The Canadian War Museum is marking Remembrance Day with special programs to learn more about Canada’s military history. Visitors get the chance to remember the service of those who served and their sacrifices. The museum expects about 3,000 visitors on Remembrance Day and admission will be free. Visitor Lynne Honey holds a personal connection to the wars that Canadians served in. “I know the stories from my grandparents. I know the stories from my parents’ generation. And I have friends who are in Afghanistan,” Honey said. She says visiting the museum offers an opportunity to connect with those stories and better understand the experiences of Canadians who served. “You feel like you can reach out and touch the history that’s actually here,” she said. “And it’s heartbreaking because every single war is about what people lose. But there’s also a lot of pride here in terms of what we’ve protected through the use of war.” One of the exhibits highlighting Canada’s more recent military involvement is the Canada and Afghanistan: Operation Medusa gallery. “Kandahar, this is the main place where Canadians were deployed as a result of the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center in New York in 2001,” Veronica Orha, member of visitor services for the Canadian War Museum. “Canadians tried to bring democracy not only with conversation, but also with education.” The display features notebooks with drawings, books and equipment used by Canadian soldiers. The Canadian War Museum says it aims to educate, preserve and remember those who died. The museum also takes visitors back to First World War, examining the life of a Canadian soldier in the trenches. The First World War cart contains military uniforms, weapons like bayonets and highlights the dangers soldiers faced everyday. “Life in the trenches is an intense period of fear, mixed with a long season of discomfort. During that season of discomfort, you have to find ways to pass the time. Those include maybe taking a shave or something of the sort, something like polishing the buttons on a uniform,” said Holden Cazes, member of visitor services for the Canadian War Museum. “Also, what many soldiers would do, with smoking and things like that to take a break from the action.” For Grade 8 teacher Dean Ellis, bringing his students to the museum is an opportunity to learn a little bit more about some of the history and some of the sacrifices Canadians have made. “It really helped them to just get a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the military and what it means to remember those who fought for us,” said Ellis. Ellis said his class was engaged in the exhibits of the museum. “It’s really important that we give that opportunity to our students to really explore and ask questions and get a real appreciation of the sacrifices that our soldiers made,” said Ellis. As part of the exhibits, visitors can participate in a collaborative art project, creating a poppy with ribbons that are filled with personal tributes. “We invite our visitors to leave thoughtful remarks, words they want to express for the 11th of November, things they hold dear,” said Ophelea Bornaes, member of visitor services for the Canadian War Museum. The messages reflect what Nov. 11 means to them and the words they wanted to share with those who have served. The museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Remembrance Day.
