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28--The Canadian Champion, Fniday, Octaber 26, 2001 PTE. UJ (JOE) DeAmest Mother, Dad & famfly: A the Ure is lot far off when we shail be caled on ta do far greater thngs foDr ur country, 1 w ant ta. leave this message for you shauld samething happen and I do flot return. It is a hard thing ta say, but ln war anything can happen sa qulckly, yet anc lite is small camparcd ta a world af slavery which would have happcned cxcept for aur great comneback. We give ail that aur dear Canada, especlally, may be forever free, a land where gaad Christian fellowshlp shahi prevail. I know as well as you that thîs woiid lacks the real Christian falth and living, wouldn't It be much better "Lovlng thy nelghbour as thyseIf' than ail this Idea ai kiliing and dcstraying? Sa whiie yau at home are bound ta be nerved up and waing for word ai aur Invasion of the Eurapean continent, dolng a lot of worrying because 1 amn anc af the boys going ln, 1 want yau ta know that 1 arn flot afraid; I go strang and brave, the gaod faith and prayers ai you at home wlith me. Gad knows 1 do flot want ta, kili, but rnust ta rld the warld ai this awful Nazi way, that threatencd ta envelope us. 1 speak ta you first, Mother, as you were always ncarest rny heart, Sa klnd and gaad ta us ail, ever by aur side ta doctar and cornfart us when Ili. Do you recail how backward 1 used ta be when yau Insistedi I gîve a sala, or help ln the choir on Sundays, but afterward tieit better because 1 had helped wlth the service? Sa naw, dearest Mom, 1 don 't want you ta be sad, just be proud and happy that 1 have donc rny share ln the cause ai freedorn. Dad, yau have aiways been a fine lovlng father, ever standing wlth Morn ta heip and guide us through the rlght way ai lite. 1 couid neyer farget the years wc worked Icgether, sawl4ng lumber or threshlng, Uhc klnd ai work we lovedi sa wcll - just ta, hear the engine puffing, or the saws rlnglng - music ta us wasn't It? Rernember the Urnes whcn wc attcnded church ln Stirling, especlally the mneetngs through the week - we drove in wlth the horse and cutter, the lanterni under the robe to keep aur teet warrn. I was perhaps too young at the Urne ta know the real rncanlng ai these meetings but 1 have thaught a lot about thern the last tew years, sametirnes 1 find myscif singing those nîce sangs we iearned there "Eveîybody aught ta love jésus," "I lave my Savlou(' and others. If only everyane would turn ta thîs good Christian way, how brlght and happy this aid world would be. Don't let your heart be heavy, Dad, just try ta canry an the way ai a real man and father. To each and eveiyonc ai my sisters and brothers 1 can say I've aiways been proud ta speak ai yau, ever a very decp respect ta cach af you ln my heart. Be klnd and gaad ta Morn and Dad, then Uiere nced neyer be any heart-aches or worries for them ta endure. And naw, dear iarnîly, I bld you ai "Good-bye," may CGod bless and keep you safely throughout the carnlng years. Your Io-lng son & brother IFlanders Fields ln Rlanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, raw on row, *That mark aur place, and ln the sky The larks, stili bravely singlng, fiy Scarce heard arnld the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We llved, feit dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were lovcd, and naw we lie ln Flanders fields. YTake up our quarrel wlth the foc; f To you, from faillng hands we thraw The torch; be yours ta hald it high. \. if ye break faith with us wha die We shall fot sieep, though pappies grow ln FRanders fields. Jh Take two minutes to samy thank you SI'LENCE ,,,The Wave of Silence" They shall grow flot old, As we that are Ieft grow old. Age shail fot weay them, Nor the years condemn. At the golng down of the sun, And in the moming, We MiI Remember Them. This is a letter sent home to parents ln Stirling, Ont. Somewhere ln England, june Znd, 1944