Remember...

There is nothing free about freedom. In fact, I sometimes wonder if the word should have been spelled “freedumb”. So many presume it is automatic and forget that its acquisition and maintenance have come with a cost…a very, very high cost. Our freedom has been acquired and preserved at the steepest price of all…the blood, pain and tears of millions…past and present.

 

In my naïve youth I was amused by an anti-Vietnam war slogan…”Fighting for peace is like fucking for chastity”. It was as brilliant in its simplicity as it was myopic in its scope. Contrary to popular belief, most military men loathe the thought of war. Yet, they recognize its unfortunate necessity and the requirement of the military as a deterrent. Peace is preserved and maintained because of the existence of the military.

 

I am by no means a hawk or a military man. On the contrary…I seek peaceful resolution at just about every turn…yet there comes a time when there are no options or alternatives but to battle.

 

WWI may have been a tragic case of military alliances foolishly tripping over one another into 4 years of horrific unnecessary trench warfare…but surely, was there any alternative but to fight against Nazi oppression?

 

Both my grandfathers fought in WWI in northern Italy against Austria (sorry Wolfi). Both passed on this message…”War is hell”. They would rather have had dinner and wine with their Austrian neighbours.

 

My parents survived encampment and bombardment by both the Nazis and Allies during WWII. I have not told you the horrors that my father shared with me. But I will pass on his message…”Gaetano…You have no idea how lucky you are to live in a nation like this…and in a time of peace. War is ugly…War is hell”.

 

I do not have many regrets in life but I have one major one from years ago. While attending university I worked several summers in a factory. The man who hired me was Dave Kingston…“Mr. Kingston” to me. Many of the factory workers feared him. But I respected and liked him. Mr. Kingston rarely said much…but when he did…it was with authority. I knew he had fought in WWII but sadly it was not until many years later that I learned he was one of the soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy…on D-Day.

 

I dislike most Hollywood war movies because they either ignore or belittle the role of Canada in war. For the record, in both World Wars, Canada lost more soldiers per percentage of its population than any other non-European nation, excluding Australia (#2) and New Zealand (#1). Glad those Aussies and Kiwis were on our side.

 

One of the 5 beachheads on D-Day was Juno Beach…it was attacked solely by Canadian troops. Mr. Kingston…was one of them. If you have seen Saving Private Ryan…you can imagine the carnage. I will forever regret not knowing that he was there until many years later. How I wish I had the chance to shake his hand and say…”Thank you Mr. Kingston…thank you for risking your life…to preserve…our freedom”.

 

~ Cenotaph in my hometown, Port Credit, Ontario, Canada, built in 1925 in honour of the men of Port Credit who fought overseas…and never returned. A population of well under 5,000 lost 32 men in WWI. Their names are inscribed on this monument. So are those of an additional 63 men…from this very village…who perished in WWII. As a little boy I often admired this cenotaph. I was well aware of its significance although the names Vimy Ridge, Ypres, Somme, Passchendaele and Dieppe meant nothing…until many, many years later. Picture taken Nov. 7, 2010. SOOC.

 

~ Dedicated to all soldiers who have risked their lives to preserve freedom…particularly those of my native land…and yes…especially you…Mr. Kingston.

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcuRagfLXKQ&feature=related

"I Will Remember You" ~ Sarah McLachlan

Tribute to Canadian Armed Forces

 

 

 

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