Remembrance Day
Dear Members,
Re: Remembrance Day
November 11th marks an important day in our country. On Remembrance Day we celebrate, honour and pay tribute to those who have served and those who continue to serve our country. We acknowledge the incredible sacrifices made to ensure our freedom and safety. To those who made the ultimate sacrifice and never came home, and to those who came home but were never the same we give thanks and pay our respects.
Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth. It was originally called “Armistice Day” to commemorate Armistice Agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.—on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Alan Neill, Member of Parliament for Comox–Alberni, introduced a bill to observe Armistice Day only on November 11. Passed by the House of Commons, the bill also changed the name to “Remembrance Day”. The first Remembrance Day was observed on November 11, 1931.
Much like everything this year, the pandemic has required us to change the way we observe Remembrance Day. As important as it is for us to pay our respects on this day, it is equally as important that we do our part to reduce the transmission of Covid-19. We will not be able to participate in ceremonies, parades and marches in the manner we are accustomed to on Remembrance Day. However, we encourage each and every one of you to share in a moment of silence at 11:00 am wherever you are.
We also invite you to view our Ambulance Paramedics of BC’s Ceremonial Unit Virtual Remembrance Day Ceremony. Tomorrow, we will release on our social media platforms a video that honours our country’s veterans and their sacrifice with Ceremonial Unit members participating across our province. You can join us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
We would also like to acknowledge our members who have served or who are currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces at home and deployed abroad. We are forever in your debt and truly humbled by the sacrifices you have made.
Lest we forget.
Sincerely,
Dave Deines, Commander
Ceremonial Unit
Ambulance Paramedics & Emergency Dispatchers of BC
CUPE Local 873
Please click HERE to view PDF version of this message.
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