Frank Slade of St. Anthony, served with the Royal Canadian Regiment in the Korean War, followed by two years in Germany. This past Memorial Day he was awarded a Korean War Service Medal in conjunction with 60 years since the end of the war. I was privileged to be in attendance for his receipt of such an honour.
I have had the pleasure to meet Veteran Frank Slade on a few occasions. I remember my first visit to his home during my campaign in Election 2011. For those of you have been, one could spend hours chatting and viewing the displays. His home is like a museum, with Mr. Slade presenting the oral history. I spent quite the time during my first visit, but looked forward to others, as I enjoy learning more about people and their life experiences.
Frank Slade also wrote the following poem in honour of Remembrance Day:
The reason I wear a poppy on this 11 November day, To remember all those brave men who lie in graves so far away. I remember some, but there are many. Especially on this day I remember, my buddy Donald Penney. Cruel men like Hitler and Hussein is the reason men die in far away land. I don’t understand, I cannot say, why they cause men to die this way. In a war you cannot run, you cannot hide, you have to stand and fight the opposite side. On land, in air, or sea, those men died for you and me Some were lucky, some were not, they had to fight if they agreed or not. War is a terrible thing we know so many innocent had to go. To me war isn’t very nice, too many have to pay the price. To bad wars have to be, to take someone dear from you and me. I’m proud to wear a poppy remembering those men. I hope and pray All wars will end. – F. SladeI encourage everyone to talk with our veterans who are still with us. But also take time on Remembrance Day to reflect upon those that gave freely their tomorrows, so we all could enjoy our today. Lest We Forget.
Live Rural NL – Christopher Mitchelmore, MHA The Straits-White Bay North
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