Pace on Earth

So Far Away

I hate to end a good week on a real down note but I can't help but relay this story. My good friend Brent Rowney was involved in a school project to interview Veterans about their experience in war. One of his students interviewed a Korean War veteran and their video won the grand prize. Unfortunately for that veteran the grand prize, a trip to Holland for Liberation Day ceremonies, stipulated that the winner must be a veteran of World War 2. So the legion was contacted and they located a veteran that was interested in making the trip and the Gleaner than ran a great piece on Ken McAllister. Ken had served in Holland before moving home and settling in Fredericton and raising a family. His wife passed 20 years ago and since then he rekindled a long-dormant romance with a war-time Dutch sweetheart. He has hosted her in Canada a few times but had never been to visit her in the Netherlands until this opportunity presented itself.

I woke yesterday to the news on the radio that Mr. McAllister had passed suddenly just 5 days before he was supposed to leave. Eerily he was quoted with this line in the first story - "I'm just hoping my health holds up because I'm looking forward to having a good time and I'm not getting any younger." That just kills me.

I wish the best to his family and to Jenny.

Pace out.

Labels: Flashback Friday

posted by Vitamin S @ 6:08 p.m.