IN HONOUR OF THEIR SACRIFICE
by Faytene Kryskow
The sun has now set on the Remembrance Day 2009 in Ottawa. All that is left to participate in are the reports and images from the day which are being splashed across the nation's news outlets (one of which I am watching as I type). I could not call it a day before taking a moment to PUBLICALLY HONOUR our war vets and fellow Canadians in uniform on behalf of the MY Canada Association and share a few thoughts of reflection with you, our network.
This year 11/11 hit me. I am not sure why Remembrance Day impacted me so deeply this year. I have always believed in the importance of the day, but this year the gravity was more pronounced. Perhaps it is because I am getting older, or because of the constant news flashes this past year of fallen Canadians in Afganistan, or because of our recent trip to Israel where we were surrounded with young men and women in uniform constantly, because war feels so near these days, or because in a strange way I resonate with the reality of sacrifice, discomfort and losing your life for the sake of your nation. When I look in the eyes of a soldier, and then glance over at our team of young people while reflecting the last years (or days) in Ottawa, in a strange way "I get it." - the "look" I mean. Even though our frontiers are different the foundation is the same: you lose your life for the sake of the call and, for a time at least, it costs you everything. Yet, in giving everything you find true life. Understanding that feeling, somehow, makes the honour for our men and women in uniform go even deeper.
During the ceremony we attended at the National Cemetery in Ottawa I was deeply struck by one of the opening phrases. In it the speaker said, speaking of our fallen soldiers and war vets [paraphrased by memory], "....they gave their youth and their strength for generations they would never meet...." That is an intense truth which will only ever be said of those Canadians who are graced with the vision to see beyond their lifetime, and the wisdom to know their life will have an echo, for good or for evil. In wisdom they volunteer freely knowing there is a prize set before them. A prize that they may or may not get to enjoy themselves, but it will be attained, if they (or someone) is willing to sacrifice to claim it. It is a prize called freedom and freedom is not free.
I was struck by the silence - the silence of men in their 90's with warm tears streaming down their face that screamed a thousand words. I was struck with memories - memories of the testimonies of holocaust survivors who had been liberated by these very tear stained men. I was stuck by the young men (soldiers) standing in front of me - a new generation stepping up to the line in a new war. Many would be 10 years younger than I, and I am young. I was struck by the young women beside me (our team) - more from a new generation who also step up to the line every day to fight for Canada and a generation they may never meet, but in a different way. I was struck by the tombs on my other side and realized I was literally standing between the living and the dead. The living and the dead who had so much powerfully in common. I was struck by the grace of God evidenced, in one way at least, by the sun shining a November plus 5 degrees celcius on us. The rays seemed to smile in agreement on the spirit of honour manifest and enabled us to drink in the moments without distraction from November chills - grace upon grace upon grace was all around us on that field today.
As I looked at the line of Canadian soldiers in front of me (somehow we ended up right behind the first line in the crowd) I noticed something peculiar. All the lines had 3 rows except the one in front of us, it had only one soldier and I wondered, "Is this because some soldiers did not come back, or, because some did not show up in the first place?" Both would be tragic scenarios and both thoughts sent me wondering. Feedom is not free. Somebody's got to give.
I am so thankful as I get ready to put on my warm jammies and snuggle into a warm bed of freedom. I am also thankful for the priviledge of rising early tomorrow to pray, fight another day for my nation and get ready for a massive operation next week (Josiah 8). All this while knowing that the soldiers I gazed upon today are doing the same on another frontier and with great sacrifice. My earnest and desperate prayer for our generation is that we would "get it." Peace and prosperity is a gift, and yet if the price of it is not understood, and those who paid the price not honoured, then this same peace and prosperity can become a dangerous doorway to apathy, dishonour, laziness, arrogance and the inevitable loss of all that was gained and maintained. God grant us hearing hearts and lifestyles of honour, lest we forget. (PS - I was happy to see some other young adults at this same ceremony and to hear the reports of masses that flooded Parliament during the same hours. Yeah.)
If you have not done it already, I encourage you to find a veteran and gaze deep into their eyes, listen to their stories, listen to their songs, listen to their pain if they will give you the gift of seeing through the window of their hearts. If you have not done it already, find a soldier and thank them for their service, pray for them, honour them and show them the love of Christ which will give them strong evidence they are not alone, even in their most lonely times.
To our war vets, bereaved and men and women in uniform we want to say a deep, warm, sincere and heartfelt: THANK YOU. Thank you for giving your lives for us and future generations. May the God who created all, and is love, comfort and watch over every step you take. We understand: freedom is not free. Thank you.
