Remembrance Day

I don't know any soldiers personally. I have friends with family members serving in Afghanistan. I have friends who have friends who have had friends who have died in the war. But I wanted to make Remembrance Day more personal this year. So I got out my family history and read about my great-grandfather. Born in 1884, my great-grandfather was one of the early settlers in southern Alberta, around the breath-taking Belly River area. He was a great fisherman, hunter, cattleman, horseman, but not so great of a poker player. When he was 57 years old, the war had barely begun. He had a wife and 6 children aged 32, 31, 30, 28, 26, and 23 years old.
Upon enlisting, at age 57, (!) he was given 6 months of training and posted to England where he was a night cook in the army. My great-aunt records this in the history book (page 8):

"He told of making pancakes in a container as big as a bath tub using 50 pounds of flour, a case of canned milk, one half can of baking powder and including dried powdered eggs. He was the father image to young men and women stationed there for long or short periods, before they were sent to the battlefield....He was commended by his superior officers for his dependability, sobriety and understanding. He was discharged in 1944."

Can you imagine?!? When I am 57, I hope to be travelling, catching up on my knitting, and enjoying my grandchildren. I am sincerely grateful for the men and women who are willing to lay their lives on the line and today we remember them.

click on the poppy for a link to knit a poppy for Remembrance Day.