386th honors Remembrance Day

Published Nov. 15, 2011
By Senior Airman Rachelle Elsea
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Veterans Day at the Rock was acknowledged with several activities, including a pair of 5K runs, one hosted by the Air Force and the other by the Army. The base marquee read Happy Veterans Day to the American military and Happy Armistice Day to the Canadians.

But, the most significant of all was the joining of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing and the Royal Canadian Air Force in a ceremony honoring the Canadian holiday, Remembrance Day, Nov. 11 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

This day is celebrated on the same day as Veteran's Day and shares many of the same origins. It honors servicemembers who have fought, are fighting and will fight to defend their country and its freedoms.

The event began with a brief history of Canadian military efforts during the last century, beginning with the end of World War I, the origin if the holiday.

"On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918, a silence fell on all fronts of the First World War," said Warrant Officer André Langlois, Air Mobility Intelligence Detachment NCO In-Charge Air Component Detachment, Royal Canadian Air Force. "For four long years, Allied and Axis armies had contended for dominion of Europe. On that fateful day on that fateful hour, silence was finally heard. Most veterans of that conflict remarked on that solitary fact."

Langlois spoke of those who have given their lives.

"Sadly, many would lay down their lives in the ultimate sacrifice," said Warrant Officer Langlois. "Between 1939 and 1945 a little over one million Canadians served in uniform out of a population of just over 11 million. Of those, around 45 thousand died and 53 thousand were wounded. In the United States, out of a population of approximately 131 Million, around 13 million served in the various services. Of those approximately 407 thousand gave their lives."

From 1953 to Sept 11th 2001, Canadians and US Service personnel served abroad in various zones of conflict, sometimes as belligerents, most times as Peacekeepers, he added. Men and women were lost, we remember them; some were my friends.

" In our latest Allied ventures in Afghanistan and to a lesser extent Iraq, Canadian and United States personnel have fought and died side by side, supported each other, cursed each other, but always together," said Warrant Officer Langlois. "Canada was one of the first countries to send troops to Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Coalition operations. To date over 27,500 Canadians have served in Afghanistan, 158 have died in order to bring peace and stability to this volatile country, and they are joined by approximately 1,800 United States Armed Services personnel in eternal rest."

His speech was followed by the traditional Canadian Remembrance Day ceremonial music, including the "Lament," the "Rouse,""Oh Canada" and "God Save the Queen." Out of respect for the United States Air Force, many of whom were attending, the "Star Spangled Banner" was also played.

At 11 a.m. local time there was a two-minute silence, a tradition dating back to the first Armistice Day in 1919.

"Remember our brothers, sisters, parents, friends and our allies," said Warrant Officer Langlois.

After the conclusion of the ceremony, servicemembers from both nations placed their poppy pins onto a ceremonial wreath.

The poppy signifies the flowers that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I. Their red color is a symbol for the blood spilled in the war.

Finally, all guests signed a Remembrance book that will be mailed home to Canada.