vote, and the ability to live without persecution are the same values that motivated his father and seven uncles to enlist — and they’re the freedoms he continues to honour each November 11.
He says the poppy is a symbol not only of remembrance but of unity.
Stephens says while his family was fortunate that his father and uncles returned home, many others bore scars that lasted a lifetime.
Today, Canadians are encouraged to remember all who served and to reflect on the immense cost of peace — a legacy that continues to define the nation.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
