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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Nov 10, 2009 22:29:11 GMT -5
It's not about secular politics or whether you're for or against the war in Afghanistan. Please wear a poppy tomorrow.  Much thanks, Disgruntled70sHab |
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Post by habernac on Nov 12, 2009 16:08:30 GMT -5
I most definitely did, Dis. Here's a pic from June of 1944. My Grandfather, 3rd from the right, was Flight Lieutenant and piloted a Wellington in WW2.  |
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Post by Skilly on Nov 12, 2009 20:31:58 GMT -5
Nice picture habernac .... and good idea. Here is a picture of my grandfather in his uniform in his yard shortly before heading off to the War. He fought in North Africa, against Rummel, and was a gunner. His war buddies called him "Lil Butch".  |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Nov 12, 2009 23:46:58 GMT -5
Very nice photos guys. Thanks.
Cheers.
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Post by franko on Nov 13, 2009 7:08:31 GMT -5
Don't have a pic of my 15-year-old [at the time, of course] grandfather getting ready to go to boot camp ["I'm 18, Sir! Yes, Sir -- I'm sure I'm 18!]
Lucky to come back alive -- the coin in his tunic pocket saved his life [nicely mangled -- quite the coin! -- Why, if it were not for that coin I wouldn't be posting today]. One of his buddies -- not so lucky. They wre talking in a foxhole; my GF turned away for a second and when he looked back his buddy was dead.
While I am no peacenik, I also see no reason for war after war after war [which I don't want to study no more].
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Post by ValkyrieNS on Nov 13, 2009 7:55:52 GMT -5
Lucky to come back alive -- the coin in his tunic pocket saved his life [nicely mangled -- quite the coin! -- Why, if it were not for that coin I wouldn't be posting today]. One of his buddies -- not so lucky. They wre talking in a foxhole; my GF turned away for a second and when he looked back his buddy was dead. That gave me a chill... |
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Post by Polarice on Nov 13, 2009 9:04:32 GMT -5
What upsets me is that some Provinces in Canada don't recognize Remembrance Day as a Holiday. Here we are at war as we speak and in Ontario and others its business as usual.
Come people its all about respect!!
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Post by franko on Nov 13, 2009 9:17:05 GMT -5
Business as usual? Naw . . . ya just have to stay closed until 12:30 . . . unless you don't want to; then it's a coupla hudred dollar fine.
10 years from now: it will be business as usual . . . I mean, it'll be a hunderd years since the war ended . . . why are we celebrating it?
[many comments could flow but I'll bite my tongue on this one]
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Post by Polarice on Nov 13, 2009 10:09:04 GMT -5
Business as usual? Naw . . . ya just have to stay closed until 12:30 . . . unless you don't want to; then it's a coupla hudred dollar fine. 10 years from now: it will be business as usual . . . I mean, it'll be a hunderd years since the war ended . . . why are we celebrating it? [many comments could flow but I'll bite my tongue on this one] Really!! IMHO its the most important Holiday on the Calendar. |
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Post by franko on Nov 13, 2009 12:03:04 GMT -5
in full agreement with you.
perhaps I should have suggested 11 years, as ending it on the 100th anniversary would not go over well. but as each involved vet dies it will be more and more difficult to say "we should keep going" . . . "war is bad why are we glorifying it" . . . etc.
schools are doing less and less as well. I remember a couple of years ago in our local elementary school the banner read Lest We Remember and when I spoke ot the teacher she talked of remembering war not good for the children. I suggested they'd better remember, as it is the reason they have freedom today. She looked at me as if I was out of my gourd.
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Post by Polarice on Nov 13, 2009 14:29:21 GMT -5
in full agreement with you. perhaps I should have suggested 11 years, as ending it on the 100th anniversary would not go over well. but as each involved vet dies it will be more and more difficult to say "we should keep going" . . . "war is bad why are we glorifying it" . . . etc. schools are doing less and less as well. I remember a couple of years ago in our local elementary school the banner read Lest We Remember and when I spoke ot the teacher she talked of remembering war not good for the children. I suggested they'd better remember, as it is the reason they have freedom today. She looked at me as if I was out of my gourd.Tis true...most people don't even realise we're at war now, we have people dying trying to make sure that our country remains safe for our children. |
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Post by CentreHice on Nov 13, 2009 15:09:13 GMT -5
When I taught elementary school in my first life, we had seniors from a local retirement home visit classrooms on a weekly basis. I believe the year was 1992.
