A Story from Long Ago

Yet it seems like it was just yesterday.  The entire family had arrived back into Canada and as a Catholic family all of us attended mass for the first time.  This was the first which we all were attending and I can remember we were awaiting this older priest.  We waited as a family within the back of the church to be greeted by the priest which was giving mass on that Sunday morning.  This priest which was at least 80 years of age I would guess that he was probably nearing the time of his retirement as he was very hard to understand. 

Yet he blessed us all and then he asked my father, “What did you do before you retired and returned back here?"  My father answered the priest telling indicating he had served on behalf of the Air Force.  The funniest thing took place as the elder priests response was, “Well that was an unworthy life wasn’t it?”

My older brother had to walk away as I knew he was laughing as this with no doubts a surprise and you could tell that it had taken my father by surprise – where not too many things ever had.  Yet with diplomacy despite the fact that he was taken aback I will never recall my father's reply, “Father if it wasn’t of the likes of people like myself with all due respect, all which you have here would not exist.”  Of course this priest was old but not that old and he went on to ask my father what he meant by the statement which my father had mentioned to him and there was never any ill will but ironically this older priest never thoughtout what had said. A very sensitive moment to say the least.

The thought was that it was just merely a welcoming of the family to the church.  I would presume that both of my folks thought that this would just be a welcome and greeting by the priest which was giving service on that Sunday. In just a few sentences my father described of those countries which do not have a democracy namely Russia at the time just to skim the surface if you know what I mean.  

I recall how he calmly went on to say to the priest,"Father if you feel that democracy is a disservice perhaps you might consider it over again.” My father was more concerned at the time of us kids hearing this more than anything.  Yet that was a time which I shall never forget.  For myself I have my own faith and beliefs.  Even an atheist has a faith of sorts but as a kid of the age of 17, I shall never forget how this priest began a conversation with my father in front of the entire family with the mention of what my father did was an unworthy life.  Yet within a few minutes as he was from the Ukraine I am sure it hit home.  The manner which I view things is that back in the times of history there was always a relationship. 

There has always been a pact between United States Armed Forces and the Royal Canada Armed Forces anyone which is within the military and up within that ranks of that of an officer with no doubts knows this.  If either were ever attacked on either soil both countries by way of the military considered both countries as one.

This pact of which I speak is one that still exists to this very day.  If only that priest might have thought before he spoke – but during grade 11 and 12 we as a family went to mass every Sunday – as well there were other priests of which made a trip to see the family back then to offer my father an apology.  There merit within the story is for those which serve are that which have afforded freedom of faith, religion of any kind. Few and far between within my chapters within life have I met those which are within the armed forces which are up there within ranks have never sought out to kill. What they sought was to ensure the pursuit of the freedoms in which we have.

I thought this was a story which I would share. Freedom and the pictures which came my way earlier today were during this travelling memorial.  There are some which hate wars - for that matter I never have seen one person which wanted to go to war. Yet when late at night you see a squadron of F - 18's line up in the middle of the night it's a mission.  The mandates of those missions which I myself have seen take place were those which were in pursuit of the maintenance and pursuit of our very freedoms. Yet the downside of it is that some do pay a price for it.

Yet it's never to be taken in vain.

I thought I would share a true story from earlier years when my old man had retired and came back into Canada...