A story of remembrance
Channel: Esquimalt High School Library Learning Commons
Date: 2015-11-11

I've avoided telling my Grandad's story at a school Remembrance Day assembly partly because I didn't want anyone to think I was setting myself apart and partly because I couldn't be sure it wouldn't be misinterpreted, but mostly because there have always been enough active service members and veterans who could provide a more valuable, first-hand account. Another factor: I wasn't sure I could hold it together.  My kids remember me struggling to read my grandad's speech at our breakfast table many years ago.  

But the school got a call November 5th that the veteran who had originally agreed to speak wouldn't be available.  He said he'd need at least half an hour to talk about the Battle of the Atlantic and we've only ever allotted ten minutes during the assembly for the guest speaker.  So I rewrote my Grandad's address to his students and colleagues from 1964.

Many students, many of them students I don't work particularly closely with, and many of the staff went out of their way to say how much they appreciated the speech.  Their appreciation for the message encouraged me thinking that others might appreciate hearing his story as well.

Here's the end of the text that was cut off when the camera's memory ran out:

My grandad wanted to make sure that we don’t forget.  He told his students: “You cannot forget, you never knew: we who do know must try and tell you on such an occasion as this, and warn you.        War is horrible.        Those of us who were there know:  it is a terrible last resort.  It cannot be justified:  it must not be glorified.  We must think peace; talk peace, educate for peace.  No nation really wants a war: but we cannot discard entirely the means to maintain our own way of life, of freedom as we see it.  If criminals are abroad in the land, it would be foolish to discard our police force.
 
He insisted that we look forward as we remember the sacrifices made, and remember that because of them, we today enjoy the brightest prospects.  He called out to his students: “Train and discipline yourselves to honour those who have gone before you and made your good lives possible.”
 
It’s good that we gather together once a year. Tomorrow many of us will gather around the Cenotaph in Memorial Park here in Esquimalt or at the Legislature by the Inner Harbour to remember.
 
I hope that         together,       we will remember.