Love stories and sacrifice

By Sara O’Dacre

odac0004@algonquincollege.com

For Annie Fitzgerald, Remembrance Day brings back the beloved memory of when her grandparents first met during the Second World War.

“My grandad fought in a World War Two British army posted in Malaysia and was a sergeant warrant officer of a Guerka troop,” said Fitzgerald, a second-year marketing student.

“He was British, but was born in India,” she added.

Fitzgerald is among many students and teachers who are deeply impacted by Remembrance Day. To them, this day means more than just wearing a red poppy and standing for a moment of silence. Some of these people have war veterans in the family or great friends and aquaintances with stories to tell, filled with passion, pride, and history.

“My grandmother's Dutch family was extremely weathly but got invaded during the war, lost everything and was sent to a concentration camp,” Fitzgerald said.

She explained that her grandfather was sent on a mission to free prisoners from this specific camp.

“He was the one who saved my grandmother from the camp and they fell in love, and the rest is history,” Fitzgerald said.

“So really, if it hadn't have been for that horrible war, I probably wouldn't be here,” she added with a smile.

Cody Wilson, a graduate of police foundations, can also proudly say he had family fighting in the Second World War.

“My great uncle fought in the Second World War. He was a pilot, and he survived,” said Wilson.

Although Wilson said his great uncle died when Wilson was only 10 or 11 years old, he holds honourable memories of his relative from seeing him at family functions. Wilson believes it’s vital to remember those who fought for Canada.

“Remembrance Day is a day to remember those who fought in the war. It’s more touching now because there are a lot less people [survivors]. It means more now than it used to,” said Wilson.

Mike Ballard, a professor in the geographic information systems course, not only had family who was involved in war, but great friends as well.

“My mother was a child in the Second World War. She experienced bombing raids; she was maybe six-years-old,” said Ballard.

Ballard said he doesn’t have any other connections with veterans from the Second World War, but recently has experienced deep connections with geomatics technicians serving in Afghanistan. Some of his students will be sent there in a couple of years, and some have been there already.

“There is a constant awareness among military students about the casualties in Afghanistan. To them, it’s not just passing news, but people they know,” said Ballard. Remembrance Day is something that he will always be involved in.