Another Casualty

In the news we hear of another Canadian soldier dying in the Afghan war. I will not debate the pros and cons of the conflict, whether we should be there or not, however it does bring to me the memories of past conflicts.


I was not yet a gleam in my father's eyes when WWI was fought and therefore cannot imagine the impact of the war on the Canadian people. I do, however remember something of the sights and sounds during WWII. I was only a pre-schooler at that time living in a small city in Saskatchewan.


I remember the training planes flying over the city and wondering what all this was about. The planes were small bi-planes and they flew daily and for hours on end. I also recall an uncle of mine, not in detail, but as a man in uniform that had come to my grandparents as a "visitor". This was one of the sons of a family of concientiuos objectors who had enlisted and he was on his way to the front in Europe. I never saw him again, and learned he was killed in Europe.


I also remember the family listening at the radio each day, listening for the casualty listings that were read of soldiers killed and missing in action, wondering if friends or relatives would be included in that list.


During the Korean conflict I was attending school in southern Alberta, and recall listings of the same kind as well as advances and retreats including planes shot down or missing from both sides.


The Viet Namm war seemed to fade into the background while we were raising our family at that time and the Canadian involvement was minor.


Having said all this I cannot help but be thankful that war has never encroached on our own shores. How grateful we should be that we have been spared this and have suffered only minor inconveniences rather than the huge impacts that war has on many families around the world. If you would like a view of how the returning heros that have died are welcomed back take a look at the Highway of Heros videos that are published on the Web.