There aren ’t many people reading this who can even imagine the terror, the absolute fear taking over your body as someone tries to kill you. We see the Hollywood versions of it, and even the most life-like, realistic portrayals are still muted, still numbed from the emotion and wild-eyed survival of fighting in war.
This week marks the annual salute observed by the Western World to the men and women who sacrificed their lives for their neighbours and for future generations. World War I, World War II, Korean, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and other horrific conflicts all carry the same unfortunate theme:
Go into battle against those who are trying to harm you. Win for those who are standing by your side and for those who are sleeping safely in their beds back at home.
Every year, we put on the poppy, remember those who gave their lives and those who fought and came back to us. November 11 is a day of tribute. But it should also serve as the pinnacle of everyday remembrance.
Those men and women didn ’t fight, didn ’t kill and didn ’t die for one day. They died for all of our days.
If thinking about those great human sacrifices every day is too much to ask, then perhaps realize that around the world, those who fought — whether their battles were won or lost — remember their fallen and their brave on a different day than we do.
In the United Kingdom, the eleventh month, the eleventh hour on the eleventh day is still observed, but the primary day is Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday of November.
In New Zealand, the national day of remembrance is Anzac Day, held on April 25.
In Germany, Volkstrauertag is held in November two Sundays before the first Sunday of Advent.
Hong Kong observes a Remembrance Sunday on the second Sunday of November, but the event is not a public holiday.
In the Netherlands, Remembrance Day is observed annually on May 4. The spring day is one day before Liberation Day, which marks the end of Nazi occupation during World War II.
Around the world, around the calendar, the fallen are remembered. Their sacrifices, their fears and their love deserve more than just one day.
We can ’t imagine what they went through and what many continue to go through, and because of them we are safe everyday from having to experience it.