You were so brave, so
noble, and loyal to our country when you fought to defend Canada in the World
Wars. We will never know what you’ve experienced and we can never repay you.
We will never know how you
felt when you were first called to join the navy or army. Some of you were only
18 years old. It must have been difficult to leave everyone and everything that
was familiar to you not knowing if you would return. Some of you left your
parents, some of you left your wife and children, or maybe some of you left your
fiancé or girlfriend, to go to war.
We will never know how
scared you were when travelling to the foreign countries.
We will never know how you
felt when being taught to kill your enemy.
We will never know the
trauma you experienced when you witnessed your best buddy killed or seriously
hurt right before your eyes.
We will never know how you
might have been treated as a prisoner of the enemy.
We will never know how
homesick and lonely you would have become over time.
We
will never know how sad you would have felt to be away from your family at
Christmas or special holidays that the family celebrates together. There would
be other times that you would be sad such as: missing the birth of your child,
watching your child take his/her first steps, or your child’s first day of
school. There would have been other special moments or events such as your
child’s birthdays, graduation, wedding, or even your own wedding anniversary.
We will never know the
heartache you felt when you could only communicate to your loved ones by writing
letters, and never being able to hear their voices.
We will never know how
happy you were when you found out the war was over and you finally got to go
home and see your friends and family.
We will never know how the
war changed or affected you.
WE WILL NEVER KNOW.
By Rebecca Giebat
Breslau, ON.
