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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Remember and honour

We should reflect on those who made sacrifices for our freedom, says letter writer
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The cenotaph at Dallas Square in downtown Nanaimo. (News Bulletin file photo)

To the editor,

During the winter of 1943, on a rainy evening, a young soldier was sitting on the roof of a church in Italy as mayhem swirled around him. As he crouched there his thoughts drifted to the young woman whom he had left behind in England. Emotions and memories arising from both his departure from his family after enlisting in the army at the age of 16 and the image of his father living with a steel plate in his head courtesy of the First World War permeated his consciousness.

That man was my father and that young woman became my mother. My dad never talked much about the war, never discussed the friends whom he lost nor the trauma he experienced, though I know that he remembered and those memories were an important part of his being. He would proudly march in Remembrance Day ceremonies, to honour all those who had bravely fought to protect our way of life and those who had died in the process.

My dad is gone now and his memories with him, however the rest of us would do well to continue to reflect on that young soldier in Italy and thousands of others who sacrificed everything so we could be free. On Nov. 11, please honour and remember them.

Rick Roberts, president, Nanaimo and area branch, National Association of Federal Retirees


The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press or the Nanaimo News Bulletin.

Letters policy: Letters should be no longer than 250 words and will be edited. Preference is given to letters expressing an opinion on issues of local relevance or responding to items published in the News Bulletin. Include your address (it won’t be published) and a first name or two initials, and a surname. Unsigned letters will not be published.

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