Each Time a Maple Leaf Falls

  My sincere thanks to the very talented Greg Perry for giving me permission to include his heart-felt illustration above.

Stephen J. Fowler of Eganville, Ontario has penned a very poignant message that gives us all pause for thought.  

I thank him sincerely for permission to include his work on this emotional page.

Each Time A Mapl Leaf Falls

by Stephen J. Fowler

Each time a Maple Leaf falls, the dove of Peace sheds a tear.  Somewhere a family mourns the loss of a family member (a son, a brother, a cousin, a nephew, an uncle, a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a niece or an aunt).

Each time a Maple Leaf falls, Saint Peter summons another Veteran to make ready to greet a new friend.  Somewhere a Padre prepares a solemn service, a Piper practices his lament and a Unit learns that one of their own has fallen in the line of duty.

Each time a Maple Leaf falls, a  Commanding Officer prepares a letter of condolence to a family, a comrade reflects silently of the friend that is no more. A country adds a new name to the Book of Remembrance, and another Maple Leaf stands poised to step up ready to take the place of the one who has fallen.

Canadians are a peaceful people, who when needed, will do that which they always have done - fight and, if need be, die to preserve peace.  We are the great peacekeepers, asking for nothing, giving all to those who need our help, in truth asking only the support of this country.

Each time a Maple Leaf falls, a nation mourns the loss and realizes that they put this Maple Leaf in harm's way, in the faith and belief that we can help, that our fellow human beings are worth fighting and perhaps dying for, secure in the nowledge that this Maple Leaf that fell believed in values of compassion, freedom, honour, valour and duty, to stand rady to defend those less fortunate who are oppressed, disadvantaged and without help.

Many Maple Leafs have fallen on foreign shores, in South Africa, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Japan, Korea, Bosnia, Afghanistan and on many other parts of this earth, they lay buried away and at home.  Some in known graves clearly marked, others in places known only unto God himself, where they lay, a part of Canada shall always remain.

So the next time a Maple Leaf falls, say a prayer of thanksgiving, of hope and let them know you care and appreciate the sacrifice, don't just turn away.  Do not let it be in vain, don't let them be forgotten ever.  Say a prayer for their families and their comrades, for those alive and those who have died, for those who have served, are serving and will serve, they do this unselfishly, asking for nothing but support from the country that they loved, lived and - for some - died for.

For we Canadians are who we are because of them - they give us a country where we can speak freely, to choose to be different, to even disagree, this great mixture of cultures can lead by example of support.  Do not acknowledge them just on Remembrance Day, but every day.

For without them, just think in horror where and what we might be if  no Maple Leaf had stood firmly, not done their job, not fallen.  Would we even be here to read or hear these words at all and would Canada exist as Canada in this world that loves to war?

May God truly bless them all!

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