davef
11-11-2008, 08:53 PM
I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to the warriors of our nations
who have selflessly served their countries when called upon.
There are many brave souls who have fought and died, who have fought and
lived, who have fought and been wounded in the service to country.
A great debt is owed to these warriors who have guarded our rights and
freedoms with their bodies and blood.
I would like to take this moment to give my personal thanks to my grandfather
who served with the Canadian forces in WWI, who survived the battle of Vimy
Ridge, a battle that claimed the lives of almost 200,000 brave French, English,
and Canadian soldiers.
My grandfather survived the perils of mustard gas, bullets and bombs in
battles fought in far off, foreign places, and he did it to preserve our rights
and freedoms and way of life.
As if one war wasn't enough, when 2 of my uncles enlisted in the Canadian
Armed Forces during the second world war, my grandfather re-enlisted at the
age of 43, on the condition that he serve with his two sons. The family
story has it that my grandmother hounded him so much about the safety of
her two sons, that he did it just to get her off his case :)
I don't know how true that is, but my grandfather and two of my uncles
survived the D-Day invasions and came home safely from battle ravaged
Europe. Sadly, my grandfather passed away shortly after returning, but I
remember the sacrifice of he and my uncles, always.
who have selflessly served their countries when called upon.
There are many brave souls who have fought and died, who have fought and
lived, who have fought and been wounded in the service to country.
A great debt is owed to these warriors who have guarded our rights and
freedoms with their bodies and blood.
I would like to take this moment to give my personal thanks to my grandfather
who served with the Canadian forces in WWI, who survived the battle of Vimy
Ridge, a battle that claimed the lives of almost 200,000 brave French, English,
and Canadian soldiers.
My grandfather survived the perils of mustard gas, bullets and bombs in
battles fought in far off, foreign places, and he did it to preserve our rights
and freedoms and way of life.
As if one war wasn't enough, when 2 of my uncles enlisted in the Canadian
Armed Forces during the second world war, my grandfather re-enlisted at the
age of 43, on the condition that he serve with his two sons. The family
story has it that my grandmother hounded him so much about the safety of
her two sons, that he did it just to get her off his case :)
I don't know how true that is, but my grandfather and two of my uncles
survived the D-Day invasions and came home safely from battle ravaged
Europe. Sadly, my grandfather passed away shortly after returning, but I
remember the sacrifice of he and my uncles, always.