Posted on 06/07/2003 3:57:36 PM PDT by Clive
The afternoon C-Train clatters and the preoccupied pedestrians pass the little sign on the 7 Ave. sidewalk. Hand-printed in coloured marker is the reminder, neglected by almost all.
D-Day. Friday, June 6.
Inside, in a half-empty hall at the No. 1 Legion branch, veterans in blazers and medals mark the 59th anniversary of the day courageous Canadians and our allies fight their way on to the beaches in Normandy and take a big bloody step toward winning a freedom we take for granted today.
We are far from those beaches now, far from any official ceremonies, no politicians and no press here. We are also far from an amnesia our culture suffers without knowing it.
Four years ago, this Legion branch decides to bring back a D-Day service. In fact, they now observe all the days of honour. Vimy Ridge. Victory in Europe. D-Day. Korean Armistice. Victory over Japan. Of course, Remembrance Day.
Most veterans of the Second World War are over 80 years old now. Many have died, many others live in hospitals and homes. Some no longer even know they once fought the good fight. But others come. They will not forget.
On this day there are recollections of an all-night bombardment, a five-division front, the hammering of enemy defences, the assault of the landing crafts, the bitter battle.
About 14,000 Canadians battled in D-Day. Of these, 1,704 became casualties of war, 359 were killed. Victory in Europe was still 11 months away.
In the half-empty hall, the veterans sing O God, Our Help In Ages Past and Faith of Our Fathers, in voices far fainter than in the time of the defining moment of their youth. They pray in the thou-and-thy English of the King James version. They stand soldier-straight for the national anthem.
Robert Drummond is in this small group today, remembering those who fought that first day in France.
Robert was an artillery gunner who slogged through Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium and Holland. Robert was in Holland when Hitler blew his Nazi brains out to end the war in Europe.
Robert joined up off the family farm in Saskatchewan. Kids from the farms seemed to make up half the army.
He already lived through the Dirty Thirties where the horses were too weak to stand and for seven years there wasn't enough grain to feed the chickens. The army looked good. You didn't worry about dying, that happened to the other guy.
"You had to think that way, otherwise you'd go crazy," says Robert, who is now a very spry 85.
Besides, says Robert, he had "good Scottish parents" and, if your country called, you answered.
So Robert answered. Another brother went with him. A third served in the Service Corps in France and lost an eye.
Robert talks about the firing of 500 rounds of 25 pounders. He gets a pension now and wears hearing aids in both ears.
When they got back from the war, there is no brass band or parade. Robert laughs.
"That's a joke. It was like we'd been gone for a long weekend."
So was it worth it? Robert pauses. "Yes, it was," he says.
"You get a view of life no one else could ever describe. The bad things are blotted out, the horrible things, the bombing, the shelling and the killing. You remember the good times on leave, helping the little kids.
"We couldn't stand to see the little kids come around hungry with no shoes. You couldn't help but give them something to eat, an article of clothing. A lot of guys gave up their overcoats. Those kids were starving and freezing. Now we're in a time people never lived better and yet they complain."
And what will happen when the last veteran passes on?
"I think it'll be a forgotten thing. These things fade away and life coasts along," says Robert, with the voice of inevitability.
Outside, the C-Train still clatters and the pedestrians continue to pass by the sign. But, inside a half-empty hall, a singer leads the old warriors in one more chorus.
On this day, and every day, they will not forget.
Thanks Clive.
Several years ago I went with my daughter to hear Stephen Ambrose, the Historian speak. It was at the Medal of Honor Conference, which happened to be in my town, when all the surviving Medal of Honor holders gather.
Time magazine was taking suggestions for the "Man of the Century" and during his talk, Stephan Ambrose suggested that we all vote for the G.I.s of WWII, who saved our civilization.
What a great sacrifice was made by those men. And they are still so humble and modest about it.
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