Friday, May 29, 2015

Sometimes I Get All Choked Up

In the course of some research that I am doing, I came upon a trove of files regarding Jewish Canadians who were killed during the Second World War.

Jews played a disproportionately large role in the Canadian army. I guess disproportionate to their numbers, but certainly not disproportionate to their love of freedom.

Many of these fine young men (and women) had just landed in Canada! They promptly enlisted as service men and women and went back to Hitler's Europe to fight evil, wearing Canadian uniforms.

I am absolutely humbled by these stories.

I wanted to share one here, the story of Julius Bendit, and I urge you to read the two-page letter send to Julius' sister, Rose, by his commanding officer. 

I've read it about half a dozen times already and it takes my breath away each time.

I can't read it without getting teary. It's simply a magnificent tribute to a very brave soul, and the same can certainly be said of so many of those young men and women who gave their lives for our freedom.

They understood what was at stake, and gave their lives for our freedom, and now, just a few decades later, almost all has been forgotten. I think that's why I get most upset reading and re-reading these stories.