November 11th, the day Canadians remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives in time of war - more than 100,000 who died in the First World War (1914 - 1918), the Second World War (1939 - 1945) and the Korean War (1950 - 1953). We show that we remember by wearing poppies, by pausing for two minutes of silent tribute, and by attending commemorative ceremonies. Tribute has also been paid to Canada's war dead through the medium of postage stamps.

The Memorial Chamber commemorative was issued in 1938 as part of the Pictorials Issue. Opened in 1928, it is located on the third floor of the Peace Tower in Canada's Parliament Buildings. It was originally built to honour those who fought in the First World War. Its scope has since been expanded to include key events in Canada's military history from 1866 to the present.

The Memorial Chamber's Remembrance Books have an important role to play in the act of remembrance. A page is turned each day in a ceremony held at 11:00 a.m., the hour of the Armistice of November 11, 1918. Every twelve months, each name in every book appears at least once.

One of the set of Royal Visit stamps, the War Memorial commemorative was issued in 1939. His Majesty King George VI unveiled it in that year. Originally constructed to honour Canadians who died in the First World War, the dates 1939-1945 and 1950-1953 were subsequently added to remember those who served in the Second World War and the Korean War.

Based on a model called The Response, submitted by Englishman Vernon March in response to an international competition held in 1925, the National War Memorial features 22 bronze figures advancing through an archway. The figures represent the hundreds of thousands of Canadians from all branches of the Service who were engaged in the First World War.  The granite archway is surmounted by the bronze figures of Peace and Freedom, conveying the message that one cannot exist for long without the other.

Fighting together for the first time, four Canadian divisions seized Vimy Ridge on April 12, 1917 after four days of ferocious combat. Two previous attempts by allies to dislodge the enemy from the heavily fortified height were unsuccessful. The innovative use of technology, meticulous preparation, and the sacrifice of thousands of young men's lives produced this remarkable victory, which, for Canada, was a turning point in the war and the beginning of a sense of nationhood.

John McCrae wrote his famous poem, In Flanders Fields, the day after one of his closest friends was killed in the Second Battle of Ypres, which took place in an area known as Flanders, Belgium, in April 1915. Canadian soldiers fought valiantly, despite the dreadful effects of chlorine gas, which was first used in this battle.  His friend along with thousands of others were buried in makeshift graves marked  with simple wooden crosses, and wild poppies were already beginning to bloom between them. It was the second last poem he was to write. He died of pneumonia and meningitis on January 28, 1918.

Committed to the Remembrance of those who gave their lives for peace and freedom, The Royal Canadian Legion was formed in 1925 with a membership of 50,000. Today, with more than 500,000 members and 1690 branches in Canada, the USA and Germany, the Legion is the largest community service organization in Canada. As well as providing service to veterans and the community, the Legion continues to promote Canada's contribution to world peace, the protection of Canadian sovereignty and the preservation of national unity. This stamp commemorated its 50th anniversary in 1975.

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Updated: 10 Oct 98