Quotes for Canadian Remembrance Day

Honoring Those Who Gave Their Lives Serving Canada

'Remembrance day service, Old City Hall'
Brian Summers / Design Pics / Getty Images

In 1915, Canadian soldier John McCrae who'd served in the Second Battle of Ypres in Flanders, Belgium, wrote a poem called "In Flanders Fields" in remembrance of a fallen comrade who'd died in battle and was buried with a simple wooden cross as a marker. The poem describes similar graves throughout the fields of Flanders, fields that once alive with red poppies, now filled with the bodies of dead soldiers. The poem also highlights one of the ironies of war—that soldiers must die so that a nation of people might live.

Commemorating Canada's As is the case with most of the British Commonwealth countries, Remembrance Day in Canada is celebrated on November 11. To mark the occasion, Canadians observe a minute of silence and visit memorials to honor the soldiers sacrificed their lives for their country. The poppy symbolizes Remembrance Day and is often worn as a sign of respect. At the National War Memorial, a ceremony is held to commemorate the soldiers. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is also an important landmark where people gather to honor the dead.

Canada has always been known for its peaceful people, vibrant culture, and beautiful countryside. But even more than that, Canada is known for its patriotism. On Remembrance Day, take a moment to salute those patriotic men and women who served their nation by reading some of the quotes below.

Remembrance Day Quotations

"In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below."
—John McCrae
"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers."
—Jose Narosky
"The dead soldier's silence sings our national anthem."
—Aaron Kilbourn
"But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for, is their monument today, and for aye."
—Thomas Dunn English
"And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier's tomb, and beauty weeps the brave."
—Joseph Drake
"Patriotism is not dying for one's country, it is living for one's country. And for humanity. Perhaps that is not as romantic, but it's better."
—Agnes Macphail
"I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind."
—John Diefenbaker
"Our hopes are high. Our faith in the people is great. Our courage is strong. And our dreams for this beautiful country will never die."
Pierre Trudeau
"Whether we live together in confidence and cohesion; with more faith and pride in ourselves and less self-doubt and hesitation; strong in the conviction that the destiny of Canada is to unite, not divide; sharing in cooperation, not in separation or in conflict; respecting our past and welcoming our future."
—Lester Pearson
"Canadian nationalism is a subtle, easily misunderstood but powerful reality, expressed in a way that is not state-directed—something like a beer commercial or the death of a significant Canadian figure."
—Paul Kopas
"We only need to look at what we are really doing in the world and at home and we'll know what it is to be Canadian."
—Adrienne Clarkson
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Khurana, Simran. "Quotes for Canadian Remembrance Day." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/canadian-remembrance-day-quotes-2832063. Khurana, Simran. (2023, April 5). Quotes for Canadian Remembrance Day. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/canadian-remembrance-day-quotes-2832063 Khurana, Simran. "Quotes for Canadian Remembrance Day." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/canadian-remembrance-day-quotes-2832063 (accessed March 29, 2024).