Remembrance

Tomorrow, we honor and remember those who have served our country.

My Grandpa Eric served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for World War II. His story, as told to me by my Uncle Garry, was as follows

Your Grandpa Eric joined the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) and went to England before travelling through Africa to India and Burma where he was a Radar Technician. His job was a dangerous one as they took bombing, machine gun fire and flack from the Japanese for the control of the South Pacific. He contracted malaria twice and returned to Canada in an extremely weakened condition and severely underweight at the end of the war in 1945. Conditions in the jungle were atrocious and the food was 'eat it or starve' rations (mostly mutton as the Indians consider cows sacred). He brought back a few souvenirs including shrapnel that nearly missed his head and some coins. Most veterans didn't talk about the war. They were too happy to live in peace and start families of their own.

Which is exactly what my Grandpa did. He and my beautiful Grandma Beth had 4 strapping lads. He passed away when I was just a toddler.

My Grandpa was lucky to make it home from the war and live to see his kids grow up and have kids of their own. However, it was not without sacrifice.

Tomorrow, when we honor all of those who have dedicated their lives to keeping our country the incredible place it is, I will hold a special place in my heart for my Grandpa Eric and the amazing man he was.

Lest we forget.