Lighting the night for Remembrance Day

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Carseland’s Steven and Grace Smith and their foster children have kept a unique Nov. 11 tradition for a number of years. They decorate their Christmas tree early and turn the lights on Remembrance Day, to commemorate the sacrifice men and women paid for our freedom.
“For years I have put my Christmas tree up on Nov. 11. I do it because I am grateful to be in a country that allows us the freedom to put up a Christmas tree. For me, it represents our Christian beliefs and family beliefs,” said Grace, who throws a little glitter because she enjoys it.
She said remembrance could be combined with any faith. She noticed in Northeast Calgary, a Hindu Diwali festival had linked their firework display to incorporate a Remembrance Day commemoration. Hindu believers celebrate Diwali festival of light to bring light to the darkness and bring peace and kindness into the world. Stephen said that many of our new Canadians come from the Indian subcontinent and their family members might have also fought for the allies in the First and Second World Wars. Steven said Canada, culturally, has shifted a lot since wartime.
“Our religions have the potential to divide us, but our nation has the capacity to unite us in a common belief. What is sacred is not for sale. For Canadians, what is sacred is a belief in its people,” said Steven.
The Smith family has had many members that served in military. Grace’s grandfather served in WWI. Her aunt and uncle fought in WWII. Stevens’s father was a peacekeeper in Egypt and Cyprus and Steven was born on an army base in Germany and is a self- taught historian.
Steven said he has noticed many more Canadians have a strong connection and sense of respect for Remembrance Day. He said it was sad, however, as Canadians have a deep respect but they don’t know their own history.
“We have numerous soldiers from WWI and WWII that have won the Victoria Cross, which is only received for acts of extreme valour. Almost half of those who received it lost their lives,” said Steven. “These are Canadians. The fact is they didn’t do it for honour. They did it out of a sense of love for the men they were with. They believed in what they were fighting for. People can make all the claims they want for the justification for WWI and WII, but these men were not forced to fight. They went because they had a deep belief in the sacredness of what they were fighting for.”
He said the men alive that received the Victoria Cross didn’t do it for glory, but often contribute their longevity to those who have fallen and say it could have been given to anyone of their troop members.
Steven said there is a lack of response from government, other than the official part of it, and business isn’t involved because they cannot make money off Remembrance Day.
Steven said his stepfather was a soldier who landed on Juno beach. His stepfather sold poppies, and there are other who put in a great number of hours sitting in malls and stores selling poppies. Steven’s stepfather stepped up because he wanted people not to forget.
“It comes down to their beliefs,” said Grace. “Many people already have their lights up, if people can just flick a switch and put on your lights. Bring some light into the world and do it to show a thank you, to those who have passed serving this country and those who are still here.”
Grace mentioned taking a holiday to Nova Scotia where they watched Canadian navy ships leave the harbour to take relief supplies to Florida after hurricane Katrina.
“All the men went to the back of the boat – I was on to salute them as they left. It wasn’t just them. All the fireboats came out and were spraying water everywhere. Helicopters were flying overhead. Docks had waving people on them. Horns were honking. Bagpipes were out … from both Ontario to here, we don’t have the opportunity to see these kind of send offs,” said Grace.
The Smiths felt more respect should be given to men and women fighting under the Canadian flag.
Grace hopes lighting the night to show respect for our fighting men and women will catch on, but any tradition that honours the slogan “Lest We Forget” will help to carry the message to the next generation.