Wait...

"Daddy wait for me!"

My little hand outstretched,

Trying my best to follow,

But your legs were so long,

The march so steady,

In time with the rolling drums,

When you marched towards the sea,

Off to fight a war you hoped I'd never see,

That day I shouted, 'daddy wait for me!'

-0-

Now I hear the drums rum-tumming,

I hear the bells tolling,

Same as they did before,

Though I have to wonder,

Question as my father did before,

If they toll for me.

Beneath my booted feet,

The pavement stretches towards the sole same sea,

At which I once shouted, 'daddy wait for me!'

Heavy on my shoulder,

My rifle proudly stands,

Among the rank and file,

Between the crowds that smile,

At our courage to protect,

The little voice that calls, 'daddy wait for me!'

I hear your words my son,

But I cannot answer,

Save a laugh and cock-sure grin,

As your mother takes your hand,

And pulls you away from me.

I cannot hold you close,

Cannot wipe away your tears,

Because I have to cross that sea,

March away to war,

The likes of which I hope you'll never see.

When I come home,

I'll have made a world that's better than could be,

A world in which a child never has to shout,

"Daddy wait for me!"

-0-

Yesterday was Remembrance Day in Canada. 11/11/1918 the guns of the Great War fell silent, and we mark it each year with a minute of silence to remember the soldiers who never came home; and remember too, the ones who did, the ones who serve today, and the ones who'll serve tomorrow.

The photo that inspired for this piece is titled "Daddy wait for me." It was taken by Claude P. Dettloff on 1 October, 1940 in New Westminster, British Columbia. While Dettloff was taking the photo, Warren "Whitey" Bernard ran away from his mother to his father, Private Jack Bernard. The picture received extensive exposure and was used in war-bond drives.

Jack Bernard did survive the war. Tens of thousands of Canadians didn't. Millions of people around the world didn't. And we remember them.

Lest we forget.