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shaner
Premium
join:2000-10-04
Calgary, AB
| reply to Styvas
Re: [Serious] Rememberance Day - A Pittance of Time
Rememberance Day is special for me in a slightly different viewpoint. My Grandfather was a German soldier who was taken prisoner at Stalingrad. He wasn't released from the Russian POW camp until 1950. He came home to a shattered and destroyed Hamburg. After spending a year or 2 trying to rebuild his family's lives, he got fed up and went down to the docks to catch a boat to Argentina. But, the only boat with space left was one heading for Canada. So he took that one. Canada welcomed him, and 2 years later, my Grandmother, Uncle and Father joined him in Toronto. It wasn't easy for them, but he was always grateful that a former enemy country allowed him to start over again. And for him, Rememberance Day was special because it allowed him to show his respect and gratitude for a country which could have easily sent him packing. Imagine this: my Grandfather, a retired German soldier who fought against and killed Canadians in France (he was there at Dieppe), he was a member of the Canadian Legion.
That's the kind of freedom and acceptance my Grandfather came to appreciate as a new Canadian.
--
I'm laying pipe,
all night long,
laying pipe,
to satisfy that woman.
- David Wilcox
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BigSensFan
Premium
join:2003-07-16
Whitby, ON
 ·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Bell Sympatico
| said by shaner  :Rememberance Day is special for me in a slightly different viewpoint. My Grandfather was a German soldier who was taken prisoner at Stalingrad. He wasn't released from the Russian POW camp until 1950. He came home to a shattered and destroyed Hamburg. After spending a year or 2 trying to rebuild his family's lives, he got fed up and went down to the docks to catch a boat to Argentina. But, the only boat with space left was one heading for Canada. So he took that one. Canada welcomed him, and 2 years later, my Grandmother, Uncle and Father joined him in Toronto. It wasn't easy for them, but he was always grateful that a former enemy country allowed him to start over again. And for him, Rememberance Day was special because it allowed him to show his respect and gratitude for a country which could have easily sent him packing. Imagine this: my Grandfather, a retired German soldier who fought against and killed Canadians in France (he was there at Dieppe), he was a member of the Canadian Legion. That's the kind of freedom and acceptance my Grandfather came to appreciate as a new Canadian. Awesome Story
Thanks for sharing it
--
"I am not an abnormal person living in a normal world, I am a normal person living in an abnormal world" Rod Parsley
Canadian Revival News | |
dirtyjeffer
Merry Christmas
Premium
join:2002-02-21
London, ON
 ·Rogers Hi-Speed
| reply to shaner
that is a great story, thanks for sharing it shaner...my stepfather is German...he was alive during WWII, but was only a kid during it (about 8)...their family fled to canada as well, but mainly to get away from the German Nazi's...i never really talk about it with him, but i am sure it was somewhat tough the first few years (people angry with all Germans, despite the fact only the Nazi's were the "bad" ones...many "good" Germans were only fighting in the war because they had to, not because they wanted to...it is nice that many of the allied forces understood this.
--
-"I have tried to see things from your point of view, but no matter how hard I try, or what I do, I just can't get my head that far up my ass." 
-"I don't know if she can wrestle, but I'd sure like to see her box."
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wkendhippie
Is it Friday yet ?
Premium
join:2004-02-16
Clarksdale
3 edits | reply to shaner
said by shaner :Rememberance Day is special for me in a slightly different viewpoint. My Grandfather was a German soldier who was taken prisoner at Stalingrad. He wasn't released from the Russian POW camp until 1950. He came home to a shattered and destroyed Hamburg. After spending a year or 2 trying to rebuild his family's lives, he got fed up and went down to the docks to catch a boat to Argentina. But, the only boat with space left was one heading for Canada. So he took that one. Canada welcomed him, and 2 years later, my Grandmother, Uncle and Father joined him in Toronto. It wasn't easy for them, but he was always grateful that a former enemy country allowed him to start over again. And for him, Rememberance Day was special because it allowed him to show his respect and gratitude for a country which could have easily sent him packing. Imagine this: my Grandfather, a retired German soldier who fought against and killed Canadians in France (he was there at Dieppe), he was a member of the Canadian Legion. That's the kind of freedom and acceptance my Grandfather came to appreciate as a new Canadian. Thanks Shaner, My Father was a Veteran in a similar place. He fought with the Germans against Russia in WW2 to defend Finland from invasion. Different deal different times. They got a good part of Karelia. You know I sometimes feel awkward about it. I'm very proud of my roots. And you should be proud of your family as well they were doing the right thing at the time and it all worked out OK.
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Dan
Hamilton Tigers?
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join:2002-12-17
Eh?
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| reply to shaner
My mom told me this story years ago, but I think it really shows the truth to life.
In her younger years had a customer at a job, who became a friend. This man was formally a German soldier during WWII, and feeling he was friendly enough with my mom, let her know of his past.
When my mom learned this she refused to talk to the man. It wasn't until he explained the full story she understood. He was merely coming to help his country, and when he was in battle suffered like many soldiers. Like her father (my grandpa), the man had to do what was best for his family, even if it meant death.
I think it's very important to understand, regardless of the nationality or the side your on, win or loose, war causes men to loose a big chunk of who they are.
I know we come away from the great wars with freedom and we need to cherish it.
Btw, I appreciate the posting. I enjoy watching that around Rememberance day | |
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