Memorial Day

July 1 is Canada Day. We celebrate Rememberance Day on November 11 where we honour those who served Canada. Services are held on at 11 am. As the treaty to end the First World War was signed on at 11 am on the 11 day of the 11 month (November 11). We traditional wear a poppy on this day. In Belgium a few years ago we stopped at Flanders Field where the poem was written by a Canadian doctor. I have recited the poem every year since 1st grade. I was powerful to see the bunker it was composed in. Services are held in across the country and in almost every school. I have help to lead these for many years in my school.

The last RS tour I was on stopped at the American cemetery (near Florence). After the local tour guide had finished, I walked amongst the graves and silently thanked them for their service. At that moment, surrounded by so many fallen soldiers, it felt the right thing to do. I forever remain grateful.

My grandfather in law was in the Pacific Theater is WW2. He was a commander in the 1st Cavalry and was involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. In the Philippines, they set up some kind of large gun or cannon on a ridge that shot over a house, so he went to explain to the family living there what they were doing. They had a newborn baby that was sick so the US Army provided milk and other supplies to help them. My grandfather in law survived the war (but was wounded and was awarded a Purple Heart medal). They did well in the construction business and began traveling the world with his war buddies. That group went back to the Philippines in the early 80s, saw that the house was still there, knocked on the door...same family still lived there. They new each other right away, embraced and the man cried saying the American soldiers had saved their baby's life! They became life long friends and traveled back and forth to visit each other and toured the world together. I met them many times and knew the daughter that had been saved. She became a nun in the Catholic Church. (And I can't tell that story without crying!)

Thank you Big Mike for reminding us what this weekend is about. If you include extended family, I have family who have served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq. My nephew is currently active duty. I'm about to have dinner with a retired Colonel. I will take this opportunity to remember Uncle D who flew the Burma Hump in WWII. He passed away earlier this year at the ripe age of 100.

My dad was in the signal corps during WWII, mostly stationed in Metz. He is 98 and still going strong. All his war buddies are long gone, but they kept in touch till the end. My Uncle was in the Marines during WWII. He told us on a visit two weeks ago, he went to the recruiting station on the morning he had bathed and had on clean clothes, the Marines were there that day, so off he went. He is 95. My older brother joined the Navy and went to Vietnam. He was a gunner on a destroyer, the USS Lloyd Thomas, and the gun next to his imploded. He survived but without a left eardrum and little hearing. He is 71. My cousin’s son just joined the Marines last summer, like his grandfather. My family always gives thanks that they all came home, so many didn’t.