Peace Tower, Ottawa (no, there is not this much snow in Ottawa on 11 November)
At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, when the guns of the Great War at last fell silent, the fury of conflict was replaced by a deafening silence. In that fragile gap between the sounds of dying and the cries of relief, we were faced with all we had done, all we had lost, all we had sacrificed.
In that silence, we met a truth so obvious and so terrifying we swore we would never take up arms again.
“One owes respect to the living,” said Voltaire. “To the dead, one owes only the truth.”
We vowed never to forget.
Governor General David Johnston, 11 November 2014
On this special day of remembrance, may we learn from war as we strive for peace … and freedom and democracy and equality and justice.
Great War 100 Reads 