Remembrance Day Poem Canada

Read some of the Remembrance Day Poems Canada and the reason the canadian remembrance day poems are recited annually. The act of remembrance poem.

Remembrance Day Poem: Canada Memorial Service Of Veterans

Canadian Remembrance Day Poems —Poetry is noted to be relevant in certain circumstances, as an ode, recognition, adulation and even as a remembrance of someone, something or certain historical event. Hence, it's unique composition clearly distinct from other genres of literature. 

And in such significant reception, the recitation of the "Remembrance Day Poems."

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What is Remembrance Day Poems?

Remembrance Day Poem is the fourth stanza cut from the poem written by the English Poet, Laurence Binyo entitled "For The Fallen".

 The Remembrance Day poem is also recited by the canadians on the Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day Poem, also known as the "Ode Of Remembrance", "The Ode" or "The Act Of Remembrance" is regularly recited at memorial services of veterans who died during the World World I in recognition of their sacrifices.

The poem first appeared in The Times on September 21, 1914 and is regularly recited by a veterans present at the commemorative services since 1919.

The Canadian Memorial Service is usually attended by the following dignitaries in celebration of the day. According to the Royal Canadian Legion, depending on who is present, the order of precedence is as follows:

• A representative of the Queen (Governor General, Lieutenant Governor)
• A representative of the Government of Canada (highest ranking official present)
• A representative of a provincial government
• A representative of a municipal government
• A Silver Cross Mother
• A representative of the Canadian Forces
• A representative of the Royal Canadian Legion
• Representatives of other organizations and individuals

The order in which wreaths are laid may vary to suit the ceremony. However, it is imperative that a wreath representing Canada is laid before all others.

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The Act of Remembrance Poem

The act of remembrance poem is an excerpt from Laurence Binyon's “For the Fallen”. The full Remembrance Day poem is provided immediately after this section.

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

This stanza of the poem have to been claimed as a tribute to all casualties of war, regardless of state.

"For The Fallen" A Poem By Laurence Binyo

This is the full poem from which the remembrance day poem was cut from. The poem was regarded to be holistic enough to capture the situation during the period using patriotic element by describing the United Kingdom as mother and the British Soldiers as her children.

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free. (1–4)

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears. (5–8)

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe. (9–12)

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. (13–16)

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables at home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam. (17–20)

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night; (21–24)

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end, they remain. (25–28)

In due recognition of this historical remembrance day poem, a stone plaque was erected at the spot where Laurence Binyo wrote the poem, bearing the inscription:

For the Fallen

Composed on these cliffs 1914

The exact spot Laurence Binyo wrote the poem was on the cliffs between Pentire Point and The Rumps in north Cornwall, UK.

Other Remembrance Day Poems Canada

Aside the remembrance day poem above, other poem written by notable poets are also recited. 

The names of the poems are "In Flanders Fields", "High Flight" and "Why Wear a Poppy."

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air...

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew -

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

- Officer John G. Magee, Jr. - November, 1941

Why Wear a Poppy

"Please wear a poppy," the lady said,

And held one forth, but I shook my head.

Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,

And her face was old and lined with care;

But beneath the scars the years had made

There remained a smile that refused to fade.

A boy came whistling down the street,

Bouncing along on care-free feet.

His smile was full of joy and fun,

"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"

When she'd pinned it on, he turned to say;

"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in her wistful way

And answered; "This is Remembrance Day.

And the poppy there is a symbol for

The gallant men who died in war.

And because they did, you and I are free -

That's why we wear a poppy, you see.

I had a boy about your size,

With golden hair and big blue eyes.

He loved to play and jump and shout,

Free as a bird, he would race about.

As the years went by, he learned and grew,

And became a man - as you will, too.

He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,

But he'd seemed with us such a little while

When war broke out and he went away.

I still remember his face that day.

When he smiled at me and said, 'Goodbye,

I'll be back soon, Mum, please don't cry.'

But the war went on and he had to stay,

And all I could do was wait and pray.

His letters told of the awful fight

(I can see it still in my dreams at night),

With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,

And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.

Till at last, at last, the war was won -

And that's why we wear a poppy, son."

The small boy turned as if to go,

Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.

That sure did sound like an awful fight

But your son - did he come back all right?"

A tear rolled down each faded cheek;

She shook her head, but didn't speak

I slunk away in a sort of shame,

And if you were me, you'd have done the same:

For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,

Though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!

And so, when we see a poppy worn,

Let us reflect on the burden borne

By those who gave their very all

When asked to answer their country's call

That we at home in peace might live.

Then wear a poppy! Remember - and Give!

- Don Crawford

How To Wish Remembrance Day In Canada

"We stand together and celebrate Remembrance Day. Each of the martyrs is a hero as they have given more importance to the country than their own lives. Glad to remember each of them on the Remembrance Day. They gave their lives, let us take some time and give them the respect they deserve on this Remembrance Day."