A number of years ago, my family and I were fortunate enough to visit Belgium and Holland. My late father was born in Belgium so we went to visit relatives. What amazed us was the reception from the strangers we met when they discovered we were Canadian. The warmth and outpouring of gratitude stunned us. For them, both World Wars are still very real and held in the forefront of their hearts and minds. They remember and value the brave Canadian soldiers that liberated their towns and villages. There are no words to describe the emotions that welled up as we stood in those grave yards among the rows of white crosses and read the names of those who had fallen. So many of them were Canadian and so many were just boys. Today, let us remember the fallen, those that have
returned, forever changed, and those that continue to serve. Lest we forget.
