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November 09
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"Please wear a poppy", the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on carefree feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady", said he, "may I have one"?
When she'd pinned it on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today"?
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free –
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.
"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
And became a man – as you will, too.
"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while.
When war broke out and he went away
I still remember his face that day.
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mum, so please don't cry.
"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night).
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire
"Till at last, at last, the war was won –
And that's why we wear a poppy son".
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son – did he come back all right"?
A tear rolled down each faded cheek,
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same,
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Though our freedom was bought – and
Thousands paid!
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all.
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember – and give.
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Remembrance Day/Veterans' Day
Let us bow our heads together
Freedom
Is it only to be remembered at the 11th hour of
the 11th day of the 11th month?
I think not!!
No, Freedom isn't Free!
I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Soldier saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves.
No, freedom isn't free.
No, Freedom Isn't Free!
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November 06
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The average age of the Canadian military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either. |
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He's a recent High School graduate;
He was probably an average student,pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.
He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howizzitor.He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, |
But he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds
And reassemble it in less time in the dark.
He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun
or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.
He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation,
But he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of fatigues:
He washes one and wears the other.
He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle.
He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.
If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you;
if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you
In the midst of battle when you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons
And weapons like they were his hands.
He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay
And still find ironic humor in it all.
He has seen more suffering
And death then he should have in his short lifetime.
He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies,
And helped to create them.
He has wept in public and in private,
For friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.
He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body
While at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to
'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand,
Remove their hat, or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home,
He defends their right to be disrespectful.
Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather,
He is paying the price for our freedom.
Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the Canadian Fighting Man
That has kept this country free
For over 100 years.
He has asked nothing in return,
Except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always,
for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.
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And now we even have women over there in danger,
doing their part in this tradition
of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.
As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot.
A short lull, a little shade
and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.
Prayer
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts
they perform for us in our time of need.
Amen.'
When you see this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer
for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships,
and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq.
Of all the gifts you could give a Military Soldier, Sailor,
or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM | | | | | | | | |
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90th
Anniversary of the End of the First World War
This year we recognize the 90th Anniversary of the End of the First World War. Remembrance events and activities will be held across Canada and overseas, providing opportunities for Canadians to learn about Canada's role in the First World War.
By remembering Veterans' service and sacrifice, we recognize the tradition of freedom they fought to preserve. Veterans of the First World War are everyday Canadians who became heroes by standing up for what we as a nation believe in: peace, freedom, and justice. The resources found on this page can help ensure that the torch of Remembrance continues to burn brightly in the hearts of all Canadians.
A name from Canada's First World War military heritage that still stirs emotions is "Passchendaele."
Below is a picture from the Battle Of Passchendaele 1917.
More than 24,000 Canadians and 700 Newfoundlanders were killed, wounded or went missing in the Somme Region in 1916. They fulfilled their duty against overwhelming odds. Their unbreakable spirit, unwavering courage and selfless sacrifice so many years ago continues to have a profound influence on our Canadian way of life. Their legacy is our heritage - and, together, we will honour their memory.
Does anyone appreciate what I am trying to do here? I would like a little feedback to let me know. I just don't ever want anyone to ever forget the sacrifices that were made for us and our country, and other countries so that we may live free, by so many young men and women who went off to war leaving loved ones never to return home again.
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November 05
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Here is a little tid bit of information that I thought all of us as Canadians should know.
THE VETERAN ON OUR TEN DOLLAR BILL
If you look at the back right-hand side of a Canadian $10 bill, you will see an old veteran standing at attention near the Ottawa war memorial. His name is Robert Metcalfe and he died last month at the age of 90.
That he managed to live to that age is rather remarkable, given what happened in the Second World War. Born in England , he was one of the 400,000 members of the British Expeditionary Force sent to the mainland where they found themselves facing the new German warfare technique - the Blitzkrieg.
He was treating a wounded comrade when he was hit in the legs by shrapnel. En route to hospital, his ambulance came under fire from a German tank, which then miraculously ceased fire. Evacuated from Dunkirk on HMS Grenade, two of the sister ships with them were sunk.
Recovered, he was sent to allied campaigns in North Africa and Italy . En route his ship was chased by the German battleship Bismarck .
In North Africa he served under General Montgomery against the Desert Fox, Rommel.
Sent into the Italian campaign, he met his future wife, a lieutenant and physiotherapist in a Canadian hospital. They were married in the morning by the mayor of the Italian town, and again in the afternoon by a British padre.
After the war they settled in Chatham where he went into politics and became the warden (chairman) of the county and on his retirement he and his wife moved to Ottawa . At the age of 80 he wrote a book about his experiences.
One day out of the blue he received a call from a government official asking him to go downtown for a photo op. He wasn't told what the photo was for or why they chose him. 'He had no idea he would be on the bill,' his daughter said.
And now you know the story of the old veteran on the $10 bill.
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January 15
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LET US TAKE TIME TO PRAY FOR OUR CANADIAN  OUR AMERICAN  AND OUR BRITISH  SOLDIERS FAR TOO MANY ARE SENT HOME THIS WAY SO THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS.
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