October 26, 2007
Remembrance
November approaches, and the veterans are out doing their thing. Every year there are fewer of them and it gets harder and harder to find your poppy. This year I lucked out, I guess, because there were a couple of them outside the fruiterie this afternoon.
I’m not sure where I picked up the habit, but whenever I buy a poppy from a veteran, I always make a point to shake his hand and say “Thank you”. I always feel a little strange when I do it though. Does he know why I am thanking him? Does he know how I feel about all of those Canadian soldiers who fought and gave their lives so that we could live free?
I know that not all of the veterans around today went overseas. My grandfather was a veteran but he was stationed at home, and I imagine that there were many others like him. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t appreciate them, however. Regardless of what they did or did not do, they were there, and the ones we still have are a quickly-fading link to a past that is all to easy to forget. I know that it is ludicrous to think so, but I can’t help but hope that by personally thanking those we still have, at least a small portion of that gratitude will be passed along to those that gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Anyways, November 11th is almost here. Do you have your poppy?
Posted by Aaron on October 26, 2007, 3:08 pm permalink top | general
I got mine on Monday,at the same spot but from a different Vet.Chest full of medals and very proud of the money they raised for the Veterans hospital in Saint Anne’s last year.
It’s funny the things you remember or think about this time of year.
“In Flanders Fields” is the only poem that I learned in high school that I can still recite.Why? I don’t know.
At the end of the movie “Saving Private Ryan”, the vet asks his wife if she thought he did good.
It’s left up to us to hold the torch, “be it your’s to hold it high”, and do the best we can with what has been given us.
Dad.
Wonderful to read that the “younger” generation appreciates. I agree with “Dad” re Saving Private Ryan.
I purchased my 3 poppies - one for Mom (Nannie) one for me and one for Dave. Sadly, it was purchased from a small hometown bakery (no vet in site) but I wanted to make sure I had one.
Thanks for post Aaron.
Its funny, even though I served in combat I still have a tough time comparing myself to the “real” vets of WWI and II.
SR