Tyrconnell Heritage Society: World War Wednesdays: Canada Strong

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

World War Wednesdays: Canada Strong

A photo I took and edited of the center block at Parliament

When Canada entered the First World War, the majority of its citizens sprang into action, eager to defend their beloved country against foreign aggressors. A hundred years later, it is often thought that if the circumstances required it, people today would not be as willing to volunteer their service. When a class of second year history students at the University of Ottawa was asked if they would be willing to enlist if a war broke out today, only two raised their hands. However, after the events of last Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014, you would be hard pressed to find someone who was not affected, and fully devoted to our beautiful country and its defense.

The thing is, none of the brave men and women of history had ever thought that they would be in the position to do what they did. They lived normal, everyday lives just like most of us. They experienced events that were shocking and frightening, and shook to the core the sense of peace that they had known previously. Suddenly, the things that they loved and had taken for granted were in danger, and for that reason they would do what it took to preserve them, without thought.

Personally, and I am sure I'm not alone in this, this was exactly how I felt on October 22nd when a gunman ravaged my beautiful home, Ottawa. I watched the news that day in utter disbelief. On the screen, I saw the places I love most in this world surrounded with police tape and armed officers. Parliament and the area around it is somewhere I like to go to remind myself of why I moved here, and that old feeling of complete awe of its beauty never fails to return. There is a point, just past the corner entrance of the Rideau Center, where you can look ahead and see the Parliament buildings, the War Memorial, and the Chateau Laurier altogether at once, and it is one of my favorite views in this world. To think that somewhere so sacred and perfect was the setting of an act so dark and horrifying is something that will take a very long time for me to grasp, as I'm sure is the case for most Canadians.

A picture I took last year of the War Memorial with Christmas lights all around

As soon as the evening of the 22nd, there was an outpouring of love and support not only for the family of the brave guard who lost his life that day, but for the country that we all call home. Canada has always has a reputation of being the peacekeeper, a free and accepting land that is growing more and more so with every news story from our neighbors to the south. We hear of atrocities in other countries and overseas, but never has something hit so close to home. It was just so shocking in its raw, deliberate nature. Disbelief seemed to be the common feeling, and still is.

What has really stood out to me is that despite all that has happened since our last major conflict, despite government scandals and criticisms of Canada's foreign policies, every single Canadian joined together with pride and love for their country that day. It is an amazing testament to our armed forces that when the chips are down, the entire country will rally behind them with nothing but support and admiration-- just as it was in 1914.

Last night, the night before Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was laid to rest, I visited the National War Memorial. Where I had once stood as a tourist on vacation four years ago, and again on Remembrance Day of last year, had become the place where a Canadian soldier had lost his life. The entire area had been turned into a memorial, and it was one of the saddest and most sobering things I have ever witnessed.