Very nice post, Michael. I'm grateful for the Canadians' past service, and for their current service in Afghanistan.
I've heard US military people say that today's Canadian servicemen and women are still extremely capable and professional, but they've been underfunded and poorly equipped by their politicians. I hope that Harper is moving to improve this situation.
How many people here remember the movie "The Great Escape?" I'm proud to say that I am related (probably 4th or 5th removed or so) to someone who was actually a part of the real thing. His name was Darrell Emerson Larlee and you can read his story here. I was immensely pleased when his grandson gave me permission to publish his story on my genealogy site.
John Gillespie Magee was actually an American who had joined the service of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) long before the USA got into the war in Europe just one day after his death in a training accident at an airfield in England. His poem, High Flight, has risen to all but legendary and ubiquitous usage by aviators and even astronauts of all countries. May the memory of his service to the fight for freedom never be forgotten.
My ex was in the Air Force when we married in January of 1976. We were stationed in New Mexico, and for the first four years of our marriage, the television stations all signed off at night with a video of air flight (random scenes of the land, clouds, etc.) and the poem High Flight was recited. I can still hear the narrator's voice, mellow and deep. The poem brought goose bumps every time - something to do with patriotism combined with homesickness (and all those studly young men in uniforms everywhere didn't hurt, either).
Thanks for printing the full poem. Brought me a smile.
For all those younger readers, yes, many of the television stations signed off each night - none of that 24 hour stuff.
Linda, I remember one of the television stations in Sacramento, California, KCRA, used to sign off on Sunday nights with a rendering of High Flight. Reading the poem brought back those pictures. I'll bet it was the same one with the deep voice.
Now you both know something about the young American who invoked those great words, and now lives forever in the memory not only of Canada, whose flag he served, but the whole english-speaking world.
Beautiful poem. I thank Canada for their service and all that served. The memories of the televsion going off at night and that poem being read is etched in my mind.
Stace: That's very true. Canada has a wonderful military just waiting tp be funded. While the CDN Forces don't get called on too much to be a defense force, they are amazing when it comes to peacekeeping missions and are very much respected in that regard. Unfortunately, they've been reduced to rubble because of the funding situation.
They are very much a respectable group, and deserve a healthy budget. I hope, as you, that they get the funding they deserve to be the proud folks they can be.
Canada is often vaunted as being a country that has a budget surplus to be envious of. But the fact remains that they've cut so much from the military and other things that that's why. They should be thankful that they have a powerful country to the South. It's a large reason they've been able to skeletonize our military - once a great group of people.
Vimy Ridge.
Dieppe.
Juno Beach.
The Dutch still remember the Canadians very fondly.
And my grandfather was R.F.C. during the Great War. He was Canadian and later immigrated to the U.S.
I've heard US military people say that today's Canadian servicemen and women are still extremely capable and professional, but they've been underfunded and poorly equipped by their politicians. I hope that Harper is moving to improve this situation.
Now that is valor.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Thanks for printing the full poem. Brought me a smile.
For all those younger readers, yes, many of the television stations signed off each night - none of that 24 hour stuff.
Linda
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
They are very much a respectable group, and deserve a healthy budget. I hope, as you, that they get the funding they deserve to be the proud folks they can be.
Canada is often vaunted as being a country that has a budget surplus to be envious of. But the fact remains that they've cut so much from the military and other things that that's why. They should be thankful that they have a powerful country to the South. It's a large reason they've been able to skeletonize our military - once a great group of people.
The memory of it still brings tears to my eyes. I believe "High Flight" is one of the most beautiful poems in the English language.
The Air Force used it as a recruiting commercial in the late 60s and early 70s.
Any ideas how one might obtain a copy of the video?