Remembrance Day is a day I always enjoy revisiting year after year. It is a perfect opportunity to spend time in prayer for our country. As our anthem expresses so well, "God, keep our land, glorious and free!" Thank you, for those who have "stood on guard" for all of us. In learning about this day, we have an opportunity to pay respect and honour those who lost their lives serving their country. It is a time to remember friends and family who lost their lives fighting in wars and it gives us a chance to consider the cost of war.
Remembrance Day has been observed since 1919, as it was on November 11th (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month) that combat in World War 1 came to an end.
How might we talk about Remembrance Day in our house...compassion, honesty and pride! Although we will talk about war and how a lot of people have died, we will focus on honouring the people who helped keep us safe and who helped to shape Canada into the country that it is today.
Most cities have a Remembrance Day ceremony that you might want to participate in. The Royal Canadian Legion hosts a Poster Contest each year - www.legion.ca/communities-youth/youth-education/remembrance-contests
Some books to check out (either from the library or your local bookstore):
Remembrance Day has been observed since 1919, as it was on November 11th (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month) that combat in World War 1 came to an end.
How might we talk about Remembrance Day in our house...compassion, honesty and pride! Although we will talk about war and how a lot of people have died, we will focus on honouring the people who helped keep us safe and who helped to shape Canada into the country that it is today.
Most cities have a Remembrance Day ceremony that you might want to participate in. The Royal Canadian Legion hosts a Poster Contest each year - www.legion.ca/communities-youth/youth-education/remembrance-contests
Some books to check out (either from the library or your local bookstore):
We enjoy getting crafty and these are some visual art projects that I have come across that I am going to chose from this year.
From: That Artist Woman
This one looks a little involved, but what a beautiful outcome...
And it also brings to mind the freedom we have in Christ - we have been set free because Jesus paid the price. Instead of death, we have been given eternal life. We need to stop and remember those who have paid the price for our freedom. And we need to stop and thank God for Jesus...he set us free from the penalty for sin (death) because he was willing to pay the price for us. All we need to do is repent from our sins and BELIEVE.
This one looks a little involved, but what a beautiful outcome...
And it also brings to mind the freedom we have in Christ - we have been set free because Jesus paid the price. Instead of death, we have been given eternal life. We need to stop and remember those who have paid the price for our freedom. And we need to stop and thank God for Jesus...he set us free from the penalty for sin (death) because he was willing to pay the price for us. All we need to do is repent from our sins and BELIEVE.
Don't want to dig out the paints? Try this cut and paste field of poppies, or a giant 3D poppy flower from "Housing a Forest".
Try this coffee filter poppy to have on display in your home or make a bouquet to deliver to a veteran or to a care home for the elderly.
Check out the craft from the site: J Daniel 4's Mom
Check out the craft from the site: J Daniel 4's Mom
Veterans Affairs Canada also has many suggestions and activities on their website, found HERE. Something to consider might be to write an e-postcard to a veteran or to troops abroad...check that out HERE.
Some resources...
Another great book is What does PEACE feel like? by Vladimir Radunsky. It is a unique way of looking at peace by using the 5 senses. After reading, you might want to try the idea seen below. Here is a copy of the worksheet ---> |
Lastly, here is a 5-minute video to show the importance of respecting those who have served for our country. This is a great video for us, as parents. There are many other videos about Remembrance Day on YouTube as well, but as with anything, you will need to preview and decide what to show your children.
This one spoke to me...
This one spoke to me...
~ "A Pittance of Time" by Terry Kelly ~
About this video...
On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.
Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.
When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.
Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time".
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36 (NIV)
On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.
Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.
When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.
Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time".
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36 (NIV)