Don’t Remove God From Canada’s Military Traditions
Commentary Remembrance Day does not belong to the military bureaucracy. It is a civic ritual that includes a military component. It is part of the foundation of this country’s culture, a part no military command office should have authority to amend unilaterally. Yet, the military bureaucracy has presumed to do so. On the 11th day of the 11th month, chaplains will stand before cenotaphs facing a choice no 20th-century predecessor faced. The crowd will have just sung an anthem asking God to keep our land glorious and free. The ceremony will close with “God Save the King,” a sung prayer. Between those two invocations, the chaplains, under written orders, may not say what everyone around them is permitted to sing....
Remembrance Day is described as a civic ritual with a military component that is part of the nation’s culture. The military bureaucracy is unilaterally amending these traditions. Chaplains, under written orders, will be prohibited from saying what the public is permitted to sing, specifically regarding invocations to God.
- Remembrance Day is a civic ritual, not solely a military one.
- Military bureaucracy has unilaterally changed traditions associated with Remembrance Day.
- Chaplains face restrictions on what they can say during ceremonies.
- The restriction prevents chaplains from mentioning God, despite the public singing religious invocations.
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