A 6 year old’s salute to our Veterans
(Originally published November 10, 2014 — Moncton Times & Transcript)
With Remembrance Day tomorrow, I’m sure publications all across this country with be filled with editorials and columns from people who are far more intelligent than I and who can string together sentences the likes of which haven’t been seen since ol’ Will Shakespeare wandered the Earth.
I will venture, though, that there will be no other column appearing quite like this one. It’s not because I have anything particularly poignant to say that someone else hasn’t said or some unique spin on tomorrow’s proceedings that will be covered ad infinitum.
It’s because I’m going to turn the lion’s share of my column over to my son, Ronin, this week – all six years and eight months old of him. I’ve talked about him recently and how the men and women who serve and who have served this country are side-by-side with the likes of Batman and Superman in his personal hall of heroes. He’s an emotional and quite empathetic young man, and I have never seen someone so young have so much reverence for Remembrance Day.
I feel as though it’s only right to share his passion with you, the readers of this column. I hope you enjoy reading this ‘interview’ as much as I enjoyed conducting it.
So Ronin, tell me about Remembrance Day.
“Well, it’s a time to remember all the soldiers who fought in different wars for us. They were fighting against people who wanted to take away our freedom and thousands of soldiers never returned to their families. They were all so brave so millions and millions of people could live our life how we wanted to.”
“Imagine not having a free land! That wouldn’t be very fun! People couldn’t go to school or church or to the park or the movies if they wanted. Even (Ronin’s friend who was adopted by a same sex couple)’s Dads couldn’t get married to each other! I know it’s a bad word, Dad, but that’s really stupid! Think about it!”
It is pretty stupid, huh? So can you tell me why we wear poppies every year for Remembrance Day?
“We wear poppies to remember all the soldiers because poppies grew around the crosses where the soldiers are buried. Wearing poppies shows respect for all the soldiers and I always get one. If you don’t wear a poppy you probably don’t care about the history. You should care, though, because a lot of people died so you could be rude.”
How does Remembrance Day make you feel?
“Remembrance Day makes me sad because of all the soldiers that died. It makes me happy too, though, because everybody stops for just a moment to remember what all the soldiers did for us, so it’s not all sad.”
“We read a book in school today and when it was over I wanted to cry. I didn’t want to cry just for our soldiers, though, but the ones on the other side that died too. The funny thing is that nobody wins in war because people die on both sides. I don’t understand why people killing each other is supposed to fix things.”
Me either, pal. So I’m interviewing you so I can put what you’re saying in my column in the paper this week. Is that okay?
“Yeah! That’s cool! Will I be famous?”
Probably. So, do you have anything else you want to say?”
I just think that everyone should be happy that we’re all free and safe. There could be a lot of really bad things in Canada if all those soldiers weren’t so brave and I would be scared to live here. Remembrance Day is the most important day of the whole year because if the soldiers didn’t do what they did, we wouldn’t have Christmas or Easter or Canada Day… or Halloween or my birthday.”
You’d still have your birthday. You just might not have a party – or presents and cake.
“That would be really awful.”
Do you want to say anything to any soldiers that might read this in the paper?
“Yes. I hope they stay safe and always get to go back to their families instead of having to die in wars. They’re awesome and I want to say thank you for keeping us safe and I love you.”
…And I love you, pal.
“I love you too, Dad.”
We’re clearly doing something right with that kid.
Please, whatever you’re doing tomorrow, make sure you take at least a moment to reflect on our way of life and the sacrifices that were made so we could enjoy it today. With any luck, Remembrance Day will soon be a national holiday and it will receive the distinction it deserves. Until then, all we can do is treat the day with the respect it commands.
Lest We Forget.
