"Remembering the horrors of war"

Lest we forget. That is the resounding phrase that reminds us all of the horrors of war, and of all those who lost their lives in conflicts all over the world. We all know that November 11 is set aside for us to remember those who have perished in war.

A few weeks ago my friends in the Bradley family from Six Nations near Hamilton, Ontario participated in an early ceremony set aside for the remembrance of local First Nations people who lost their lives in war. It was held by the Six Nations Veterans Association in Ohsweken. The Bradley Patriarch John Bradley Sr., who passed away this year, was a decorated World War II veteran. In years past, he was on hand for remembrance ceremonies. His wife Norma and daughters Laurie and Luanne lay wreaths in his memory, and for those who have fallen in war. His son, John Jr., read the honour roll call and act of remembrance. Chief Ava Hill was on hand to voice her words of support, healing and remembrance to all those in attendance. MNCFN Council Chief Brian Laforme, Member of Provincial Parliament, Dave Levac; Brant County Mayor Ron Eddy and other dignitaries also paid homage to the day. There was a parade, pipe band and military ceremonials. Four Delhi Harvard aircrafts lifted the hearts of everyone in a nostalgic fly pass.

In a Bradley family gathering later at Laurie and Fred Lambert's home in Brantford, everyone gathered to note the day and to bid hon voyage to some of the family members heading out on a world tour. I could not help but notice what a huge gap there was amongst us, as the family patriarch was not on hand, lifting spirits and comforting his family with humour and kindness. It was just not the same. However, as life in its ebbs and flows takes from us and gives to us, we had a bright ray of sunshine on this day. A new baby in the family, Everett Martin, one-year-old son of Chris and Tess, was there in all his smiling glory with his scramble from adult to adult for hugs, kisses and laughter. He did his late great-grandpa John Sr. proud in his own little way by reminding us of the hope that new life and sweet babies provide.

As I watched little Everett roll around on the back lawn covered in red, yellow and orange leaves I thought of how fortunate he was to be born in this time and place with family all around. I wondered what kind of future we would provide him. I also thought of my great grandfather John Chokomolin, who was taken from his family on the shores of Attawapiskat in the First World War, only to die near London, England of the Spanish flu. I thought of all those other young men of Attawapiskat, all the other First Nations and all the non-Native men and women who had gone to war. Many did not return. I thought of all those civilian casualties, children, mothers, fathers, grand­mothers and grandfa­thers that perished in wars gone by.

It dawned on me that our Remembrance Day should be very far reaching indeed. It should also be dedicated to reminding us that we want a better world for little Everett and all the little boys and girls of future generations all over the world that deserve a life well ­lived, long and prosperous. The rich and powerful rarely, if ever, send their boys and girls off to war, but in fact they are responsible for much of the conflict, whether it's to do with wanting someone's land, resources or riches. I am hopeful that we as civilized people have come to the point in our development that we can see new ways to work together in a world community and wars are considered a barbaric thing of the past. That means that we really have to dig deep and be realistic and honest in our Remembrance Day ceremonies. Most of us are not buying the mantra of war anymore and if we hope for a new world with better ways to solve conflicts, we need to stand up and be counted. For Everett's sake.

Lest we forget.

You can see more of Xavier Kataquapit's columns at wwww.underthenorthernsky.com