Thursday, November 11, 2010

Remembering

We are reminded today of the brave men and women who have fought to protect our freedom. With poppies, moments of silence, and media coverage of public events honouring our heroes, today is a day for remembering. I find myself reminded today, also, of the man who taught me to remember.

Mr. Wayne Belanger was my high school principal. I recall the annual Remembrance Day Assemblies he led. As a young adult, I was mostly concerned about present day events and all things that revolved around me. I confess that I sometimes found these assemblies long and tedious and, while I understood from my history classes what he was talking about, I never full grasped the relevance.

It wasn't until years later, as I sat in a movie theatre witnessing the opening sequences of "Saving Private Ryan" that I realized what Mr. Belanger was talking about. These kids, who were only slightly older than us, were going to war, and suffering so that we could live in freedom.

So today, Mr. Belanger, I honour you, and others like you, for taking seriously your role as mentors to younger generations. And I take a moment of silence to remember those who have fought, and those who continue to fight - and sometimes fall - for freedom.