Take Time to Reflect and Remember

  Remembrance Day has always been an important day for me. My Grandfather served in World War II. He drove an ammunition truck of all things. The years he spent in Europe greatly shaped the kind of man he became and the way he lived his entire life. Though he would never talk about it, I think he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. I would often see him suddenly wake from a nap, startled by some memory only known to him. I can only imagine the tragedies he witnessed during that time in his life as he didn't really talk about these types of experiences.

He did once tell me a story of how he and his friends were so moved by the suffering of the children in Belgium that they gave them chocolate bars as a small way to bring some happiness to their lives. 50 years later, he was able to meet some of those children as adults when he took a trip to Europe. They were still extremely grateful for that small act of kindness, as well as for the sacrifices that Canadian soldiers made for their safety and freedom. These are the types of memories he preferred to pass onto his family.

As a child, I remember going to the Remembrance Day ceremony every November 11th. My Grandfather always took part and I was always very proud of him as he stood in his grey and navy Legion uniform with others who had served. It has been a number of years since my Grandfather passed away, and each year around this time I find myself spending a great deal of time thinking about him.

Please take time on this day to remember the sacrifices made by the members of our armed forces. They deserve our respect and their families deserve our support.

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