Remembrance Day has taken on a whole new meaning for me, for obvious reasons.
I attended the ceremony in downtown Kitchener, but because of my wounds and such, I was unable to march in the parade. It was a little dissapointing. I would have loved to march in the Parade with my regiment, as we had the biggest turnout I've ever seen. There were two fifty man guards, plus band (which I would have been with) plus flag party. The DCO said there was about 140 on Parade. Not bad for a reserve unit.
The Ceremony was standard, but this year it hit me a lot closer to home. My parents and Fiancee joined me at the cenotaph to provide support. My Sister and Brother in law tried to make it from Toronto in time, but weather and traffic held them up.
It was a tough ceremony for me this year. Every time I looked over at my mother, I could see the pain in her eyes. I was ok until they laid the wreath for the soldiers who died in Afghanistan, then it was in my mind. When the piper played the Lament, it tore me up. But it was the band playing Amazing grace that brought me to tears.
After the Ceremony, we met up with my sister and brother in law and followed the troops back to the Kitchener armouries. We weren't there long though, just long enough to watch some promotions.. way to go guys,
The family and I had a quick bite to eat at a Kelsy's and then it was off to
Branch 50 Legion to catch up with the troops. By the time I got there, the troops were trickling in, and a fellow piper was warming up the crowed in the smoking area out side (in the rain I might add)
After a few beer, and some words with the Veterans, it was time to board the Legion Bus for the next stop. My parents weren't up to the challenge so they headed home to Hanover, but my fiancee, sister and brother in law stuck it out. My sister got some good pictures and Video. Heres the
LINK to the pics.
This year, the legion planned ahead and booked 2 city busses, so I borded one bus, and the other piper borded the 2nd bus. In tradition, we both played on the bus to entertain packed crowds to the next Legion.
The busses pulled up with feet stomping and hands clapping to every stop.
Our next stop was the
Polish Legion, famous for its Polish Sausage Lunch Buffet (personal fav of the troops)
My accomplice and I play a few rounds in the Legion to the enjoyment of the crowds (at least they said they liked it)
Then it was back on the bus again. Same deal, one bus, one piper, and it was clapping, stomping, hooting and hollaring all the way to the next stop: Royal Canadian Air Force Association 404 Wing in Waterloo.
Once there, we played the passengers of the bus into the club with Scotland the brave, and again, once inside, we played another impromptu concert for the Vets... They seemed to love it.
And again, it was back on the busses for the next stop.
We were greeted warmly by the K-W Naval Association in Waterloo as we played the troops in again. While there, I had a chance to talk to a Navy veteran, and without saying many words, we shared a lifetime of experience. He told me about his tour onboard a destroyer, during WW2, in convoy actions. About the worst experiences he had. And I shared with him my small experiance and without words, we reached understanding. Even now, just thinking back, remembering the look in his eyes, I feel that lump in my throat.
I had to sit for a while to get a grip on things again. My sister commented on how much it was like an Irish Wake; There was singing and dancing, people talking and sharing. Food and drink, laughing and crying. And everyone remembering.
We stayed at the Navy Club a little longer than planned, as we missed the next bus. but a 45 min wait later and we were on our way again.
This time we stopped at
Branch 530 Legion in Waterloo. I have a lot of fond memories about this legion from Remembrance days past.
This was to be out last stop on our legion tour. And again, we played the troops in, and again we played for the vets and the guests of the legion. It was a great time.
What made me really happy was, even though my legs were sore, my back hurt and I was hobbling around, it was like I never left, it was like nothing ever changed. I wasn't 'that wounded guy from Afghanistan', I was 'that piper who plays at the legion every year'... just like it always was. Every once in a while, some one would come and say something. When the veterans came to talk to me, it wasn't a sympathy thing, it was an understanding, for both of us. I have found so much more respect for them, I don't even have words to describe.
We left Branch 530 around 1830h and made our way up the street to an Irish pub; Failte
This is yet another tradition. We had dinner and played again. The staff there love us and treat us very well, in return we are there every Remebrance day and they have become the unofficial pub for the Kitchener Garrison of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada.
Sometime during dinner, some one pointed out that Don Cherry was doing a tribute to the troops in Afghanistan on Hockey Night in Canada, which was playing on the big screen in the pub. I turned in time to see him holding up a tan patch in the shape of an eight ball, with Crazy eights embroidered on it. This was a patch that two guys from my section (one having been wounded and sent home with me) had made up for the guys in my platoon (8 platoon, C Coy, 1 RCR), just before we went into Panjwayi. (only one of us was wearing it when we went into battle, but he's still there, so no names). i couldn't believe my eyes... the Crazy 8s... My boys... My Brothers... I never felt so proud.
Then at the end of the show, they showed all the pictures of the fallen, It was the pictures of WO Mellish, Pte. Cushley and Pte. Graham that got me. My heart sank. The pub went silent. I looked around at my Family and my Regimental family and felt the tears. All I could think about was how I'd feel if I had lost a loved one. I saw the pictures and all I could think is how much pain their friends and family must feel. Then I though about the bigger picture; we aren't the first ones to go through this. Those veterans I spoke to during the day were carrying the same burden, as do their families. And the look I saw in their eyes is the look I saw in the eyes of my fellow soldiers in Kandahar after Panjwayi. A look no words can describe.
I thought about this and I realized, this is Remembrance Day. This is what it will be for me forever. Nothing I can say will ever make anyone understand, I couldn't possibly put it into words accurately enough to do it justice. And now that I have reached my own understanding, I have so much more respect for those who endured so much more through wars past.
I will never forget those who won our freedom, I will never forget those who fought to keep it, and I will never forget those who try to bring freedom to others.
I will never forget my brothers.
I miss them.
