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We must never forget soldiers' sacrifice

The Brandon Sun - 11/5/2020

The attached poem was written by my grandfather, who was a Second World War veteran from Foxwarren. I would like you to print this poem because it does answer the question many of our young folks ask when buying poppies every year at this time.

We must never allow our citizens to forget those citizens who fought or currently fight for our collective freedom and also that of others in countries around this world.

“How much are your poppies, Merv,” I was asked. My reply, “seeing this is a well-to-do community. they should be one dollar,” was met with a quick reply, “no way.”

Then I got to thinking, some give a quarter, some a dollar and some of our boys give their lives and didn’t even get a poppy. But since it was such a long time ago, and since memories are so bitter and unpleasant, maybe we should just forget all about it. But then, the boys won’t be back!

I looked at a poppy, not much of a thing, a bit of plastic and a bent pin, not worth much. But to a veteran who has seen his comrades die and to mothers and fathers who have lost their boys, it is something else. It is a pledge. It is a pledge that they will not forget.

We think that it is not too much to bring, once a year, a reminder to us, and to the young folks who, not even born at the time, owe their freedom to the efforts of the members of the armed forces, many who paid with their lives.

But still, we are free. Never mind that someone died. Never mind who paid the price. We are free to give just as little for a poppy as we think it is worth. But still, if it is not worth a little bit of money, then, I am quite sure that it was not worth a life.

Perhaps the boys should have stayed home and not gone to war. Then everyone living would know the cost of lost freedom. But they could not do that because even children not born yet would suffer the oppression of the ungodly enemy.

No! They must go and fight, and if necessary, lay down their lives for what they believe was right. But their comrades who returned believe that those who died should be remembered and honoured.

MERVIN DUNHAM

Sgt. (Retired)

RCAF