Normally this column is reserved for a little light humour. Most of what I produce is tongue in cheek and not to be taken very seriously. Today I digress. Remembrance Day is one of those days when memories of days gone by leave us with an ingrained sadness.
As we age, our thoughts of the past move further and further to the back of our minds. The older we get, the more we forget. Yet some memories simply do not disappear.
As I look back myself I still have to be reminded of our heritage, both the good and the bad.
Regarding Remembrance Day, several of my immediate family participated in the Second World War. Uncles were part of the army and the navy while my grandfather was a member of the medical corps in both World Wars. Today only my Uncle Gord who is in his nineties remains.
My first encounter with war was as a child. Most of what I heard and saw meant very little to me. I had an uncle in Italy and another was a sailor. What they did I had no idea. All I know is that my family seemed to be sad whenever my uncle's names came up in conversation.
I have vague recollections of newsreels that we saw at the movie theatre. When I was in Nuremberg recently I was jolted as I remembered from my childhood the sight of the stadium where Hitler made his speeches. Amazing what the mind has hidden in the deep crevices of our past.
I clearly remember the return of the armed forces. My Uncle Ed had been in the army and the whole family descended on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition to meet him as the trains pulled in for the return of our troops.
Sadly as time passes these memories fade into history. The history books will preserve the facts of the wars but the personal side of life will be lost forever.
The best we can do is to teach the next generations about the wars so they can appreciate what they have today is a lifestyle that was determined many years ago by those who fought to preserve it.
I have always admired how the Georgian Triangle protects these memories and recognizes the sacrifices of past generations. Annually, the Collingwood cenotaph is completely surrounded on November 11 by spectators of all ages. The school children, the seniors, the general public and of course the few remaining veterans.
Recalling the past to protect the future is crucial so that history does not repeat itself, again.
Let us remember!
Kent Walton can be reached at [email protected].
