A Letter to Canadians on the Last Remembrance Day of the Century
In just a few weeks we will turn the final page on a century and a millennium. It is only natural
that we reflect on the past and look to the future. Living in Canada today, it is easy to forget that the 20th Century has been one of the most violent periods in human history.
From the World Wars in the first half of the century to NATO operations in the former
Yugoslavia, more than 1.4 million Canadians have volunteered to serve in our military and
merchant navy and more than 116,000 have given their lives. As the number of veterans and
survivors gradually falls, it is up to all of us to make sure that their sacrifices are not forgotten.
This Remembrance Day will be a special one. On the 11th day of the 1lth month, at 11 a.m. there will be silence. The Royal Canadian Legion and Veterans Affairs Canada are asking all Canadians simply to pause for two minutes. Radio and TV signals will stop, shops and businesses, factories and farms will be still. Canadians will be able to take a few moments to think about war, about peace, and about those who gave up everything for us. The silence will begin in Newfoundland, and sweep across the country like a wave as 11 a.m. strikes in each time zone.
Silence is rare and dramatic in our noisy world, so the Wave of Silence will be an eloquent
national event that will help us keep faith with our past and demonstrate our hope for peace in the
new millennium.
I will be participating in the 2_Minute Wave of Silence and encourage all Canadians to
take part, where safety and practicality allow. Wherever you are at 11 a.m. on November 11th, please pause in what you are doing for a couple of minutes. It will be two minutes well_spent, before the minutes of the millennium run out.
You can get more information on the 2_Minute Wave of Silence by contacting:
The Royal Canadian Legion, Wave of Silence Project Coordinator, 359 Kent St. Ottawa ON,
K2P 0R7: e_mail: wave@legion.ca Legion Web Site: www.legion.ca
Chuck Murphy
Dominion President
Royal Canadian Legion