Seniors Ministries

2005 Year of the Veteran

The Government of Canada has declared 2005 to be the Year of the Veteran*. It is Canada's year-long expression of thanks to war service veterans and veterans of the Canadian Forces.

How might your congregation honour those veterans?

In the congregation where I worship there were special prayers on VE Day. One member of the congregation told this story:

"My husband and two of his friends were gathered after a Remembrance Day worship. My husband turned to one of his friends and said, 'Where are your medals?' and the man replied, 'They are on my other suit.' Then my husband turned to the other man and asked, 'Where are your medals?' and he looked down at his chest then clapped his head, 'Oh, I must have left them on my pyjamas.'"

In the midst of memories that may cause great pain, in the midst of experiences that have been life-altering, there are moments of laughter and joy. How might you provide opportunities for veterans to both remember and celebrate? And how might you invite those in your congregation who have had no experience of war to honour the history of the veterans in your midst and in our country?

To remember and to honour the acts of the veterans in no way means to idealize war; in fact, it provides opportunities to seek peaceful relations in our families, our faith communities, and our world.