Lest We Forget...We Will Remember

I will remember and will pay my respects tomorrow at the Remembrance Day Service. I will remember my dad, Riley Erwin Prieston; my uncles, William Albert Prieston & Felix Alfred Prieston and great uncle, Edwin David Eggie. Riley, William and Edwin were all Winnipeg Grenadiers who were sent to the Battle of Hong Kong, a fight that Churchill knew they could not win. They had World War 1 weapons, very little training and were very out numbered. Uncle William died shortly after landing and my dad and Uncle Ed were taken prisoners of war. They spent 4 1/2 years in prison camp where they were beaten, starved, worked like slaves and they considered those that died the lucky ones. Both Daddy & Uncle Ed returned from Hong Kong but just 10 years later my Dad was killed in a tractor accident on our farm. I was 5 years old. My Mom was 25 yrs old with six kids under 8 years old and I was born with a heart condition and required trips to Winnipeg Children's Hospital every three months until I was able to get surgery 12 yrs later. Mom had $1.36 and an unpaid for farm. We survived by her courage and desire to support her family.
My Uncle Ed lived a tortured life and died in his later years of cancer.
Uncle Felix was killed on D-Day in France, he was a member of the Regina Rifles. It is sad that I never got to meet these two uncles but am impressed by their bravery as alot of these young men lied about their age to join the army in those days.
I will remember all the brave men and women from the past wars and most certainly remember and pray for the young men and women who are presently in Afghanistan and other parts of the world doing peace keeping work.
Through the Chosen Soldier program and the Pocket Posties campaign I have been in touch with many soldiers who are presently serving and I know how much they appreciate thoughts and notes from home. I am not a supporter of war but I do SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!
Thank you to each and every one of them for the job you are doing and giving hope to those who have so little. I am so proud of you all.

Check out the web pages on the right hand side for Chosen Soldier and Pocket Posties, both are awesome support for our troops.

Also if you have a chance to read "The Many Faces of War" by Dorothy Krusky, it is well worth the read and you will also be supporting the Wounded Warrior program.