These days thoughts of Remembrance Day conjure images of chilly, solemn ceremonies, red poppy wreaths and the sound of the Last Post reverberating over silent crowds.

But a century ago, many marked Remembrance Day with long-weekend getaways, since the statutory holiday always fell at the beginning or end of the week.

While other federally recognized holidays are celebrations complete with travel, large meals, and fireworks, The Royal Canadian Legion has worked hard over the decades to make sure Nov. 11 isn含羞草研究社檛 just another day off for public servants, but a day of reflection.

含羞草研究社淭he fear is that we will go back to the practice of when it did become a long weekend, and people did not spend the time in reflection or in remembrance, rather, made it an opportunity for a long-weekend trip before the Christmas period started,含羞草研究社� said Steven Clark, the executive director of The Royal Canadian Legion.

Now Canada prepares to add another sombre holiday to its shared cultural tradition with the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 含羞草研究社� a day to recognize the horrors of Canada含羞草研究社檚 residential schools, and honour the lost children and survivors.

The holiday grants a paid day off to federally regulated employees and public servants, and some provinces have done the same for their workers.

Public sector unions hope the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation doesn含羞草研究社檛 suffer the same fate Remembrance Day once did.

含羞草研究社淚f we do nothing this year, then that may be the way it is for years to come, 含羞草研究社� said Chris Aylward, president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Unions have urged members to donate to charities that benefit Indigenous causes and read up on Canada含羞草研究社檚 Indigenous history and the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

But Aylward acknowledged no one can tell employees how to spend the free time they含羞草研究社檝e been granted.

含羞草研究社淚 really hope that people who are given the day off on Sept. 30 don含羞草研究社檛 view it as just another day off to do whatever they want. I含羞草研究社檓 really hoping that people who have the day off on Sept. 30 really use it as an opportunity to take real action to support Indigenous Peoples,含羞草研究社� he said.

The enactment of a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was among 94 calls to action put forward by the TRC.

The law to mark Sept 30 as a national holiday was given royal assent just weeks after what are believed to be 215 unmarked graves were discovered by Tk含羞草研究社檈mlups te Secwepemc First Nation on the grounds of a residential school in Kamloops, B.C.

Hundreds more potential grave sites were found near residential schools in the months that followed.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e always believed that we don含羞草研究社檛 take a moment for those who have experienced this, the survivors of residential schools, and those who were lost through residential schools, and that it含羞草研究社檚 important that we do that 含羞草研究社� that we take a moment for them, to understand what this country did to them, to acknowledge that it was wrong, and to commit to not doing it again,含羞草研究社� said Murray Sinclair, the recently retired senator who served as chief commissioner of the TRC, in an interview with CBC含羞草研究社檚 Unreserved.

含羞草研究社淛ust like they do for veterans who come out of the war 含羞草研究社� that it含羞草研究社檚 not just about marching and dressing up and getting some time off from school and closing stores and getting some time off from work, but it含羞草研究社檚 about remembering what they have done.含羞草研究社�

The federal government was to hold an event by the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill Wednesday night to mark the eve of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

On Thursday, an opening ceremony is planned on the Hill, followed by a spirit walk to Confederation Park. Other ceremonies are planned across the country and online.

Sinclair told CBC he expects most people in the country won含羞草研究社檛 be using the day off for the purpose it was intended.

含羞草研究社淏ut next year, there will be one more there, then the year after that there will be one more,含羞草研究社� he said.

That is the same philosophy the Legion used to bring Canadians together to remember veterans.

含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 something that you instil in your youth,含羞草研究社� Clark said.

Though public servants might have observed Remembrance Day by heading on vacation in the past, the traditions and education have been passed on through generations, Clark said.

That process is beginning now with the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a journey that we as a collective, as a society, have to take so that we are made aware of past injustices, aware of where we need to go and guidance on how to get there,含羞草研究社� Clark said.

In time, the sound of drums on Sept. 30 may inspire the same type of reflection as the sound of the bugle on Nov. 11.

Laura Osman, The Canadian Press