On November 11th, Canadians pause to honour the brave men and women who served, and especially remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Among them is a figure who holds a special place in our hearts—Canada’s Unknown Soldier.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, was established in 2000 to represent the countless soldiers who gave their lives for freedom, but whose identities were never known. The remains of the Unknown Soldier were brought back from the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery in Souchez, France, near Vimy Ridge, a site where Canadian soldiers fought heroically in World War I. His resting place in Ottawa symbolizes all those who rest in unmarked graves, their names known only to history.
In honour of the Unknown Soldier and all who served, we share this poem as a tribute to their courage and sacrifice:
They Shall Not Grow Old
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
—Laurence Binyon
This Remembrance Day, let us wear our poppies proudly, pause in silence, and reflect on the sacrifices that have shaped our nation’s history. Lest we forget.
