Comments on: In Flanders Fields

By: Kicker

Kicker — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:09:23 +0000

Hello, Thank you! I would now go on this blog every day! Kicker

By: Boldy

Boldy — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:26:43 +0000

Hello,
Super post, Need to mark it on Digg
Thank you
Boldy

By: Yvette Alley

Yvette Alley — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:24:34 +0000

Great post John. The true wealth of both Canada and the United States can be measured by the young people who protect it and those who remember and support them.

By: Gayle Nastasi

Gayle Nastasi — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:07:54 +0000

May the lord walk beside them all.

I’ve no doubt your dad’s spirit does, as well.

By: John Hawkyard

John Hawkyard — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:24:33 +0000

A lovely posting Lin. I remember clearly many of Dad’s stories which he told me as a youngster. In fact one time he made a tape recording for a school history project we were doing. Although Dad never made a fuss about his wartime experiences and in fact it was only in latter years that we managed to persaude him to have his medals mounted, I was, and still am very proud of his service. I think of him often.
Where I am now (Bahrain) we have the US 5th Fleet based, The Royal Navy is also often in port, and I have a number of friends serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere in the Arabian Gulf. Whatever we may think of the politics, young men and women continue to do their duty.

By: sandy Hawkyard

sandy Hawkyard — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:42:05 +0000

Very nice idea. Those stories were the best after dinner times. Trouble is we were all rather tiddly when he started so its hard to remember all the details. A dear grandfather and father in law. very sadly missed.

By: Gayle Nastasi

Gayle Nastasi — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:51:04 +0000

Your dad sounds like a true treasure, Lin. Mine doesn’t share his stories of WWII — I hope you’re able to remember many of your dad’s tales and that they’re being retold to grandchildren across the family. Has anyone written them down?

By: Lin

Lin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:03:23 +0000

Gayle, that is my Dad. Obviously not a WWI Vet, he did however, serve in the Army in WWII. He was one of the Desert Rats and used to regale us with stories about his life in the desert. Digging trenches into the sand to sleep in at night, scorpions in his boots in the morning (or even worse in his bed!). His most favourite saying before he commenced his story telling was ‘when I was in Sidi Barrani……….’ – we’d all groan because we knew there was a war story coming. Dad passed away in September 2001 (I was flying to the UK on 9/11 for his funeral). He is very much missed.

By: Gayle Nastasi

Gayle Nastasi — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:30:44 +0000

Lin, please tell us more about the handsome gentleman in the photo.

Thank you for posting this wonderful tribute.

By: Barrie Hawkyard

Barrie Hawkyard — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:11:35 +0000

A wonderful poem for Armistice Day. And a wonderful remembrance of a dear uncle who fought for my freedom. I hope his efforts were not in vain, now that England is part of the Federal State of Europe! Soldiers, like Uncle Jim, are coming home daily in coffins from Afghanistan. More still are coming home in air ambulances, terribly maimed, blinded, crippled, mentally ruined…………..and for what? Please pray for our brave soldiers, sailors and airmen and women who are on the front line fighting someone’s war… not ours though. This applies to all allied service people, especially those of the commonwealth, Canada in particular.