Lynda Monahan
I facilitate a Writing for Your Life group with the Prince Albert branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
The pieces attached are written by members of the group around the theme of Remembrance Day.The Prince Albert Writing For Your Life group is one of several creative writing groups across the province initiated by Ted Dyck, editor of CMHA Transition magazine. The Prince Albert group has been meeting every second Wednesday for seven years at The Nest, the local CMHA drop in center. We write about all kinds of things – about something that happened recently, about the seasons, about life and love and memories and so much more.
The WFYL group continues to be strong and generally well attended. We have enthusiastic writers who are always pleased to share their poems and stories.
— Linda Monahan
Remembrance Day Service
By Sherry Favreau
Remembrance Day meant a lot to me this year because Nalanii, my granddaughter, sang in the choir for the school’s Remembrance Day service. It means a lot to me every year, but especially this year. There were a lot of people at the service that lost loved ones. The speakers at the service touched my hear.
I was very proud of all the people that served and all those who lost their lives. I felt proud of my country and so thankful to live in Canada. It was an amazing service. All the children did a wonderful job, honoring all those that served .My uncle served in the war, he was in charge of radio communications. He was away for five years and when he returned he had a five year old daughter. He was a good man. He told us a lot of stories about being in the war. He has since passed on.
Remembering Uncle Alfred
By Holly Knife
I texted my daughter and wished her a Happy Remembrance Day and she said the same.
I told her I have a lot of respect and am thankful to the soldiers who fought for our freedom. She said everyone should be thankful.
Yes, it’s true. I had a great uncle who was a soldier. His name was Alfred Scott, my grandmother’s brother. I never got to hear any stories from him. He had also been in a house fire and survived, but he lost the majority of his fingers. His face and other parts of his body were burned, too. . He was always trying to move forward every day, to the best of his ability
My Uncle the Hero
By Ian McIntyre
My great Uncle Buck was not a soldier but he served his country in a different way. My great uncle worked in a factory that built weapons for war. The factory was in danger because a vault was about to blow.
My Uncle Buck saved a man’s life. Just when the vault was about to explode he pushed the man away from the vault. He sacrificed himself. He was exposed to pure radiation. When a man is exposed to radiation, it’s like getting cancer. You lose your hair, and puke all the time. As well, he was in great pain.
We used to go visit him at the Calgary hospital. I felt so sad to see my great uncle in such a frail state. Sometimes death is the easier thing. He suffered so much the last years of his life. He died a hero.
My Air Force Parents
By Debbie Cochrane
My parents were in the air force stationed at Gimli, Manitoba. They were married in 1954. I received my mom’s Bible with that date in it so I knew they were married six years before my sister was born.
We lived in a trailer at the air force base. I am proud of my parents for their service to our country, Canada. I think of them on Remembrance Day.
Remembrance Day
By Wendel Guedo
I forgot
For a few moments
Then the shock, the horror,
The grossness, the grotesque
All I ever wanted to do was forget
Not to live it all again
Forgive me
There is no victory
But forgiveness
I forgive my self
