On November 11th, Remembrance Day is observed in Canada to mark the anniversary of the end of World War I and provide an opportunity to honour and remember the men and women who have served and continue to serve during times of conflict and peace.

There are many ways in which we honour those who have served on the battlefield and those who have supported them on the home front. Some may attend large commemorative services, while others choose to reflect quietly. There is no right or wrong way to observe this important day.

In my CWLC posts, I always try to write in third person. I prefer to remove myself from the presentation, keeping the spotlight on the author and speaker. Today, however, on Remembrance Day, I would like to share how I observe this meaningful day and why veterans, those currently serving, and those on the home front are important to me.

My grandfather was a tiny man who sat quietly in his chair and pulled dollar bills out of his sleeve to give to us grandchildren. A butcher by trade in Scotland, he became a farmer by necessity in Saskatchewan. At the dinner table, after sharpening his carving knife before each meal, he would quietly mumble a prayer.

My grandfather, Private James Good, served in the 203rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during World War I. He was later transfered to the 18th Reserve Battalion, and eventually joined the 44th Battalion when he arrived in France in March 1917. Like many other Canadian soldiers, my grandfather fought in the Battle of Arras, which included the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Somehow, miraculously, he survived Vimy Ridge, but he suffered GSWs (gun shot wounds) to the left shoulder and jaw. He convalesced in military hospitals in England before being discharged in March 1919. During his time in England, he received passes to travel to Scotland, where he began courting my grandmother. Following his discharge, he returned to Saskatchewan and started building a home for his bride-to-be.

My grandfather never spoke to us grandchildren about the war, and we never thought to ask. Although I was young, I understood how much he loved my grandmother and his five children, one of whom is my mother.

Dr. Donna Coates was one of my professors at the University of Calgary, and I took many of her courses in Canadian Literature and War Literature. I must have read about thirty books on war literature, with my favourite being Rilla of Ingleside (1921) and Billy Bishop Goes to War (1978). She also introduced me to the work of the remarkable writer and literary scholar Paul Fussell, particularly his book The Great War and Modern Memory (1975). It doesn’t quite seem appropriate to say that I enjoy war literature. However, the books I read and the stories they tell evoke so many emotions: pride, sadness, wonder, dread, disgust, awe, and even hope. Dr. Coates is also the professor who told me I was a horrible writer. I took her comment as a challenge, and she helped turn my writing around, at least when it came to academic writing.

Throughout the year, I think of my grandpa and the many others who have served. On Remembrance Day, in particular, my thoughts, questions, and emotions sit closer to the surface.

So how do I observe Remembrance Day? I often find myself reviewing my grandfather’s Attestation and Discharge papers, I enjoy listening to the commemorative programs on the kitchen radio, and I often call my mom to ask questions about my grandpa or simply to hear stories and answers I’ve already heard. This Remembrance Day, I am writing a post about my brave grandfather and my late professor, Dr. Coates.

Wherever they are, I hope they know that I have listened, I will never forget, and I will be forever grateful.

Written by Mooréa G.