Freedom - at what price?

Today is Remembrance Day. A day set aside to remember those brave men and women who fought in any way to protect our freedom. I remember them often, not just on this one day.

As I write, I am sitting in my nice warm house, on a Friday, I have breakfast on the go, and I am secure in the knowledge that on Sunday I will go to church. I know that if my children get sick, I can take them to the hospital. I have every right and freedom I could want or imagine.

I think about those who when they were younger than I am right now, gave up so much to protect those rights for me, and for my children, grandchildren and so on. How cold they must have been in those trenches, and how scared. What it would be like to die alone amongst gunfire and pain. How hungry they must have been and how worried their mothers and wives (fathers and husbands too) must have been. To listen to the list of the dead to be ashamed at their relief... or their grief when they heard a familiar name.

With courage in their hearts, fire in their bodies and conviction they fought... we lost many.. but they won. Because of them, we are free. I can write whatever I want to on here and nobody will shut me down, beat me up and throw me in jail.

Perhaps one side of this that is harder to write about is the loss of respect that I see around me.. when you hear of teenagers ruining Cenotaphs, to see how some of our veterans live in such poverty, or the apathy that some show towards this feat.

The very least that we can do is give a couple moments of silence to remember those that freely enlisted to protect us. To remember those that paid the ultimate price on the battlefield and those that were left at home to worry and carry on. Let's remember them with the respect they deserve.. bow our heads and say a silent Thank you. Then maybe - after paying those respects - find a person to thank in a more tangible way. If you know a veteran - say Thank You. Tell them how you feel. One of my biggest regrets in life is that I never told my grandfather how I felt about him and his going to war for me. He died in 2004. I have made sure to tell other veterans how I feel about them... since then, because I realized I may never have the opportunity again, as many of them are approaching 90. Don't wait for Remembrance Day, the next time you see a man or woman that you know who fought in the war, or stayed here and kept the home fires burning - say thank you.. and tell them how you will remember their sacrifices.

My children are being taught not only about War, but also about the courageous hearts of those who fought to protect us. They observe Remembrance Day with a kind of innocence that may be the biggest gift the Veterans have given us.

Thank you Grampie Mark Storey, Thank you Mon Oncle Jean-Paul, Thank you Fr. George Elson, Thank you Mr. Norman Brown. And thank you to their families. Thank you feels so insignificant, but please know that with my words, my heart feels them too.. My children will be taught about you and what you did... we will never forget, and we will always be thankful.

Thank you to those who are currently serving as well... for continuing this legacy and caring enough about me, and my children to keep us safe.

xo