Ryan McNeil
I took this photo, of a Canadian soldier dressed in WWI fatigues at Toronto’s Remembrance Day Ceremony a few years ago. Today, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, our nation takes pause to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.I wanted to pay them tribute in my own little way, those who dies so that we may live. So after the jump, take a look at five titles that will always remind me of the terrible price that must sometimes be paid for our freedom. If there are any titles in my five that you haven’t seen, I truly recommend a run to the video store. And should you happen to see a veteran on your way, be sure to thank them for protecting our way of life.
Lest We Forget
THE THIN RED LINE (1998)
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)
FULL METAL JACKET (1987)
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (2006)
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
One thing that blows my mind is that in the past decade, pretty much all (or actually maybe ALL) the WWI vets have passed away. This saddens me somehow – already the 20th century, the century I was born in whose history still seemed alive and reachable when I was a kid, is fading away.
Being born in the early 80s, it’s my eternal conception that the old folks are World War II vets, the middle-aged ex-hippies, and the young Gen-Xers. As that paradigm shifts, it’s hard to get used to…imagine a day when there are no WWII vets left!
All Quiet on the Western Front is also one of my favourite books of all time. Love this post…and the sentiment.