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This brings it home to us!
Stand down, soldier
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There is a banner someone brings to the fence of Canadian Forces Base Trenton whenever there is a repatriation of a soldier killed in Afghanistan. It reads: "Stand down, soldier. Your job is done. You can go home."
People line up along the fence surrounding CFB Trenton waiting for the aircraft from Afghanistan to touch down, open its cargo door, and offer up its burden. Some of the onlookers are civilians, some are retired service men and women, some are on leave from active service and dress in uniform for the occasion. Some of them even bring young children.
There's a large contingent of bikers, the Blue Knights, wearing distinctive blue vests. One couple is visiting from Nova Scotia. Another man has just come home from Europe. The gathering spreads farther and farther along the fence.
Soon, a drone is heard overhead and the CC-150 Polaris transport plane comes into view. A hush falls over the people standing at the fence. The aircraft circles into position near the hangar where a family stands in the wind and cold to receive their loved one.
The silhouettes, especially the shoulders, speak of their exquisite pain. Their eyes are fixed on the wooden box that is now being hoisted onto strong shoulders and carried in measured steps toward the hearse.
The only colour in the whole scenario is the Canadian flag draped in its somber duty like a blanket over the fallen comrade. It seems to speak the words from the banner: "Stand down, soldier. Your job is done. You can go home."
After a 20-minute repatriation service, the casket is loaded into the black hearse. The family members board a limousine. Slowly the convoy exits the gates of 8 Wing-Canadian Forces Base Trenton.
The black vehicles are escorted front and back by two police cars as they drive out of Trenton and onto the celebrated Highway of Heroes. A signal is sent to a police car waiting on the ramp of the next overpass along the way to Toronto: "Cortege en route. ETA 15 minutes." Messages are radioed to the firefighters and ambulance workers in commuter parking lots all along the way to Toronto who have been anticipating the final good-bye. Each firetruck and ambulance rides to the top of its respective overpass where the crowd welcomes the shelter from the wind.
The police car drives down the ramp to block traffic from entering Highway 401. The crowd on the overpass is watching for that space of several minutes when there is no traffic in the westbound lanes. Then a whisper is telegraphed from one person to another: "They're coming. They're coming." By this time, not one space is left unoccupied along the railing.
I stand on the side of the hill by the sign that welcomes drivers to Brighton. I want to be as near as possible to the cortege. My student will be passing by. His sister, also a former student at my school, will be sitting in the limo with her mom and dad behind the dark glass. The last time I saw these siblings they were sitting innocently in a classroom.
On my one side is a member of the Legion, a retired Sergeant-major dressed in khaki. He is the first to sight the cortege and barks instinctively, "Heads up!" to everyone on the overpass.
I am frozen in place, steeling myself against an onslaught of emotion, tears burning behind my glasses. The Sergeant-major snaps a salute and, even though he is a complete stranger, I feel supported by his experience and professionalism. Behind me, the people who have come to the overpass for just this moment wave their flags. The dark glass of the limo opens and a long arm in a black coat ending in a black glove answers in silent acknowledgment.
In less than a moment the cortege is gone. Only now do I notice how many young people have also been standing vigils at the overpass. They look to me like students skipping school.
Who are all these other people? Does each of them have a connection, as I do, to the fallen soldier? Some of them are relaying messages by cell phone -- to other overpasses down the line. Are all the on-lookers on all the overpasses along the Highway of Heroes connected, like a web that stretches from Trenton to Toronto cradling the casket of the fallen at its centre?
What a strange experience our presence creates. A unique made-in-Canada ad hoc ritual that leaves participants feeling richer, and sadder, and more connected for having spent this one moment in the wind.
A VETERAN
Whether on active duty,retired, or reserve -is someone who,at one point in his/her life, signed a blank check
made payable to "The People of
"Up To and Including My Life."
EX-SERVICE PERSONEL
In 1998 at the request of the General Stewart Branch No. 4 a Committee of the Ladies Auxiliary members was formed to look into the possibility of organizing the 39-45 Vets Association. The Committee did a survey of over 600 Veterans and they were very receptive to the idea.
The first supper was held in September 1999. In September 2000 the members made a motion to include all Veterans and Ex-Service personnel and change the name from 39-45 Vets Association to Ex-Service Personnel. A motion was also made to invite wives, partners and widows of Veterans to attend all functions.
