SHOULD THEY BE THE ONLY ONES WHO REMEMBER?
Many died and some returned home with memories; memories they have shared with us since I can recall as a child.
A few months ago I went to the local Aylmer Quebec Legion for a supper with my mom. It was nice to hang out with a few of the folks there and also be contributing to their Legion…the food was excellent!
Before leaving I picked up a free book in their library titled, "Rare Courage". In Rare Courage twenty Canadian Veterans describe their harrowing true tales of war. So far I have read one story of the twenty there are in the book and it promises to be quite a read on what these young men and women did ….for their country.
The one story I did get a chance to read was that of a solider from Toronto.
It initially grabbed my attention because of the soldier's name he shares with my husband and that of my husband's uncle Stan who died in the war and also because I think Cpl. Stanley G. Grizzle, looks a bit like Denzel ; )
The story of CPL.Stanley G. Grizzle, a canadian soldier born in Toronto of Jamaican heritage, not only had the burden of war on his shoulders but also that of discrimination, yes, even in Canada.
It must have been a strange and curious situation for him to be in , to be a part of a Canadian Allie group fighting for freedom in a foreign land and yet be discriminated against by his very own .
He tells how when he married before going off to war he tried to book a room at the Royal York in Toronto but was refused being told they "couldn't accommodate coloured people".
Really if it was me standing at that desk I would have been second thinking about going off to war for a country who treated me in such a humiliating way.
I was glad to see his commanding officer (Sgd) ( R.G.REID) - Lieut-Colonel
had made sure to send forward a letter of complaint to the Royal York.
These days I would like to believe it's not as bad as it once was; Obama is America's President for a second term.
I thank you CPL. Stanley G. Grizzle and all of the young men and women who some sacrificed their youth and others their lives.
Like the author of Rare Courage quotes in his book ….
"THE DEAD , HOWEVER, WERE GONE FOREVER.
WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY MIGHT HAVE BECOME? "
…….THEY LEFT THAT TO US.
Wear a poppy on your heart …...
