This Remembrance Day, my thoughts return to the moment I stood on the shores of the Normandy beaches, places I had only ever read about in history books, suddenly made overwhelmingly real by the sight of the sand, the wind, and the vastness of the sea. Standing there, imagining the bravery of those who landed on D-Day, I felt the weight of what so many of our troops had to overcome. The terrain itself seemed insurmountable, yet they pushed forward through fear, uncertainty, and unimaginable odds.
What struck me most was not just the violence of war, but the resilience, this unwavering belief in a greater good. Remembrance Day isn’t about glorifying conflict. It’s about honouring the human courage that rises when communities, nations, and individuals choose to stand for something larger than themselves. Our families went to war. Many did not return. They fought, not for personal gain, but for their loved ones, for their communities, for the possibility of a better world.
In my own family, I often look back at the photographs of my great-grandfather, drafted from the Caribbean, serving under the British Empire as part of a colonial army. He was far from home, a young man who had no choice but to rise to a moment that history placed before him. His story reminds me that service has always been diverse. It has always included those often left out of our narratives: Black soldiers, Indigenous soldiers, brown and white soldiers, men and women, people of every faith, culture, shape, and size. Side by side, they contributed to the same mission.
As we honour November 11th, we also recognize Indigenous Veterans Day, a day to acknowledge First Nations, Inuit, and Métis service members whose contributions were immeasurable, despite facing discrimination at home and unequal treatment upon their return. Their dedication is part of the fabric of our collective history.
Remembrance Day is a time to pause, not only in grief but in gratitude. Gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy, for the sacrifices made, and for the strength of community when people unite for a shared purpose. The stories of those who served remind us that resilience is not born from ease; it is shaped by hardship and held together by hope.
At Cher-Mère, we carry that spirit of gratitude into our everyday practice. As a small gesture of thanks, we offer 15% off every day to all serving military members. It will never match the depth of their service, but it is a reminder that we see you, we honour you, and we are grateful.
May we continue to reflect, remember, and recognize the ways community can bring us through even the most challenging chapters of our shared history. Let us hold space for those who served, those we lost, and the families whose stories continue to shape who we are.
Lest we forget.