Five suppers a year are held in the Memorial Hall and the Committee try to have entertainment for at least two of the functions.
The Committee and members would like to thank the Branch,Ladies Auxiliary, and the Legion Credit Union for all their help and support. New members are always welcome, come out and have some fun and make new friends.
Definition of a Veteran
There has never been a definition of a veteran, prior to year 2000 for the Legion and year 2001 for Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). Even the Pension Act did not have a definition for them!
Accordingly, at the 26 of November 1999 Sub-Executive meeting , a motion was introduced to adopt a definition of a veteran which reads as follows:
“A veteran is any person who is serving or who has served in the Armed Forces of Canada, the Commonwealth or its wartime allies or;
who has served in the Merchant Navy or Ferry Command during wartime”.
This was eventually drafted into a resolution, approved by the Dominion Executive Council DEC and the 38th Dominion Convention held in Halifax in June year 2000.
As for the Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), they adopted a definition of a veteran in year 2001 which read as follows:
“VAC and the Department of National Defence (DND) have extended veteran status to former Canadian Forces members and Reserve Force members who:
meet DND’s Military Occupational Classification requirements (MOC qualified); and
have been released from the Forces with an Honourable Discharge”.
THE VETERAN
It is the VETERAN , not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN , not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN , not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN , not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN , not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the VETERAN ,
who salutes the Flag,
It is the VETERAN ,
who serves under the Flag,
ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
Just A Common Soldier
By Lawrence Vaincourt
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast and he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past . Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done. In his exploits with his buddies. They were heroes every one.
And tho' sometimes to his neighbours, his tales became a joke, all his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke. But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away. And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today
He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife. For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life. Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way. And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state while thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great. Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young, but the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land a guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man? Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife, goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?
A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives. While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all, is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.
It's so easy to forget them for it was long ago that the old 'Bills' of our Country went to battle but we know, it was not the politicians with their compromise and ploys who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you want the politicians, with their ever-shifting stand? Or would you prefer the soldier, who has sworn to defend His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?
He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin. But his presence should remind us we may need his like again. For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honour while he's here to hear the praise, then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say, "Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today."
CANADA REMEMBERS
The Canada Remembers Program endeavours to keep alive the achievements and sacrifices made by those who served Canada in times of war, armed conflict and peace and to promote an understanding of the significance of these efforts in Canadian life as we know it today.
As most people in Canada today have never experienced war, "Remembrance" becomes a challenging concept to incorporate. How do you remember what you haven't known? Some have been fortunate to have had relatives; grandparents, aunts, uncles, great-grand parents, who shared their stories of war and peace. Some, our newer Canadians, have sought Canada as a new home, safe from their own war-torn motherlands. We have all studied some Canadian history in schools. But the vast majority of us, especially the youth, have no first hand or even second hand knowledge of war. And thankfully so. But we can come to understand and appreciate what those who have served Canada in times of war, armed conflict and peace stand for and what they have sacrificed for their country.
We live in a wonderful country, full of opportunities and freedoms we often take for granted. You can be sure that Canadian Veterans do not take our situation for granted. Young men and women sacrificed all they knew, all the comforts, love and safety of home in order to defend the rights and freedoms of others. Some returned with permanent physical and emotional scars, bound to haunt them for the rest of their lives. Others never returned. Veterans know the price paid for our freedom and they want all Canadians to share in this understanding. In fact, now, more than ever, they are passing the torch of remembrance to us, to the people of Canada, to ensure that the memory of their efforts and sacrifices will not die with them, and that an appreciation of the values they fought for will live on in all Canadians.
Canadians have a reputation of being a peace loving nation, and this has been demonstrated time and time again when we have engaged in combat and peacekeeping operations for the sake of protecting humans rights, freedom and justice around the world. When you think of Canadian efforts in war and peace you come to realize that our desire to help was never motivated by greed, power or threats. It was in and of itself, a desire to protect human rights, all humans' rights.
So, although many of us cannot actually "remember," we owe it to those who have served to learn, to understand, and to appreciate the task they have undertaken. Generations of Canadian Veterans, through their courage, determination and sacrifice have helped to ensure that we live in a free and peaceful country. If we can understand this, how can we not pause and say "thank you" in remembrance of such an accomplishment?
lethbridge_legion/upload/tributetoveterans.mp3
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