Remembrance Day is tomorrow and this year we can’t gather like normal to honour those that fought and sacrificed themselves so we can enjoy the life we have today. That means it is even more important than ever to show your appreciation and respect in any way you can. The most common way is to wear a poppy. Available at most gas stations and many other stores, you drop money in the slot and try to stick the red flower on your shirt or jacket in a way that doesn’t cause too much blood loss from the pin. But I bet you didn’t know, there are rules around poppy wearing, like when you should take it off. Here is what the Royal Canadian Legion says about poppy etiquette.
How to wear a Poppy
I am guilty of not having removed this important symbol on Remembrance Day and wearing it past November 11. Another huge question, what about changing the pin??
Poppy protocol: six rules you need to follow
This year a song from 20 years ago is the inspiration behind operation “A Pittance of Time”. Newfoundland performer Terry Kelly is helping us to remember this Remembrance Day.
The song “A Pittance of Time” was inspired and composed by Terry Kelly in 1999 as a result of an incident in a drug store – when a man chose not to join other customers who were taking two minutes of silence in honour of our veterans. As Terry’s surrogate parents at the (residential) Halifax School for the Blind, were retired military women and men, Terry was determined to commit future energies towards creating a greater awareness of the sacrifices made to provide freedom and a more comfortable life for each of us!
This year, with that as his inspiration Terry, in collaboration with Honorary Colonel Dan Hennessey and the Canadian Walk For Veterans, is launching “Operation A Pittance of Time” as an opportunity for Canadians of all ages to honour those who fought for and continue to fight for our freedom: our veterans, our fallen, and our active service women and men.
With the COVID-19 epidemic inhibiting our freedom to congregate at national cenotaphs across the country, Canadians are invited to join us on Remembrance Day and take A Pittance of Time at 11am on November 11th. The silence could be 30, 60, 90 seconds, 2 minutes, or whatever amount of time fits into their particular life situation. Using the hashtags #apittanceoftime #remembranceday #canadaremembers they are encouraged to reach out through Facebook and other social media platforms to share their thoughts, ideas, and unique plans regarding how they will take “A Pittance of Time” for quiet reflection on Remembrance Day.
Families and friends across the country are already planning to gather in their bubbles, conference on Zoom, go out for walks, runs, and sing in a safe and respectful manner. As an eight-year-old girl recently said to Terry Kelly, “The sky’s the limit”!
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing tomorrow, a pause at 11am is not much to ask. So please stop and remember those that gave you the gift of freedom.
Here is the official video for “A Pittance of Time” from a very talented East Coast performer, Terry Kelly.
