The Act of Remembrance: Why These Words Endure

Each November, as Canadians gather in silence at cenotaphs, schools, and cemeteries across the country, a familiar verse rises above the stillness:

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.”

This moment, known in Canada as The Act of Remembrance, stands at the heart of every ceremony held on or around November 11. It is more than recitation. It is a national pledge, a shared commitment that those who served and sacrificed for our freedom will never be forgotten.

The Origins of The Act of Remembrance

The words come from the fourth stanza of For the Fallen, a poem written by English poet Laurence Binyon in September 1914. Published in The Times shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, the poem honoured the soldiers who had fallen in the early battles in France and Belgium.

That stanza, beginning with “They shall grow not old…”, soon became known as The Ode of Remembrance. Across the Commonwealth, including Canada, it evolved into what we now call The Act of Remembrance, a formal and sacred part of commemorative services.

It has been spoken at every national Remembrance Day ceremony, from Parliament Hill to the smallest community memorial, as well as at services across the country including those at Beechwood Cemetery, the National Cemetery of Canada.

The Meaning Behind the Words

Each line of The Act of Remembrance holds profound significance.

• “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old” reminds us that those who died in service remain forever young in our collective memory.
• “Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn” acknowledges that their sacrifice stands above the passage of time or the judgment of history.
• “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them” binds us to a promise ,to remember always, at dawn and dusk, in every generation.

When those gathered respond, “We will remember them,” it is not just tradition. It is an active vow , an affirmation of gratitude, service, and shared identity as Canadians.

Why It Matters

Today In an era of constant change, The Act of Remembrance endures as a touchstone of national memory. It bridges generations, uniting veterans, serving members, families, and citizens in a single moment of respect.

At National Military Cemetery, these words echo through the crisp November air each year, connecting the past to the present, and reminding us of our duty to carry remembrance forward.

The Act of Remembrance is not simply about looking back; it is about reaffirming who we are as a nation, compassionate, grateful, and forever mindful of those who gave their all.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.