The Roost of Turkadactyl

… According to reports, in one 10-minute period on Omaha Beach, a single rifle company of 205 men lost 197, including every officer and sergeant.  These were not pointless or avoidable deaths.  The price was very high – but for that which they died was sacred.  We remember.  Their comrades in arms remember.  And those who could, came back.

• William J. Bennett from a lecture to the United States Naval Academy

There will be no hobby related post today.  Today is important for us to take the time to recognize those who gave the ultimate sacrifice- their lives.

The picture above is my grandfather, John Colin Hawton.  He fought in World War II.  He was part of the Desert Rats, a tank company in the British Army.  He never talked about what he experienced.  I tried to get it out of him.  My grandmother told me, “Good luck.  He never talked to me about the war either.”  My grandfather passed away to lung cancer three years ago.  He is one of the kindest and gentlest men I have ever met.  I asked him for his war medals.  He didn’t have them so he put a request in, had them sent to him and passed them onto me.  It is the most important possession I have in my life and they are hanging up on my wall.

My other grandfather, Henry Williams, passed away when I was an infant.  There are pictures of me with him but I don’t remember him.  He didn’t talk about World War II either is what I am told.  All I know is that he was taken prisoner when fighting the Nazi army in northern Africa.  He survived the POW camp and had five children.

Many of our veterans are passing away now.  Some have shared their experiences and many, like my grandfather, have not.  It is up to us to pass on their legacy, their story, however large or small it is.  We must remember the men and women who have stepped up to the plate, whether past or present, to protect our freedom and the life we know and take for granted today.

We remember.

Statue to the fallen soldiers outside the Juno Beach Centre

These are pictures of the trip my wife and I took to Normandy in 2008.  It was a brisk November day.  It was surreal and moving.  We visited the Juno Centre, American Military Cemetary and Point-du-hoc to name a few.  To see more pictures click here.

Michael Landsberg of TSN has shared the importance of Remembrance Day to him.  It is a long read and I do recommend reading it.