More than just a day off...

So today is an important day. It is Remembrance Day. This day comes around every year and I am always not too sure what I should be doing. I almost hate that we get this day off from school because how many people forget why they don't have school? How many kids are playing the new Call of Duty that always comes out a couple days before Remembrance Day? I'm not saying it should be classes as usual today, but the importance of this day cannot be forgotten. This is something I almost forgot this year.

At UBCO they also gave us Friday off. They did this and called it our "Mid-term break" for this semester. So now everyone has a four day weekend. This makes it even easier for this day to get lost in the shuffle. I was talking to a friend of mine a few days ago and he made a good point. He said that wrapping up Remembrance Day with Mid-term break waters down the effect of Remembrance Day. I agreed with him, but I couldn't help but wish Remembrance had happened on a Tuesday cause that's my busiest day. I immediately regretted saying that. This is more than just a day off. I shouldn't be wishing it was on a different day because it isn't about the day off. It's about honouring those who served/ are serving our country. I hated that I thought about it that way.

That is what got me thinking about this. How many other people are just thinking about it as a day off? I know when I was young I knew what Remembrance day was, I'm sure most kids do, but did I really understand the importance? I doubt it. In all honesty I probably was one of the kids playing that new video game. It wasn't until like high school that I would make a conscious effort to wear a poppy and think about the day. Even in high school I never attended a Remembrance day ceremony other than the one at school. So did I really get it? Do I really get it now? I've been wearing my poppy for the last week or so and I attended the ceremony at the university but what else? I know whatever I do on this day is not going to be enough to properly honour the men and women that we owe everything to.