2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe and Asia, and has been declared the "Year of the Veteran" in Canada.
This
year also celebrated the opening of the Canadian Museum of War in
May and its 125th anniversary. Already it has seen more visitors
since it has opened than the former museum saw in one year.
This
year, Remembrance Week is being held November 2nd to November 13th, and
a number of programs are to be held at the museum to mark the occasion.
The museum says that it is for Canadians "to learn more about the
sacrifices made by those who have served and continue to serve our
country during times of war, conflict and peace."
| Number of Canadian Soldiers Who Died and Were Wounded in Each War * |
|||
| War | Served |
Died | Wounded |
| World War I |
625,825 | 61,082 |
154,361 |
| World War II | 1,086,343 |
42,042 |
54,414 |
| Korean War | 27,751 | 516 | 1,072 |
| *
For the population of Canada, these were huge losses and one which the
country felt very much. Each November, Canadians unite as one and
remember the over 100,000 which were killed in the three great wars in
which Canada was involved. |
From November 2 to the 13, there will be a new Canadian musical, "Till We Meet Again", about hope and courage in the face of adversity. It re-creates a Second World War radio variety show called "Music of the Stars."
On November 5, there will also be a stop made by the Memory Project as it ends its tour of Ontario. For more information, please read the news item about this item posted to this website.
On November 11, at Memorial Hall, at 11 a.m., there will be—via a large screen—a single beam of refracting sunlight which will come through a window onto the headstone of the Unknown Soldier, weather permitting. The museum will observe two minutes of silence.
There will be musical performances, special preformances, and stories from the veterans who were there in the Second World War, the Korean War, and peace support missions.
The museum is a great place to observe November 11 if one is unable to attend the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa.
The Canadian War Museum is located at 1 Vimy Place in Ottawa. The website is <http://www.warmuseum.ca> and their phone number is 1-800-555-5621.
It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday, and Thursday until 9 a.m.. It is closed Mondays.
It does cost to go to the museum, but it is 1/2 price on Sunday, and free on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m..