As I reflect this Remembrance Day, I am very thankful for those Canadians who have fought for my freedom and for that of my children. I remember saying at my grandfathers funeral how thankful I was that he had the courage to make the move to Canada so that my family could have a better life. The sacrifice him and my grandmother paid was complete. In fact in leaving Ukraine, they had nothing left...no family, no home, no keepsakes..they arrived in Canada with 2 suitcases...all they owned in the world. All was taken from them in the second war. I grew up with no family beyond my grandparents and didnt think much of it, because it is all I have known, but as I am reflecting this Nov 11th, having lost my grandparents and my Mom, I am struck by this gaping hole in my past and my childrens heritage. My grandparents shared very little of growing up in Ukraine because the good memories were overshadowed by the last years. They talked little about the holding camp in Germany during the war where my Mom was born and the struggle that was for them. Grandma also talked, reluctantly, of being walked past the concentration camps in Germany and the fresh tears and incredible pain that caused my Grandma, even 50 years later as she told me her story. I am so thankful, everyday, for the freedoms i have and the amazing country I live in. Remembrance Day, for me, is also about reminding people of the incredible sacrifice the civilians pay as well. I am thankful Canada has peacekeepers all over the world fighting for those that cannot fight for themselves.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:36:51 +0000