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Post by clear observer on Nov 11, 2002 8:15:44 GMT -5
Originally posted November 11th, 1999, on the old CFHW board and subsequently HabsRus.com. Our own Keith Marion pays homage to those who fought and continue to fight for our freedom. A gripping tribute. ... MOREThanks so much for this Keith. CO
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Post by UberCranky on Nov 11, 2002 9:05:19 GMT -5
Thank you for that tribute Keith.
I like to thank my father who is still with us and my father in law who is not, for the sacrifices they made so we can live and build a life in freedom.
I will never know what it's like to huddle with my comrades in the snow, on a mountain top, living on a slice of bread, waiting for the enemy to attack. I’ll never know and I never want to find out what it’s like to charge a man with fixed bayonet. I’ll never know and I never want to know what it’s like to live in a prison for two years and weigh 91 lbs. I will never know what humanity I posses if I had a pistol aimed at the temple of a man who killed my friends only 10 days earlier and now, through the orders of man far away, told to let him go in peace. These and many, many more things I know and I don’t want to believe or ever have to face.
To my father, to my father in law, to Keith’s grandfather, to all man who sacrifice themselves for freedom, honour and justice, humbly I thank you.
Indeed, the cruelty of madman can only be challenged and conquered by the sacrifices of heroes.
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Post by Bobs_HABit on Nov 11, 2002 10:41:25 GMT -5
Amen, Keith...Amen!
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Nov 11, 2002 10:51:10 GMT -5
As always, thanks again, Keith. It's always made me feel gratification knowing that young people still find it in themselves to remember and appreciate what they have today. More importantly, how that freedom was won. I sent a small piece off to the editor of the Ottawa Sun and hopefully it will be published tomorrow. I've never regretted joining the service, indeed, it was probably the single-most important decision I've made in my life to that point. As important as that was though, so was my decision to finally leave the service after 22 years; the increased operational tempo asking more than what I was capable of giving at this point in my life. In short, I am just plain tired. I am happy that your grandfather survived Dieppe, Keith. Mrs. Dis' great uncle, Allan Scott Affleck, did not. He was one of the 1000 or so Canadians who were killed August 19, 1942. His gravesite can be found here: DIEPPE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY (HAUTOT-SUR-MER) Grave Reference: B. 59. For those Canadians who have lost loved ones in the past wars, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site lists all of the grave sites of past Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in action. If you can't find who you're looking for, it's probably because the Commission couldn't find them either. www.cwgc.org/However, the Canadian Dept of Veterans affairs also offers this service. Please see below. www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmemI must apologize to some of our foreign posters as I don't have the links for every country outside of the Commonwealth. However, I'm sure there is something out there. If I find them, I'll post them. Thanks again for bringing that article up, Keith. I'm sure it will continue to mean much to those who take the time to read it. I know it means a lot to me. Thank you. Rick Landry Warrant Officer (Ret'd, Finally!)
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Nov 11, 2002 10:52:07 GMT -5
Originally posted November 11th, 1999, on the old CFHW board and subsequently HabsRus.com. Our own Keith Marion pays homage to those who fought and continue to fight for our freedom. A gripping tribute. ... MOREThanks so much for this Keith. CO I'm not too sure if there are any other sports boards that would take the time to remember this day, Spiro. Thanks for remembering. Rick
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Post by 24andcounting on Nov 11, 2002 11:11:43 GMT -5
A fantasic piece on a day we must continue to remember. Thanks for the good work.
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Post by habernac on Nov 11, 2002 15:09:12 GMT -5
My Grandfather passed away this spring. He was a veteran of WW2. He was a pilot, he and his crew bombed U boats. A picture graces my front entrance in my home. It shows he and his crew in Scotland in 1944. It is my most prized possesion. He took me a few times to Remembrance day ceremonies. Man, I feel empty today because he isn't here. We can never thank our veterans enough for what they did for all of us. Thanks for a great tribute, Keith.
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Post by HabBoy on Nov 11, 2002 16:05:32 GMT -5
To all of those that fought for freedom, I salute you.
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Post by jkr on Nov 11, 2002 18:26:02 GMT -5
Thanks very much for this.
My father is a vet ( 3 years inside a Sherman tank) but like your Grandfather, he does not talk about the experience often. ABout the only thing he told was that I should avoid it at all costs. He doesn't brag or boast about it. He, like many others, was just doing the right thing.
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Post by Pam on Nov 11, 2002 19:24:31 GMT -5
I'm not too sure if there are any other sports boards that would take the time to remember this day, Spiro. Thanks for remembering. Rick I had someone on my forum make a post for our Veterans this morning, but I'm not sure if it happened on any other forums outside of here and mine. The people that are my age can't forget this day. We were born right after WW II and witnessed Vietnam. Too many of our good young men died and too many of them came home to get their butt's kicked by wives that decided to divorce them while they were fighting the war, and our Government "doused" them with Agent Orange while they were there. I never forgot those men for what they gave up for our country to help another country. Too bad so many of us here (in the U.S.) did though.
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