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1 8-The Canadian Champion, Frlday, October 27, 2000, ni PIE. UJ (JOE) This letter is a leiter sent home to parents in Stirling Ont. Dearest Mother, Dad & family: Somewhere ln England, lune 2nd, 1944 Athe time is fot far off when we shall be called on to do far greater things for our country, i want to leave this message for you shouid something happen and i do flot return. It isa hard thing to say, but in war anything can happen so, quickly, yet one life is smaii com- pared to a worid of siavery which wouid have happened except for our great comeback. We give ail that our dear Canada, especially, may be forever free, a land where good Christian feiiowship shali prevail. i know as weIi as you that this worid iacks th reai Christian faith and living, wouldn't be much better "Loving thy neighbour as thyseif' than ail this idea of kiiiing and destroying? So whiie you at home are bound to be nerved up and waiting for word of our invasion of the European continent, doing a lot of worrying because 1 am one of the boys going in, i want you to know that 1 am not afraid; i go strong ad brave, the good faith and prayers of you at home with me. God knows i do not want to kill, but must to rid the world of this awful Nazi way, that threat- ened to envelope us. i speak to you first, Mother, as you were aiways nearest my heart, so, kind and good to us ail, ever by our side to doctor and comfort us when ill. Do you recal how backward i used to be when you insisted i give a solo, or heip in the choir on Sundays, but afterward feit better because i had heiped with the service? So now, dearest Mon, i don't want you to be sad, just be proud and happy that i have done my share in the cause of freedom. Dad, you have aiways been a fine loving father, ever standing with Mom ta help and guide us through the right way of life. 1 could neyer forget the years we worked together, sawing lumber or threshing, the kind of work we loved sa, weii - just to hear the engine puffing, or the saws ringing - music to us wasn't it? Remember the times when we attended church in Stirling, especiaiiy the meetings through the week - we drove in with the horse and cutter, the .iantern under the robe to keep our feet warm. i was perhaps too young at the time to know the reai meaning of these meet- ings but i have thought a lot about them the hast few years, sometimes 1 find myseif singing those nice songs we iearned there "Evetybocly aught to love jésus," "I love my SaviouY' and others. If oniy everyone wouid turn to this good Christian way, how bright and happy this oid worid wouid be. Don't let your heart be heavy, Dad, just try to carry on the way of a reai man and father. To each and everyone of my sisters and brothers i can say l've ahways been proud to speak of you, ever a very deep respect to each of you in my heart. Be kind and good to Mom and Dad, then there need neyer be any heart-aches or worries for them to endure. And now, dear famiiy, i bld you ail "Good-bye," may God biess and keep you safeiy throughout the comlng years. Your loving son & brother In Fianders Fields ln Flanders fields the poppies blow 2 Between the crosses. row on row. ~That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, stili bravely singing, fly S Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago Z We lived, feit 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. I If ye break faith with us who die Pý, We shall fot sleep. though poppies grow In Flanders fields.JonMCa Take two minutes to %av thank you SiILENCE "The Wave of Silence" They shall grow flot old, As we that are Ieft grow old. Age shail fot weary them, Nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, And in the morning, We WilI Remember Them.