As a young Tribune paper carrier in Gimli, the 6th of June 1944 was a day long in coming. The war had dragged on for 5 years. My generation was convinced we could single handedly destroy the enemy given half a chance. In reality, many of our service personnel in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Merchant Marine had suffered many casualties. Now to an idealistic pre-teen this was our turn. There was no doubt in my mind that we would, “with right on our side” finish off the Nazi’s in short order. Of course as all the world knows, it would not end until May 8th 1945. On re-reading Ken Bell’s excellent book. “The Way We Were”, I am re-reminded again of the big part Canadians played in guaranteeing the freedoms we enjoy today. The sacrifices our forces made was huge. Had we not had superior personnel led by fine Officers the casualty lists would have been much longer.

Most of Canada’s Officer Corp reverted to civilian life after the war. Many starting new careers or picking up where the old ones were interrupted. A small number stayed on in the permanent force. One was Major General E.L.M. Burns. I had the opportunity to meet him when I was a 19-year-old Driver Salesman for Quinton’s Cleaners. He was a customer on my route in 1956 in the Armstrong Point area of Winnipeg. I immediately recognized him, and as true to his pictures in the papers he rarely smiled and was very serious minded.

With curiosity born of impatience I engaged him in conversation. He was a remarkable gentleman in his straight forward answers. He revisited several areas of the war, pointing out the contributions that the Canadian Military made in winning that awful war. I was fortunate to visit with him again. He patiently answered my questions. Then on my next call he was gone. He had been promoted to head the United Nations Peace Keeping Force following the 1956 Suez War.

We owe a great debt to those Veterans who are becoming less and less as time marches on. In our everyday rush for self, we tend to forget the sacrifices made by our fellow Canadians and others who gave us our wonderful way of life.

Ken Kristjanson

June 2013