Growing up November 11th was more than just Remembrance Day.It was a day to remind us of a family that would have never been if Grandpa Hicken wasn't protected in the war. When I was younger I looked forward to Grandpa speaking in school about the war...Now I have an 8 year old that is begging me to take him to Canada for Remembrance Day just to hear Great Grandpa speak. Grandpa has this ability to connect with all generations. I am so lucky that my kids know and love him. We took him to our little airport to see the bombers in the spring and I got to sit back and watch Payson entranced by Grandpa's war stories.
I had a very special phone conversation with my Uncle Patrick over a year ago while collecting information for Grandpa's book of remembrance. Over the phone, a very emotional Pat said, "Not too long ago, Dad was listening to my problems. He just said to me in his usual calm voice, 'Well, I never really had any problems in my life, so I just don't know what that would be like.' Here's my Dad, who is a War Hero and lived through a lot and he doesn't think he had any problems. He always looks at the good in everything, and I guess that's why he never felt like he had any problems. I have a zillion good stories about my Dad and couldn't think of even one bad thing. He thinks nothing is a problem, there is always a solution and just continues on and does his very best. I decided if a War Hero could do that, than I guess I can too." Us too, Pat. And that's what Remembrance Day means to me.
Don't forget to have a moment of silence with the Canadians on the 11th minute of the 11th hour, the 11th day of the 11th month!
