BW Faith Ministry

LEST WE FORGET...In 2008 and 2009 I purchased Poppies from the same gentle-man, a Veteran, all decorated with medals.  He pinned on my Poppy as tears, mixed with pride and sorrow, welled up in my eyes.

        IN FLANDERS FIELDS

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

by John McCrae

THE FIRST WORLD WAR was to be the war that ended all wars. European hostilities officially paused at 11a.m. on the 11th of November 1918. Starting in 1919, countries around the world have paused for a minute of silence to remember those who have sacrificed themselves for our freedom. The 11th of November was originally called ARMISTICE DAY but was changed to REMEMBRANCE DAY after the Second World War.  (excerpt from THE COLUMBIA VALLEY PIONEER, by Howard Williams, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #71)

"LEAVE THE STREETS BEHIND" Toronto Homeless Veterans Project (24/09/2010)...Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Ontario Region (Toronto Sunnybrook Office), in partnership with The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL), Ontario Command, and the GOOD SHEPHERD MINISTRIES, have initiated a HOMELESS VETERANS PROJECT in Toronto.  www.vac-acc.gc.ca

PATRICK STOGRAN, Veterans Ombudsman prods Canadians over Afghanistan...
"...With combat operations slated to wind down next July, Thursday could be the last war-time REMEMBRANCE DAY for years to come. Nov. 11, the date the Armistice took effect in 1918 to end the slaughter of the First World War, was originally meant as a day of reflection. That kind of soul-searching should not be passed off lightly this year as the country makes the transition from war to self-imposed peace, Mr. Stogran said. He said ordinary citizens and political leaders should think seriously about how and when they commit soldiers to war and ask themselves why Canada was in Afghanistan in the first place..." by Murray Brewster OTTAWA The Canadian Press

THE STORY OF THE OLD VETERAN ON THE $10 BILL...he was born in England. He was one of the 400,000 members of the British Expeditionary Force and served in Dunkirk, North Africa and Italy. It was in Italy that he met his future wife at a Canadian hospital. After the war they settled in Chatham Ontario, retired to Ottawa. At the age of 80 he wrote a book about his experiences. One day he received a call from a government official asking him to go downtown for a photo op. His daughter said that he had no idea he would be on the $10 bill. Robert Metcalfe is his name. He died this year at the age of 90. (Wally, thank you for this story!)

blwoodard@shaw.ca -- shared stories make our lives more meaningful !!