today we remember those that paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy. as a dad-to-be i realize how much more we are in debt to those that go and die for this cause, not only sacrificing their own lives, but the emotional well-being of their families and friends who have to continue on without them. recently the following story came to my attention and in light of this day I wish to share it. unfortunately, it was only revealed because it concerned one of my father's oldest friends whom he knew from school. he passed away unexpectedly in hong kong.
It happened in 2006 during their class reunion in toronto. the friend, an avid cycler, had brought his road bike with him to canada and ended up riding out to niagara falls. along the way, an old caucasian woman approached him and asked about the t-shirt he was wearing. in conversation, she learned that he was from hk. she proceeded to tell him that her grandfather had died and been buried there during wwii, but that the exact whereabouts were unknown to the family. she ended up giving him what little information she had. after returning to hk, he spent the next two years hunting down the burial site. it turns out the burial grounds had been bulldozed for redevelopment, but fortunately not yet built upon. through a lot of investigation (including aerial surveying) and talking to the right people he knew in the civil service, he found the exact burial plot and the bones of the dead were recovered, cremated and returned to the granddaughter in canada.
uncle, you were a remarkable man. you will be missed and may you rest in peace.
this is the first remembrance day that this brave soldier will be spending at home. he made the choice to travel halfway across the world and defend a city that decades later i would have the pleasure to live in. may all his brothers-in-arms find their way home too. we will forever remember them all...
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