Today marks the 90th anniversary of the end of what was supposed to be the 'war to end all wars.' We commemorate and remember the sacrifice of millions of mostly young men who gave their lives in the bloody battlefields of mainland Europe by recognizing the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on this Armistice day the 11th day of the 11th month at 11 o'clock in 1918. The tradition has spread and now is day set aside to remember the service and sacrifice of all veterans from all subsequent conflicts.

Throughout history, veterans have convened in town halls, community centers and pubs around the world, forever bonded by an experience most of us have been fortunate enough to avoid.

Beginning today, veterans from more recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq can turn to a virtual version of the town hall and to seek support and comradeship from their fellow servicemen online. The new social networking site, CommunityofVeterans.org was put together by the nonprofit organizations Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the Ad Council.

There are other Vet's sites popping up, including one created in assciation by the Veterans of Foreign Wars at www.myvetwork.com. The American Legion www.legion.org has also created several cyber posts where veterans can communicate via blogs and chat rooms online, no matter where they reside.

The membership for the VFW and the American Legion have dropped off significantly since the end of the Liberation of Kuwait in the Persian Gulf War in 1991. The American Legion currently has 2.6 million members, down from 3.1 million. VFW has 1.6 million, down from 2.2 million. The reduction in numbers is primarily from the loss of vets from World War II and the Korea War from natural causes,

On a personal level, the internet never ceases to amaze me. Just last month my 13-year old son, Robert, and I worked on a school history report together, the task was to create a family tree. Robert was  fascinated by the heroic story of his Great Uncle, whom sadly neither of us got to meet, and how he was killed at the tender age of 16 serving his country.

Too young to join the Royal Navy, my Uncle Shewan volunteered—against my Grandmother's wishes—as a Merchant Seaman. His mission: to bring back food and supplies from the 'New World.' My father recalls the first time he saw a real banana from Florida upon his older brother completing his first maiden voyage. Sadly, he never completed a second mission. His ship, the Silveray, unarmed, was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of New Foundland in the winter of 1942. Fortunately, most of the crew escaped, but my Uncle, along with six fellow shipmates managed to flee the sinking ship, but alas, they were never seen again.

Thanks to Google and some online research, my son found the details of that dark day in the North Atlantic, including the name of the U-Boat and the German captain that fired that fateful torpedo. He found the names of his Uncle's crew, he even discovered a picture of the Silveray which he now has proudly displayed as his wallpaper on his laptop.

It was a therapeutic experience for both of us. Now at least my son has a reality perspective on the playstation WWII games he loves to engage in with his older brother, James. As a parent, I just hope that my children's generation only experience of war is kept within the realm of pixels on a screen.

Lest We Forget, A Poppy is to Remember
Many Commonwealth countries remember the brave people in uniform by wearing a red poppy. The poppy is significant, not only because of its vibrant blood red color, but because of its abundance accross the many battlefields in Belgium. The tradition of selling of poppy motifs and emblems enabling civilians to show their support and respect to the men and women in uniform. They generally go on sale in late October. The revenues go to the various charities and organizations that support veterans from all wars.

Below is the poignant poem "In Flanders Fields" by Canadian physician, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, during World War I while in the trenches on the front line in Belgium, the day after he witnessed the death of his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.