Saturday, November 11, 2006

Lest We Forget

As others have already said, the idea to hold a state funeral for the last remaining WW1 veteran is a wonderfully appropriate one. Everyone should take a moment to sign this petition.

posted by calgarygrit at 1:32 p.m.

8 Comments:

  • I also like this idea, but I wonder, why only the last of the three?

    By Blogger Dennis, at 5:26 p.m.  

  • I disagree with the petition. These men are still alive - let's not discuss them as if they're already gone. This whole thing feels like a "death lottery", and I am really uncomfortable with it despite my respect and admiration for all of our veterans.

    A state funeral, if there will be one, ought to be somewhat spontaneous.

    Let these men live their lives without all this needless speculation over their passing - god knows they earned the right to live without this crap.

    By Blogger Andrew, at 8:26 p.m.  

  • I felt a bit the same as Andrew, but on the other hand, I think the petition is because of the fact that our lazy-ass government (doesn't matter who is in charge) wouldn't have the spontaneity that Andrew is seeking. Governments don't suddenly make things happen in the 3 days you take to bury a person's body.

    What I'd like is a petition for legislation calling for a state funeral for each last-living soldier from every war. That would take care of these gentlemen without seeming vulture-like, and it would do the same for Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc.

    It would be a worthwhile piece of legislation, in my opinion.

    By Blogger Jacques Beau Vert, at 12:16 a.m.  

  • I don't disagree with the idea of state funerals for the remaining 3 WW1 vets, but petitions are only legal in Canada if someone signs with a pen to paper. On-line or emails petitions mean nothing legally and are a waste of everyone's time.

    By Blogger James, at 6:04 p.m.  

  • This concept reminds me of a tradition used by friends, military units, etc., to have a bottle of wine or some such thing stowed away for the final survivor of the group. Harry S. Truman's Battery D had something like this in place, as did Grampa Simpson and his old unit.

    I disagree with the conception of the petition being a "death lottery;" rather, I see it more as a way to mark the passing into history of a defining feature of the Canadian nation. When the last of our WWI veterans has passed away, the only sources of the First Great War we will have will be historical records, books, etc. There will be no more people to actually tell the stories of first-hand experience in the killings fields of Europe, 1914-1918. It's a tremendous honour to bestow upon that final veteran, and should be seen as such.

    By Blogger RGM, at 6:36 p.m.  

  • I think Jason has a great idea there.

    By Blogger rob, at 8:00 p.m.  

  • Is this to distract us from the fact that flags aren't lowered?

    By Blogger Sheena, at 11:35 p.m.  

  • It is a great idea.

    By Blogger PITT, at 12:13 a.m.  

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