The gentleman who came into my room was in his mid-90s. He had lied about his age in order to enlist for WWI. He was quite an amazing guy. Full head of white hair and as sharp as a tack. His favourite place to eat: Swiss Chalet for the chicken pot pie...where my family and I took him on occasion. We also went to visit him often at his residence, where he showed us his photo albums. Almost a century of memories....but the ones that stood out for me were his photos from his war unit. But he wouldn't talk about his experiences overseas. He'd start to...only to cut himself off mid-sentence, close his eyes, and shake his head. In fact, November 11th was a day of solitude for him.
The atrocities he must've witnessed, I can't even imagine.
He passed away at the age of 98. Every November 11th, especially....he's front and centre for me.
Thanks, Herb.....
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Post by MC Habber on Nov 13, 2009 15:16:50 GMT -5
Business as usual? Naw . . . ya just have to stay closed until 12:30 . . . unless you don't want to; then it's a coupla hudred dollar fine. 10 years from now: it will be business as usual . . . I mean, it'll be a hunderd years since the war ended . . . why are we celebrating it? [many comments could flow but I'll bite my tongue on this one] Interesting, this article said the opposite: The moment of silence becomes two minutes. A commemorative day becomes a week. As more veterans die and more soldiers' bodies return, Canadians have a growing interest in Remembrance DayWhy is Nov. 11th blooming? |
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Post by Skilly on Nov 13, 2009 15:44:33 GMT -5
What upsets me is that some Provinces in Canada don't recognize Remembrance Day as a Holiday. Here we are at war as we speak and in Ontario and others its business as usual. Come people its all about respect!! Even the UK does not recognize Nov 11th on the day .... they hold their ceremonies on the closest Sunday to the 11th. |
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Post by habernac on Nov 13, 2009 16:36:52 GMT -5
When I taught elementary school in my first life, we had seniors from a local retirement home visit classrooms on a weekly basis. I believe the year was 1992. The gentleman who came into my room was in his mid-90s. He had lied about his age in order to enlist for WWI. He was quite an amazing guy. Full head of white hair and as sharp as a tack. His favourite place to eat: Swiss Chalet for the chicken pot pie...where my family and I took him on occasion. We also went to visit him often at his residence, where he showed us his photo albums. Almost a century of memories....but the ones that stood out for me were his photos from his war unit. But he wouldn't talk about his experiences overseas. He'd start to...only to cut himself off mid-sentence, close his eyes, and shake his head. In fact, November 11th was a day of solitude for him. The atrocities he must've witnessed, I can't even imagine. He passed away at the age of 98. Every November 11th, especially....he's front and centre for me. Thanks, Herb..... Good story CH. My wife's grandfather was in both great wars as an engineer. We don't know much about him as he died in 1953. His only child, my wife's Dad was only 9 years old. I think he drank himself to death. |
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Post by jkr on Nov 13, 2009 16:39:14 GMT -5
What upsets me is that some Provinces in Canada don't recognize Remembrance Day as a Holiday. Here we are at war as we speak and in Ontario and others its business as usual. Come people its all about respect!! Banks are usually closed here in Ontario & some provincial gov't units like the WSIB. At this time I think a lot about my Dad who fortunately is still with us. He signed up at 19 and spent 2 years in a Sherman tank with 3-4 other guys. I saw one at a museum & couldn't believe they could squeeze so many people into it. He doesn't talk much about the tough times - mostly just about the fun times they had infrequently. Like his generation it's not something he makes a big deal about. He was just doing what he had to do. Thanks Dad. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Nov 13, 2009 17:15:02 GMT -5
It's not about secular politics or whether you're for or against the war in Afghanistan. Please wear a poppy tomorrow. Much thanks, Disgruntled70sHab It would have been a great pleasure to wear one. Unfortunately it has been impossible to get one in California. I would appreciate anyone in Canada mailing me some, my sons and I could proudly wear them in honor of my late father in the RCAF. I can send my address to anyone who will send me a message. Thank you and keep wearing them. They look great on the TV commentators. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Nov 13, 2009 17:17:33 GMT -5
Several years ago I took the family to Tofino on Vancouver Island to see where my father was stationed. It was a wonderful opportunity to see in person the places his RCAF stories described.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Nov 13, 2009 17:20:15 GMT -5
It's not about secular politics or whether you're for or against the war in Afghanistan. Please wear a poppy tomorrow. Much thanks, Disgruntled70sHab It would have been a great pleasure to wear one. Unfortunately it has been impossible to get one in California. I would appreciate anyone in Canada mailing me some, my sons and I could proudly wear them in honor of my late father in the RCAF. I can send my address to anyone who will send me a message. Thank you and keep wearing them. They look great on the TV commentators. Consider it done. I'll contact you off line and we'll get it going. Dis |
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