Skip to content

Editorial: Honouring sacrifice

The idea of sacrifice has taken on an added significance in 2020. This year, Albertans have been asked to forgo many things in an effort to limit the spread of a highly contagious virus.
Airdrie Our View_text

The idea of sacrifice has taken on an added significance in 2020. This year, Albertans have been asked to forgo many things in an effort to limit the spread of a highly contagious virus. People have given up family celebrations, time with friends, favourite hobbies. Others have lost jobs, businesses and even loved ones.

To be clear, these sacrifices pale in comparison to those made by Canadian military personnel, who give up comfort, time with family and sometimes their lives to protect this nation. As we approach Remembrance Day – a day where we honour and reflect on the sacrifices of Canadian servicemen and servicewomen – the sacrifices forced on everyone by the coronavirus should help us empathize a little better with the sacrifices made by soldiers, while also highlighting how different they are.

Among the sacrifices Albertans are making this year are normal Remembrance Day ceremonies. Due to COVID-19, large gatherings are not possible and many communities, including Airdrie, have shifted services to an online format or will offer modified and limited in-person ceremonies. For many people, this unavoidable reality is nevertheless disappointing.

However, while large public ceremonies go a long way to demonstrating gratitude for the service of veterans, they are not the only way to honour the memory of fallen soldiers. Everyone can observe Remembrance Day privately, stop for a minute of silence at 11 a.m. or wear a poppy.

We encourage our readers to take time on Nov. 11 to reflect on the sacrifices that guarantee the rights and freedoms we enjoy in this country. Spend time with your families watching a local virtual ceremony. Reflect and discuss the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers. Our nation is by no means perfect and in many ways, there is continued work that must be done to create a more equitable society. But in the grand scheme of things, Canada is a great place to live and Remembrance Day is the perfect time to recognize that.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks