Remembrance Day is perhaps the most serious occasion of the year. It is at this time that we give thanks and recognize those who sacrificed their lives so that generations in the future may have better ones. We wear our poppies and give our respects, but nobody remembers to mention those who are sitting at home, wondering if their brave soldiers will ever come back.
This past Tuesday, November 5, Henry Wise Wood High School hosted our second annual Veteran’s Tea. Around 50 to 60 veterans and a couple of widows of war heroes showed up to our library courtyard where we provided several home baked goods and delicious tea served in beautiful China cups. I had the chance to sit down with one of the widows and listen to her adorable love story.
To the left is a picture I took of a portion of the setup she had brought in. The portrait was painted in Japan during his departure from Korea. The box showcases several of the medals that he was awarded. The rest of the display contained souvenirs and the exact sewing kit that all of the soldiers had to carry with them to maintain their uniforms.
The man she lost was not to war, but to prostate cancer in 2000. Arthur Leroy LaMontagne had served in the Korean War for two years before returning home. While on leave, his sister had sent him over a picture of her and two friends. Being away for so long and no girls to be found, this picture got passed around quite a lot. He surprised his family by returning from the war; just showing up in the kitchen one day. Mrs. LaMontagne happened to be sleeping over at their house since she and Arthur’s sister were best friends. It was fate that day when the girl in the picture showed up in the kitchen.
Although he did not go back and serve on the front lines, the war still haunted him. Every night he would have nightmares of their cries and the people that he had to kill. For a soldier, it is hard to hear that there is a difference between “killing” and “murder”. It was not until that they took a trip back to Korea, visiting the graves of the fallen and receiving gifts from those who were thankful for his service that Arthur LaMontagne could finally find peace within himself.
Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war. – Otto von Bismarck
On this Remembrance Day, please remember to wear a poppy and show your respect during a minute of silence. Although there are some of us who feel no significance to the occasion, there are those that can never forget what they have lost.
Lest we forget.