My family can and does remember, My grandfather served in the Canadian Army in France in WW1, my father in the Royal Canadian Air Force in WW11, I was in the Canadian Army (Fort Garry Horse) in Germany in the early 60's and now my son is in the Royal Canadian Navy.
Meanwhile Mr. Insincerity has taken himself off to Normandy with a group of WWII veterans to honour the occasion. Not pleasant to have to watch him use these people to prop up his pathetic ego. Disregarding that image however your article this morning is very well written and a great expression of the true sentiment regarding the sacrifices that were made that we all need to honour.
That’s a touchy subject, especially for those who have been in the CAFs and watched the capacity of the military reduced to junk status, cannibalizing equipment to keep a small core at operational status.
I realize that Canada has to send high ranking public officials to these events, but considering the obvious disdain that the Prime Minister has for the military it wouldn’t have hurt my feelings if he stayed home to answer questions about MPs colluding with foreign powers. Defence Minister Blair is more than adequate as a representative for Canada.
A very nice tribute and a reflection on a time in our history when Canada mattered on the world stage. Our little country had the resourcefulness and determination to take a stand and our sacrifices on the battlefield earned us respect.
The 80th anniversary of D-Day is a watershed moment for our collective military memory bank. I am fortunate enough to be of the age to remember huge lines of WW1 and WW2 veterans marching in local parades and knew some of the participants of both wars. The WW1 veterans are long past and the few surviving WW2 veterans in my part of Canada are approaching 100 (or older). While their longevity is a miracle, they are the final living testament to an era of bravery and sacrifice, on the battlefield and here at home.
There’s an interpretation of modern Canadian history that we’ve coasted off the country they built, gotten complacent and then started eating the seed corn.
I agree. The veterans of two World Wars built us an international reputation to be proud of. We had two choices: to build on their valour or coast. Successive Canadian governments chose to coast and here we are. Barely able to muster a fighting force with safe and reliable equipment.
I’m speaking less of our international reputation and more of a country that worked for people. The Canada of the postwar boom was a place with rising productivity, reasonable house prices and relatively good wages. It has stagnated since then, coasting off what previous generations built. Productivity growth is awful which explains part of why wages are so low. Doddering coffin dodger boomers block construction which keeps housing costs high while electing a government that panders to their nostalgia.
1984 I was playing with the Band of the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa and we did a tatoo with the Airborne Regt commemorating the 40th annivesary of the liberation of Rome. Fun times.
When I returned to school in Winnipeg I joined the Band of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and had the privilege to meet Cliff Chatterton who was a Co. Commander with the Rifles and landed in the first wave on Juno Beach, 6 June 1944. A true gentleman.
My grandfather was a Little Black Devil and, being wounded and recuperating in England, didn’t fight at Juno. He returned to the fight and stayed with the Canadian Army Occupation Force. He never spoke of his time until his deathbed but his service, as a Mennonite who chose the armed forces, reverberated throughout the generations that followed. I’m moved by his simultaneous stoicism and obvious woundedness when he returned home to have a family. Forever grateful for his service and presence and I hope to honour both in the way we raise our children to be grateful, selfless and willing to serve their respective communities. Thank you for this tribute.
My dad served in WWII. As as others have stated, many of the dwindling freedoms we still enjoy today are built on the sacrifices of that generation.
It was not unanimous for all including the antisemite who ran around Montreal on a motorcycle wearing German regalia and who spawned the current occupier of the Canadian seat of power reading prepared texts in his best ESL style.
I remember, and honour, the sacrifices made by the generation which included my father and his brothers and sister, almost all of whom served in the armed forces, most in the Army, but one in each of the RCN and RCAF. Most saw action, all survived. All are now deceased.
Gone also, I fear, is the confidence and vision which permitted a small nation of about 12 million to field an effective and successful force numbering about one million, and mobilize industry to supply and support not only the Canadian forces, but also supply our allies with the weapons they needed to put down the Fascists of the day.
Today, with four times the population and I-don’t-know how many times greater the economy, we behave like terrified mice and seem unable to call out Genocide when we have daily information about its horrors, and are able to help another nation attempting to prevent its own Genocide, by a Fascist Russia, only marginally with, for example FOUR tanks and a handful of howitzers.
This is a fine piece of writing and it is very appropriate for today.
Not least because it is a reminder that, once upon a time, long ago, and long before the “Charter of Rights” and all the self-centered “identity” and “individual rights-talk” that now dominates discussion, there was an old-fashioned acceptance that Canadians also had – and, in fact, mostly felt - duties and responsibilities to their country.
That is: that their relationship to the country, and to each other, was reciprocal, and mutually reinforcing, and collective in nature; and that it was one that might require them to make individual contributions or sacrifices.
