Copyright 2009 Mark Kennedy
This coming Wednesday is Remembrance Day in Canada and like all of the years past, Canadian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country will be remembered on this day.
Some people will remember family members or friends who fought and died in the great wars or other conflicts right up to the latest fighting in Afghanistan. I hope others with no personal connection will at least stop for a couple of minutes even if only to show a quiet respect for those brave men and women who lost their lives in battle.
I’m guilty of not knowing or perhaps remembering enough about my own family’s involvement. The only family member I can recall who took part in any war directly was my Uncle Hollis; who served aboard a sub-chaser in WWII. Beyond that, I can’t recall much else and sadly he passed away a couple of years ago so talking to him isn’t possible.
Another friend of our family is nearly 90 years old and he served in Europe during the Second World War with the Canadian artillery. He never liked to talk about it too much but from time to time he would volunteer a story from that experience and I was quite interested in what he had to say.
My father used to work with a man who stormed the beach on D-Day in Normandy and although he has since passed on, he did share some stories with my dad. His name was Rusty and he spoke of how he never understood why he was spared. During the landing on Juno Beach he had two fellow soldiers shot and killed on either side of him yet he survived. I’m sure stories like this were very common among those involved in that invasion.
These men and all of the men and women who have given their lives in service to their country and freedom deserve our thanks and unwavering gratitude now and forever.
War has changed a lot since the 1940’s. There were no smart bombs, drones or heat-seeking anything. Apache helicopters, F-22 Raptors and patriot missiles could never have been imagined. You knew your enemy and quite often you could see them as you fought them. Today, those battles are rare indeed. Of the over 130 Canadians killed in Afghanistan, the majority were killed not in traditional battles but by improvised explosive devices (IED’s) planted in the ground by the enemy.
The battle fields have changed, but the resulting loss of life, sadness and heartache never changes. Regardless of your opinions of war you have to respect the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom for all. Your right to express your opinions is directly related to those who have fought for our rights and freedom. Without those sacrifices, you wouldn’t be enjoying the freedom you have today. So if you can’t get to your local Remembrance Day service in person on Wednesday morning, then at least pause for two minutes at 11:00 a.m. wherever you are and remember them. They would have done the same for you.
Copyright 2009 Mark Kennedy
No comments:
Post a Comment