November 11, 2017
10 Quick Facts on Remembrance Day
(from Veterans Affairs Canada)
- Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth. It was originally called “Armistice Day” to commemorate the 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.
- From 1921 to 1930, Armistice Day was held on the Monday of the week in which November 11 fell. In 1931, 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.
- Every year on November 11, Canadians pause in a moment of silence to honour and remember the men and women who have served, and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict and peace. We remember the more than 2,300,000 Canadians who have served throughout our nation’s history and the more than 118,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice.
- The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day. Replica poppies are sold by the Royal Canadian Legion to provide assistance to Veterans.
- Remembrance Day is a federal statutory holiday in Canada. It is also a statutory holiday in three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut) and in six provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador).
- The national ceremony is held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. The Governor General of Canada presides over the ceremony. It is also attended by the Prime Minister, other government officials, representatives of Veterans’ organizations, diplomatic representatives, other dignitaries, Veterans as well as the general public.
- In advance of the ceremony, long columns of Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP officers, and cadets march to the memorial lead by a pipe band and a colour guard. At the end of the ceremony, they march away to officially close the ceremony.
- Some of the 54 Commonwealth member states, such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, observe the tradition of Remembrance Day on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Other nations observe a solemn day but at different dates. For example, ANZAC Day is observed in New Zealand on April 25. In South Africa, Poppy Day is marked on the Sunday that falls closest to November 11.
- Many nations that are not members of the Commonwealth also observe Remembrance Day on November 11, including France, Belgium and Poland.
- The United States used to commemorate Armistice Day on November 11. However, in 1954 they changed the name to Veterans Day.
Please click on the image below for a Remembrance Day slideshow using Mark Knopfler's "Remembrance Day" song. The beginning slides consist of many British images which gradually rolls into some Canadian images which fit with the lyrics. The theme and message is universal... 'we will remember them'.
My Reason for Remembrance
I probably spend far too much time sitting in front of my computer. YouTube can keep me busy for hours. It's wonderful to live at a time when we can view history on demand.
However, nothing on the internet will ever replace the rewarding experience of meeting new people and learning about their life experiences.
Most of my evenings are spent at a local Royal Canadian Legion (I live within a 30-minute drive of three branches) playing either Cribbage or Euchre. There is always a game somewhere and more than a hundred friends to make.
One evening a few months ago, during a Euchre tournament, I was having a casual chat with a gentleman who clearly enjoyed talking about his family; for good reason.
Bob Fritzke is now in his early eighties and is one of 8 siblings who had served in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1942 until the sixties. Bob enlisted in 1954 (the year after I was born) at the age of 17 and was trained as an Aero Engine Technician (fitter). While posted at CFB Trenton he maintained the Harvard Trainer aircraft and later was posted to the CF-100 engine school in North Bay. He obtained the rank of Leading Aircraftsman before his discharge in 1957. Bob chose not to pursue a career in aircraft maintenance, instead becoming a heavy-duty mechanic. He remained close to his military background and has been a Legion member for over 50 years. 
I have never served in the military, but I have come the appreciate the people I meet who have. As I listened to Bob talk about his family and hear the pride he feels, particularly for his elder siblings who served during WW2, I realized that remembering is not enough, we need to listen and learn.
Last month I received my poppies in the mail along with a donation envelope which I promptly dropped off with my donation the same evening. A few days later I was walking by a local drug store where a solitary elderly veteran sat in a wheel chair with a poppy tray on his lap. Although, I was wearing my poppy, I could not just walk by without dropping some money into his donation can. Neither of us spoke, he just smiled at me warmly.
Videos may be able to tell me the stories but only contact with the people help me to understand history.
References and Links
Pictured - Harvard training aircraft at Dunnville, Ontario
More on the Fritzke family - from the BC / Yukon Command Military Recognition Book Volume 10.
YouTube video - Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association
| From the "Between Ourselves" magazine issue dated September 1944. |
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Another TCARA is formed. The Lethbridge unit of the Trans-Canada Air Lines Recreational Association is just getting under steam. The plan is, as in all cases, to get everyone together as one big happy family. We're that now, but we want to have fun together, on a grander scale. The Executive chosen include: John Robulak, President; Allan Lewis, Vice-President; Alice Groves, Treasurer and Jean Nelson, Secretary. The Executive Council is as follows: Stan Clarke, Publicity; John Deak, Promotion and Sales; Orv Knight, Chairman of Sporting Activities; Bob Cuthill, Chairman of Outdoor Recreational Activities; Betty Pelletier, Chairman of the Dance Committee; Jack Simpson, Chairman of Transportation Committee and Doug Hilton, Auditor. With such a live wire group we feel we shall have a fine organization on our hands. You will hear more of our functions after we get out of this embryonic state and get cooking. (Unfortunately there was no group photo and Lethbridge is not listed on the www.acra.ca web site, therefore we assume it is defunct - eds) |
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Found in the "Horizons" magazine issue dated September 2008 (with permission) As part of its ongoing commitment to the environment, Air Canada will begin offering earbud-style headsets for purchase on board a majority of its flights on October 1, 2008, while encouraging customers to re-use headsets or bring their own. This initiative aims to reduce the number of headsets thrown away by offering a better quality product for sale that is compatible with portable electronic entertainment devices. |
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Five old guys and an aeroplane.
At a meeting the problem of a neglected TCA Lodestar aircraft came up, and a committee – The Lodestar Committee – was set up to save it from further deterioration. Meet the “five old guys.” They are:
Some historical and technical facts about the Lodestar:
When it was discovered in a field in Illinois a few miles outside Chicago it was with other old wartime aircraft in what had once been a small museum. A group of retired employees, with Air Canada’s help, purchased the aircraft in 1986 and had it moved to Crescent Road in South Surrey (south of Vancouver). In 1998, the aircraft was moved to the Delta Air Park where it stayed for 10 years. In the spring of 1998, the Museum legally changed its name to the Canadian Museum of Flight Association. In 2008, CF-TCY was moved to Abbotsford, to be refurbished and brought up to museum standard by the University College of the Fraser Valley, (UCFV) in the college hangar at Abbotsford. |
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From the "New Horizons' magazine issue dated November 2004 (with permission).
The Tuesday cargo flight to Europe stops in Halifax to pick up 60 tons of fish for delivery to Spain. |
| During 2004 Air Canada transferred call centre functions from Central Baggage Office in Montreal to India. No involuntary layoffs; |
Singapore Airlines is the launch customer for the Boeing 787-10 and has 30 of the type on firm order. The airline also signed a letter of intent in February to purchase 19 additional B-787-10's.
(Source: Air Transport World)
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Shown is one of the first of Air Canada Rouge's Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft touching down at Mirabel airport (over 4 years ago).
(Source: MRO Network September 2017) |
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Air Canada Jetz to Carry Canada's Top Professional Hockey Teams during the 2017/2018 season. The NHL regular hockey season has started, and once again Air Canada Jetz will be flying all seven Canadian NHL teams and the Colorado Avalanche across North America during the entire season. They will travel aboard Airbus A319 aircraft that have been configured to 58 Business Class seats. (Source:Daily October 4, 2017) |
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(Source: YVR newsletter Oct 2017) |