That rights and duties were a two-way street: two sides of the same coin.
Which in no way diminished their own individuality or self-worth, or compromised their personal freedoms, but was just an accepted aspect of “civil society” and social responsibility, as it was then understood.
Because, I am old enough to remember that my father and my uncle were both in the RCAF; and that the latter flew Lancasters over Germany; and also that the husband of my mother’s best friend, was killed flying a spitfire over France in 1942. And is buried in France.
She still had that terrible telegram, decades latter. Along with pictures of a 21 year old pilot, from Toronto, standing proud in his uniform.
So I am well aware of how much the present has benefited from the travails of the past, as well as the degree of respect that, in my opinion at least, should be accorded to that history.
Which includes a history of ordinary Canadians – men and women – who, together, did extraordinary things.
And then went back to being “normal” in a country that really did – then at least - punch above its weight.
I could say so much in praise of your contribution to the many that will be offered today. However, I will simply add that — it is just about perfect. Thank you for this — which is so thoughtful and appropriate.
A fine tribute to the Greatest Generation and their greatest fight. It's sad that WW2 vets are so few and far between. Even in the '90s most of my generation's older neighbors and grandparents were alive, serving as physical reminders that freedom is delicate and in need of protection.
My granddad, Al Clarkson, fought in the Canadian 2nd Division, from the breakout from Caen, through Falaise, and into the low country before receiving war-ending wounds. My childhood neighbor across the street worked in the Manhattan Project. Another neighbor fought with the British in Burma, while another flew aboard Short Sunderland anti-submarine bombers in the Battle of the Atlantic. None of them ever talked about their wartime exploits aside from some brief, bloodless snippets aimed at amusing a child.
With this living history fading from society, I fear the divisiveness brought on by radical ideology and the moral equivalence that follows will only grow worse.
What a wonderful remembrance article. Thank you.
My family can and does remember, My grandfather served in the Canadian Army in France in WW1, my father in the Royal Canadian Air Force in WW11, I was in the Canadian Army (Fort Garry Horse) in Germany in the early 60's and now my son is in the Royal Canadian Navy.
Thank you and your family for your service.
Meanwhile Mr. Insincerity has taken himself off to Normandy with a group of WWII veterans to honour the occasion. Not pleasant to have to watch him use these people to prop up his pathetic ego. Disregarding that image however your article this morning is very well written and a great expression of the true sentiment regarding the sacrifices that were made that we all need to honour.
That’s a touchy subject, especially for those who have been in the CAFs and watched the capacity of the military reduced to junk status, cannibalizing equipment to keep a small core at operational status.
I realize that Canada has to send high ranking public officials to these events, but considering the obvious disdain that the Prime Minister has for the military it wouldn’t have hurt my feelings if he stayed home to answer questions about MPs colluding with foreign powers. Defence Minister Blair is more than adequate as a representative for Canada.
Darcy: You nailed it.
Perhaps the PM could dig out the German helmut his father used to wear while riding a motorcycle around Montreal? Or is that cultural appropiation?
It's his job to be there. Sometimes, the hate is too absurd to comprehend.
So, just to understand, you are telling me that he takes SOME part of his job seriously?
Seriously? Oh, that last one is me asking.
A very nice tribute and a reflection on a time in our history when Canada mattered on the world stage. Our little country had the resourcefulness and determination to take a stand and our sacrifices on the battlefield earned us respect.
The 80th anniversary of D-Day is a watershed moment for our collective military memory bank. I am fortunate enough to be of the age to remember huge lines of WW1 and WW2 veterans marching in local parades and knew some of the participants of both wars. The WW1 veterans are long past and the few surviving WW2 veterans in my part of Canada are approaching 100 (or older). While their longevity is a miracle, they are the final living testament to an era of bravery and sacrifice, on the battlefield and here at home.
Lest we forget…
There’s an interpretation of modern Canadian history that we’ve coasted off the country they built, gotten complacent and then started eating the seed corn.
I agree. The veterans of two World Wars built us an international reputation to be proud of. We had two choices: to build on their valour or coast. Successive Canadian governments chose to coast and here we are. Barely able to muster a fighting force with safe and reliable equipment.
I’m speaking less of our international reputation and more of a country that worked for people. The Canada of the postwar boom was a place with rising productivity, reasonable house prices and relatively good wages. It has stagnated since then, coasting off what previous generations built. Productivity growth is awful which explains part of why wages are so low. Doddering coffin dodger boomers block construction which keeps housing costs high while electing a government that panders to their nostalgia.
1984 I was playing with the Band of the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa and we did a tatoo with the Airborne Regt commemorating the 40th annivesary of the liberation of Rome. Fun times.
