Honouring Remembrance Day without military connections

If you're like me, you don't have any family or personal connections to soldiers of any kind, but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate or pay respect to veterans.

Military wife Alison McGee said it's important to honour Remembrance Day because "there was a time in the not too distant past where war was very real and all consuming ... Honour the sacrifice of those men and women who put their very lives on the line to save ours. If their legacy is forgotten, then their sacrifice means nothing."

Here are a few ideas for making this Remembrance Day special: Educate yourself: Learning more about why we celebrate Remembrance Day and how military personnel serve Canada is a fantastic way to understand and appreciate the importance of the day. "The soldiers and their families make a great deal of sacrifices day in and day out so that not only Canadians can remain safe but so that those around the world can as well," said McGee.

Visit the Royal Canadian Regiment Museum: The museum (located at 750 Elizabeth St.) is full of artifacts and information for you to explore and use to brush up on your military knowledge.

Volunteer at Parkwood Hospital: Parkwood Hospital (801 Commissioners Rd. E.) is where most of London's veterans live and get medical service. Taking a few hours to help out the hospital staff or entertain the veterans would be a great way to honour everything they've done for our country. Call Volunteer Services at 519-685-4000 ext. 44050 for more information.

Send flowers or cards to a solider or veteran: Even though you might not personally know the person, sending flowers or a thank-you card to someone who has served in the military is a nice way to recognize their efforts. McGee mentioned that "the Tim Hortons at Adelaide and Oxford usually has a service member or two in it. Thank them and buy them a coffee. They will appreciate it more than you realize."

Wear a poppy: Wearing this red flower is probably the simplest thing you can do to show your support. Check out page # (Stu's article) for more information on the importance of the poppy.
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