Gifts and Gripes - Don Russell

(Page 9)

The Absence of Respect
At 7:36pm 08 May 1942 the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, The U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2) slid to her final resting place on the floor of the Coral Sea in the South Pacific. She was a victim of one of the fiercest air/sea battles of World War 2. Serving aboard that valiant vessel was a 19 year seaman 2nd class who had a deep and abiding love for the navy, the sea and his country. His name was Everett B. Russell……he was my big brother. During World War I our dad served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. New York. In the latter phase of the Vietnam War my nephew served as the skipper of the U.S.S. Ohio, a nuclear submarine (boomer). I am writing this simply to give you some idea why I'm so passionate about and grateful to our veterans and how much is owed to them.
On the 9th of October, this year, I had the honour of being present at a remembrance ceremony for a World War 2 spitfire and hurricane pilot. I was accorded the honour of bearing the royal Canadian Air Force flag as a Sopwith Camel performed a fly-by in a salute to our departed comrade. Comrade, you ask? Yes….a comrade, not a pal or a drinking buddy, just a comrade…in the Royal Canadian Legion. Now, from all I've recently been told, the R.C.L. is just a place for the old vets to go, get drunk and swap war stories. It's also been stated that the proposed new Legion will be nothing more than “another drinking hole”. If this doesn't wreak of sacrilege I fail to understand what does! Many of our veterans suffered unspeakable horrors; many have sustained severe injuries which they will have to endure for the remainder of their lives. Many men and women sacrificed their lives so we could sleep under a blanket of freedom and democracy which they provided for us.
How sad it is that the only time we hear words of praise or gratitude is on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. How seldom it is that the Royal Canadian Legion is acknowledged for it's contribution to our community, our children, our seniors and our country! I could go on and on, ad infinitum, lauding the praises of our Legion and it's veterans. How fortunate we are to have their ilk in our community!
My wife and I have lived in this community for seventeen years. This is not the first time we've been privy to disparaging rhetoric about the Royal Canadian Legion, it's veterans and it's mission, but it is the first time I've felt duty/honour bound and indignant enough to respond. To those who uttered these churlish, ungrateful remarks I say to you, “Shame, shame and shame again for your lack of respect for the very people who provide you with the freedom and security you enjoy every day of your lives.” Perhaps if, in the future, you feel inclined to voice disparaging remarks about the Royal Canadian Legion and our veterans, would it not be more appropriate to simply think to yourself, “THANK YOU”?

Don G. Russell CD
Warrant Officer (retd.)
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry


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