“We are remembering”
One day a year we take time to remember and honor those that have lost their lives and served in the line of duty. We take a moment to truly remember, to thank them, to honor those still alive and remember the virtues they showed – camaraderie, friendship, patriotism, support, teamwork. I am always reminded that we should be spending more than just one day a year remembering and maybe that’s the point of “Remembrance day” to remind us to actively remember.
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.” - Poet Robert Laurence Binyon
For me, Remembrance Day got harder one year ago. I lost one of the greatest soldiers in my life – my Opa. We had gone to visit him and what was one of the best days of my life turned into one of the hardest. We walked into the room and my Opa greeted us with his huge smile as he always does. I crouched down beside him to give him a kiss on the cheek and brought my beautiful wife close. I held my Opa’s hand, rubbed my wife’s tummy, looked into my Opa’s eyes and said “Opa, we are having a baby!”. His face lit up with life and the smile he had grew even bigger. You could see how proud he was, how honored he felt – it’s a moment in my life I will never forget. I remember just holding his hand and letting the moment just happen, truly taking it in. That night we had gone back home and around dinner received a call that my Opa was in critical condition at the hospital and we needed to get there fast. A couple hours later with a broken heart, not wanting to say goodbye – I lost a part of my heart and my life. I lost my Opa.
He was not just my Opa but he was one of my heroes, a friend, an inspiration – a great support. He was a man that had survived a terrible war. He used the gifts he’d been given to bring life to his fellow soldiers. He sang songs for them, told jokes to them – anything to lift their spirits and bring a bit of sunshine into their lives. Just his smile was healing. When I had heard that my Opa would entertain his fellow soldiers it didn’t surprise me. It was naturally in him to want to bring smiles to people’s faces in whatever situation they were in. My Opa actively showed me this and I will forever be thankful for that.
It’s one year later and we now have the greatest joy in our life - our little girl. My Opa never got to meet her outside of her mommy’s tummy but we make sure that she not only gets to hear stories about her amazing Great Opa but we teach her about the virtues he showed. We take time to remember, to teach. I want her to grow up and feel as if she got to experience my Opa alive. I know he would have wanted us to live, to love and to laugh. From the moment my little girl was born – she passionately lives, she deeply loves and she soulfully laughs!
This Remembrance day I remember my Opa. I encourage you to remember the “Opa” in your life (whoever that is to you) and thank them. To take a moment of silence and let your heart just soak in some of the virtues they showed you.
With a huge smile on my face, I love you so much Opa and forever am grateful. I dedicate this song "Where are my soldiers at?" to my Opa. Matt
