11/11/2020
Today we pay tribute to all those who served and sacrificed for our country. I am especially reminded of my Great Grandfather today, who fought in World War One. When ordered by his commanding officer to show no mercy, my Great Grandfather sacrificed himself to save the lives of an innocent woman and her child. He suffered a gunshot wound to the hand for this decision and lived with permanent nerve damage for the rest of his life.
He was one of the few fortunate ones to have survived to tell his story. While I never had the privilege of meeting him, he was always an inspiration to me and lived on in the stories that were shared by my Parents and Grandparents.
Today I honour him by continuing to tell his story. I am proud to have been raised in a family with a legacy of choosing peace over war, love over hate, and compassion over indifference. My hope is that when faced with the same decision, we ALL choose love over hate - not just today, but every day.