The question after Halloween is always, when is it the right time to put up the Christmas tree? If my kids had it their way, it would stay up the entire year or at least hearing Christmas carols would ring through our house 24 hours a day, 365 days. Our family LOVES Christmas. BUT as a daughter of two veterans, we wait until after November 11th.

November 11th is Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the USA. It is a very important day to honor and remember the lives lost by the many who served their country, and to recognize the freedom that people have today because of that sacrifice. It is hard to think of our freedom coming at a cost. That cost was sacrificing one’s life to protect our freedoms and way of life. Freedom where you can speak freely, go to school, become whatever you want when you grow up, eat the food you like, listen to music, dance, sing, vote, enjoy holidays like your birthday or Christmas, and to love God. I thank God for the many men and women whose service to our country has allowed me to be free.

I heard of a teacher who emptied her classroom of all of the desks. When the kids came in that morning, they asked where the desks were. It was her opportunity to tell the kids that getting an education, sitting in desks, and being able to speak freely, all our freedoms you enjoy because someone fought for your freedom.

It is important to take some time on that day to remind your children, and/or students why November 11th is a very important day.  Remind them about words like peace, love and freedom.  In Calgary, Alberta, Canada there is an excellent display of crosses for families to walk through and reflect together.  It is amazing and humbling to see the innocent lives that were lost for us and for our freedom.  One cross is one life lost. There are over 3500 crosses. Some as young as 15 or 16 years old who made the ultimate sacrifice. A life barely lived. Here are some pictures of the Field of Crosses.

There are a few videos that I show my students to help focus our thoughts on the freedom we have received and how there are still peacekeepers right now who are fighting for peace and freedom for others.

When you watch the video, you can share with your students that many military people today are peacekeepers. There are also many soldiers who did not come home. They get to ride down the Highway of Heroes. Because they are a hero!

In Canada, we wear poppies as a symbol of remembrance and honor. They are used to remember those who have given their lives in battle. They are the flowers which grew on the battlefields after World War One ended. Is war scary?

The Last Post is a very important song on the trumpet. It is played during Remembrance Day ceremonies.

So, what is my final decision on the Christmas tree? We will always wait until mid November. We say thank you to the peacekeepers who are hard at work presently and will remember those who gave so much for us, for the freedom we enjoy, for the peaceful country we live in, and for the love I get to give and receive every day.

Observing Remembrance Day and Veterans Day can instill values of gratitude, patriotism, empathy, sacrifice, loyalty, and a commitment to the greater good in children. Remembrance Day is taking the time to REMEMBER! Don’t forget what was done for you.