Ideas Why Canadian veterans are conflicted about Remembrance Day
Nov 11, 2025
In this thought-provoking discussion, historian Michael Petru shares insights from his oral-history interviews with veterans. Poet and Afghan war veteran Benjamin Hertwig expresses his mixed feelings about formal rituals, preferring personal remembrance over public ceremonies. WWII veteran Blanche Bennett highlights the need for women’s contributions to be recognized, while Russell Kaye recalls his emotional return to D-Day sites. Together, they explore the complex relationship veterans have with Remembrance Day and emphasize the importance of educating future generations about the true costs of war.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Poetry, Anger, And Private Remembrance
- Benjamin Hertwig stopped attending ceremonies after Afghanistan and felt anger toward traditional poems like "In Flanders Fields."
- He later writes his own poems and selectively participates in remembrance in quieter ways.
Bring Youth To See War Graves
- Take youth to visit war graves and read names to change their perceptions of war.
- Exposing young people to the reality of graves can mature their understanding of conflict.
Remembrance Has Many Personal Layers
- Remembrance Day holds many layered meanings for veterans beyond public ceremony.
- The project revealed how difficult and complicated Remembrance can be for individuals.
