Had the casualties of the Great War travelled the Highway of Heroes
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Posted 3 months ago
Cold facts and figures as to why the poppy is so personal.
Our Canadian soldiers are dying in Afghanistan, and although it is for the fight for freedom, it is a shame to lose even one young life.
Some feel it is shameful or selfish that the poppy cannot be shared on logos or icons honouring those that have fallen for our nation since we became involved in Afghanistan in 2002.
But consider this.
If we had an honorary procession for every Canadian who died in the First World War, the War to End All Wars, where the poetry of Robert Service blossomed forth, where the poppy became what it is today -- there would be three daily trips down the Highway of Heroes from 2002-2009.
And remember, those 67,000 who died for our freedom almost a century ago fought for only four years, which then would have meant five or six daily processions.
Even harsher numbers are the 241,000 total Canadian casualties from the Great War -- a horrific 39% of all who fought. Such numbers today would have citizens storming Parliament Hill, demanding the return of our troops.
Yes, our soldiers today are as brave and loyal as those who fought before them -- but let's be understanding to those who wish to keep the poppy a symbol of that Great, Horrible War.
The numbers are hard to fathom today, as is the deep meaning of the poppy to those who fought so long ago.
Don Horne Whitby
