“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.”

=John McCrae, Canadian poet, doctor and medical officer during WWI

At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the Armistice Agreement was signed between the Allies and Germany bringing an end to World War I. Since 1931 we have paid tribute to those who made the supreme sacrifice to preserve our cherished freedom by observing two minutes of silence on Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the United States.

War and armed conflict sadly continue to devastate many parts of the world today. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s threats towards Taiwan and ongoing aggressions in the Middle East are horrific barriers that obstruct the journey towards global peace. Political instability and the emergence of authoritarian leaders threaten the existence of democracies where freedom historically has been taken for granted. Although the pandemic appears to be approaching its end, billions of people are still struggling with the anger, frustration and anxiety that surfaced during lockdowns and public health mandates.

As we remember our Fallen today, we must also commit ourselves to healing the world. We owe it to the memory of those brave individuals to reach out and extend a generous hand to others in pain. Compassion, understanding and empathy are the tools we must use to help people cope with arduous and challenging circumstances. The temperature of much of our planet remains uncomfortably high. Yet it does not have to be. If everyone does their part, our planet can be a considerably nicer place to live and thrive. I am pretty certain those we are honouring today would prefer it that way.