When I returned to school in Winnipeg I joined the Band of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and had the privilege to meet Cliff Chatterton who was a Co. Commander with the Rifles and landed in the first wave on Juno Beach, 6 June 1944. A true gentleman.
My grandfather was a Little Black Devil and, being wounded and recuperating in England, didn’t fight at Juno. He returned to the fight and stayed with the Canadian Army Occupation Force. He never spoke of his time until his deathbed but his service, as a Mennonite who chose the armed forces, reverberated throughout the generations that followed. I’m moved by his simultaneous stoicism and obvious woundedness when he returned home to have a family. Forever grateful for his service and presence and I hope to honour both in the way we raise our children to be grateful, selfless and willing to serve their respective communities. Thank you for this tribute.
Very eloquent. For a few minutes, I felt very proud to be a Canadian. Thank you.
If I may, I think it’s essential you remain proud to be Canadian. Otherwise we’ve lost the very foundation on which we rebuild.
My dad served in WWII. As as others have stated, many of the dwindling freedoms we still enjoy today are built on the sacrifices of that generation.
It was not unanimous for all including the antisemite who ran around Montreal on a motorcycle wearing German regalia and who spawned the current occupier of the Canadian seat of power reading prepared texts in his best ESL style.
I remember, and honour, the sacrifices made by the generation which included my father and his brothers and sister, almost all of whom served in the armed forces, most in the Army, but one in each of the RCN and RCAF. Most saw action, all survived. All are now deceased.
Gone also, I fear, is the confidence and vision which permitted a small nation of about 12 million to field an effective and successful force numbering about one million, and mobilize industry to supply and support not only the Canadian forces, but also supply our allies with the weapons they needed to put down the Fascists of the day.
Today, with four times the population and I-don’t-know how many times greater the economy, we behave like terrified mice and seem unable to call out Genocide when we have daily information about its horrors, and are able to help another nation attempting to prevent its own Genocide, by a Fascist Russia, only marginally with, for example FOUR tanks and a handful of howitzers.
How we have diminished ourselves!
This is a fine piece of writing and it is very appropriate for today.
Not least because it is a reminder that, once upon a time, long ago, and long before the “Charter of Rights” and all the self-centered “identity” and “individual rights-talk” that now dominates discussion, there was an old-fashioned acceptance that Canadians also had – and, in fact, mostly felt - duties and responsibilities to their country.
That is: that their relationship to the country, and to each other, was reciprocal, and mutually reinforcing, and collective in nature; and that it was one that might require them to make individual contributions or sacrifices.
That rights and duties were a two-way street: two sides of the same coin.
Which in no way diminished their own individuality or self-worth, or compromised their personal freedoms, but was just an accepted aspect of “civil society” and social responsibility, as it was then understood.
Because, I am old enough to remember that my father and my uncle were both in the RCAF; and that the latter flew Lancasters over Germany; and also that the husband of my mother’s best friend, was killed flying a spitfire over France in 1942. And is buried in France.
She still had that terrible telegram, decades latter. Along with pictures of a 21 year old pilot, from Toronto, standing proud in his uniform.
So I am well aware of how much the present has benefited from the travails of the past, as well as the degree of respect that, in my opinion at least, should be accorded to that history.
Which includes a history of ordinary Canadians – men and women – who, together, did extraordinary things.
And then went back to being “normal” in a country that really did – then at least - punch above its weight.
I could say so much in praise of your contribution to the many that will be offered today. However, I will simply add that — it is just about perfect. Thank you for this — which is so thoughtful and appropriate.
After reading your article I said a silent prayer for all our veterans living and dead.
So proud of what our veterans accomplished 80 years ago to put our Country on the map with the best of them.
Nicely said…thank you
Thank you for this piece. There is nothing more to add. You have summarized perfectly what a lot of us are thinking. Well done.
Well said..thank you
A fine tribute to the Greatest Generation and their greatest fight. It's sad that WW2 vets are so few and far between. Even in the '90s most of my generation's older neighbors and grandparents were alive, serving as physical reminders that freedom is delicate and in need of protection.
My granddad, Al Clarkson, fought in the Canadian 2nd Division, from the breakout from Caen, through Falaise, and into the low country before receiving war-ending wounds. My childhood neighbor across the street worked in the Manhattan Project. Another neighbor fought with the British in Burma, while another flew aboard Short Sunderland anti-submarine bombers in the Battle of the Atlantic. None of them ever talked about their wartime exploits aside from some brief, bloodless snippets aimed at amusing a child.
With this living history fading from society, I fear the divisiveness brought on by radical ideology and the moral equivalence that follows will only grow worse.