Encouraging Canadians to remember from home this year, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is launching #ShineOn, a digital remembrance campaign.
This year, like so many places across the country, Remembrance Day will take a on a different form for the first time since Canadians observed it on Nov. 11, 1931.
On the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the CWGC is committed to honouring fallen Canadians, despite restrictions on traditional Remembrance Day gatherings due to COVID-19.
That’s why it’s launching #ShineOn- an inclusive, accessible, digital Remembrance event.
And it’s asking for the help of Canadians across the country to cast the net far and wide, and take a few selfless minutes to remember those who fought so we can live today.
To heighten awareness and increase involvement this Remembrance Day, Canadians can take to social media using the hashtag #ShineOn to share memories about fallen family members or friends.
There is also a virtual experience on the CWGC website to allow people to name stars after commonwealth war dead.
“This Remembrance Day, we honour those who made the greatest sacrifice to secure a peaceful future for generations of Canadians,” said David Loveridge, CWGC’s director for the Canada and the Americas area.
“In a year in which many of our Remembrance traditions sadly cannot take place as usual, we hope that Canadians come together virtually to pay tribute to Canada’s fallen.”
On Remembrance Day, CWGC encourages Canadians to take a moment at 7:00pm (EST) and look up to the stars to remember the fallen.
CWGC will be shining searchlights into the sky at key locations during this special moment.
