Remembrance Day is an important part of my life because I grew up listening to stories from my grandparents. I'm actually named after my Great Grandma, Sarah McAteer, who was a war bride from Ireland. She met my Great Gramps while he was in WWI over fighting and they got married Christmas day, 1918.
My grandpa now is a huge support of veterans and spends all his hours during November out in the malls raising money through poppy donations for war veterans. H can also be found in the classrooms showing Elementary students his WWI trench battle sword that he inherited from his God-father.
I grew up listening to stories and the importance that we take a moment on November 11th, to remember those who fought in wars and are still fighting today. I actually e-mailed my gramps to say enjoy Remembrance Day and he sent me an e-mail back.
During WWII he was too young to go fight but he had several brothers who went over and fought, as well as two sisters who were nurses. Part of his e-mail said, "There are so many individual adventures and war stories/events that the big brothers were able to tell when they were safely returned in 1945. They all agreed that WAR is terrible and should be avoided at all costs but when dictators, oligarchists and terrorists strike innocent countries and peoples, the free world must step in and help. They believed in ORDER and good government."
That is my Remembrance Day story for now and I believe it is an extremely important part of culture and who we are.
6 comments:
I would love to hear more about your great grandmother, who was a war bride from WWI.
I just wanted to mention something that is not related to this blog... I found your quote that you have in the heading of your blog by Alvin Ailey so amazing! Alvin is a big talent! He has a performing arts school in New York City. Years ago my sister was encouraged by a man name Allmon Smalls (spelling?), who was a judge at the BC Provinicials for the Performing Arts to attend this school since she is part Aboriginal (you have to be of a different ethnicity to attend). He was one of the men that trained there and had an amazing, positive experience. I just thought I would share that even in his school in NY, he still has an impact! :)
when I said blog... I meant blog post, not the whole blog... oops lol!
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater website is:
http://www.alvinailey.org/
Just in case you are interested :)
It is the stories of your Grandfather and his brothers and sisters that need to be preserved for posterity. I remember my Grandmother prepared about 4 hours of video for each of her grandchildren together with an album of pictures which she gave each grandchild one Christmas as her present to us. Our heritage is what gives us direction for our futures.
Thanks Rebecca! I will go check out the site right now. Rod I agree that it is heritage that guides us. My Great Uncle actually wrote a 200+ page family history book full of amazing pictures, wedding certificates, land certificates, newspaper articles, and quotes from family members. It is amazing and so neat to see how the Insley's (mom's maidan name) came to be here in Canada!
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