My name is Noelle Muddiman, and to me, Remembrance Day is about a promise.
A promise to protect the peace that was gifted to us by those who fought so that we would not have to. Considering our generation is so removed from these times of war, it can be easy to lose sight of just how important it is to reflect on the past. After all, Remembrance Day was first observed in 1918, after the end of the first world war. That’s well before even our grandparents were born.
Without first-hand experience of war, it’s so simple to take for granted the peace that others were not so lucky to have. It is for this reason that Remembrance Day is so important. By looking into the past, we can ensure that we do not stray from the mission that is now ours: to prevent further violence.
This doesn’t just apply to wars. The freedoms that were won by Canadians long ago still need to be protected. Acts of racism, sexism, homophobia and other discrimination are still rampant in today’s society, often with violent outcomes.
Instead of fighting back with weapons, causing more bloodshed, our best ally to ensure unity is education. By learning from the events of the past and carrying on the tradition of Canadian bravery, we will make everyone who fought all those years ago proud. We must not squander the freedom and peace that we were granted by being bigoted and unwilling to find other ways of resolving issues.
Remembrance day is a reminder that peace is always the best option, and we must remember our promise to choose it.
Noelle Muddiman is a Grade 11 student at Clearwater Secondary School. The speech was given during a virtual Clearwater Secondary School Remembrance Day assembly on Nov. 10.
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