Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Those Who Mourn

The peace and freedom we enjoy in our country comes at great cost.
Paid by the precious few who place themselves in harm’s way so that we don’t have to.
But all of the sacrifices aren’t made solely by those on the front lines of the world’s conflicts.
Their families who stand firmly behind them - missing them, praying for them - pay just as high a price . . .
One of my dad’s best friends growing up was a boy named Bernard.
He was a good boy, though rather heedless and daring.
Often the instigator of mischievous deeds and pranks.
As Bernard grew older, his independent, free-spirited view of life wasn’t always understood by everyone.
In particular his father.
When Bernard was sixteen, he and his father weren’t quite seeing eye-to-eye.
That fact, coupled with the additional incentive of a country fighting a righteous war, sent young Bernard to the recruitment center.
He was a tall lad. Easily passing for the eighteen he claimed.
When his father discovered what he had done, he had the option (and the power) to march in, relate a few home truths, and bring his underage boy home. But, after some thought, Bernard’s father decided that his boy needed some discipline. And what better way to get it than by enlisting in the forces?
Bernard went through his training with little trouble. In no time, he was on his way to the battle front, eager to get into the fray.
He charged into battle with the same heedless enthusiasm that had marked his life so far.
But this wasn’t the schoolyard games he was used to.
This was war.
And on his third day, like so many others, he paid the ultimate sacrifice.
His father never recovered from the blow.
Blaming himself for failing to retrieve an underage boy, he mourned his son throughout the remainder of his life.
A tragedy in so many ways.

On this Remembrance Day, let us honour all of the men and women who made and are making our lives possible.
 Let us remember the sacrifice of those who fought and fight still.
And those who mourn them.

18 comments:

  1. We will remember them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just one of so many sad, sad stories. We do mourn. For the fallen and their families...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you, Diane. Beautiful and terrible.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This story broke my heart. As the mother of a soldier who was stationed in Afghanistan I can personally tell you that it was absolutely the hardest year of my life. People ask me all the time if taking care of mom is hard...not compared to this. I was lucky my son returned in one piece so many didn't.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My son is one of two survivors from his unit and the only one unscathed. They lost the others to a roadside bomb, so I know exactly what you are talking about.

      Delete
  5. Very sad indeed. It seems that in war everyone loses something, and some lose everything.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sadly true, Jenny! And still we fall back into the same conflicts.

      Delete
  6. Heartbreaking story but truly the perfect way to drive home the true meaning of sacrifice and of Veteran's Day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the personal experiences we need to keep remembering. The personal costs.

      Delete
  7. I enjoyed reading this one. We do need to be grateful for our Veterans. I too shared a story about my Grandfather who fought and died in World War I.
    Blessings for this one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Went over and read about your grandfather. Sooo grateful for him and the others who fought with him!

      Delete
  8. How sad for this father to have a lifetime of "if only I'd" regret.
    Most people's "if only's" are trivial, but this is heartbreaking.
    War is a horrible, horrible thing. Yet we continue to have them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So sad and heartbreaking. Now that I have boys old enough to be drafted, I can't even imagine. I love how this remembrance day is shared all around the world.

    ReplyDelete

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