It’s a common theme among the families of combat veterans that they never like to discuss what happened during their time at war. Who could blame them? They endured hardship, suffering, loss and trauma the rest of us could only guess at.
For the generations that have followed the “greatest generation,” war has become something more abstract.
They don’t know what it is to get weekly news about which of their classmates and neighbours became casualties. Too much of what they know is thanks to Hollywood’s skewed interpretations of war.
But some veterans do choose to talk, and when they do, we should listen.
We bring you two harrowing stories this week about Second World War veterans: North Vancouver’s Virgil Billesberger, who has just been bestowed France’s highest military honour for his role in liberating the country from fascists in 1944. And we pieced together what we could of the story of Pilot Officer Arnold Ridgway, who was killed in a fighter plane crash in Lynn Creek 75 years ago. There is a campaign on now to build a new memorial for him.
We’re grateful to both.
It’s no secret that there are fewer and fewer Second World War veterans here to attend Remembrance Day ceremonies. That makes it all the more important for the rest of us to show up.
There are services happening at Victoria Park, Lynn Valley’s Veterans Plaza, Cates Park/Whey-ah-Wichen in Deep Cove and at Memorial Park in West Vancouver.
Of course, we encourage you to go. And become a part of the final chapter of our veterans’ stories – the one where we leave them assured they will be honoured and remembered forever.
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