Canadians, including those who have never experienced war, have a duty to honour Remembrance Day through their actions, said the president of the Langley Senior Resources Society.
At the centre's Remembrance services on Friday, she spoke about the meaning Nov. 11 and the opportunities it affords.
"It is Remembrance Day, and we are to think back and and remember, but what does that mean for people who who really didn't experience it?" Loretta Solomon asked.
Many people today have no connection to war, veterans, nor military service but she said they, too, should honour Remembrance Day simply because they live in a free country.
"We know that the sacrifice of the fallen soldiers has given us freedom, and with that freedom comes an enormous responsibility. And it is our responsibility to keep their sacrifice alive for each other and for younger generations. And one way that I think we can do that is by treating the living," she said.
Opening the ceremony was Kevin Kelly, representing Kwantlen First Nation. He spoke of his relatives who served in the military, noting that once they signed up, they lost their status but were also not accepted by the broader, non-native society, despite fighting for Canada. The service took place on Nov. 8 which is National Indigenous Veterans Day.
The service included songs by the seniors centre choir, a reading of In Flanders Fields, the national anthem, silence, the Last Post, Lament, and Rouse. The seniors centre hosts the event to provide an option for seniors who may not be able to attend outdoor services at cenotaphs.
