Evan's Blog-The Battle of Vimy Ridge, and the importance of memorialization

Today, April 9, 2012 marks the 95th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. This battle fought between April 9-12, 1917  at Vimy,  France between the 4 Divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and elements of the German 6th Army, became a Canadian symbol of sacrifice and valour.It is said that the battle of Vimy Ridge became a defining of our young nation, and stories of courage, leadership and sacrifice still are remembered by many Canadians even today. ( for you military history buffs out there, the battle was also the first time that all the Canadian Divisions fought together, under Canadian command (not British)- and the victory was considered to be the result of technical and tactical innovation, intensive artillery support, and extensive and detailed training) At Vimy, there sits an impressive and inspiring memorial to the battle. This memorial, built in 1936 on landed donated by the grateful people of France in perpetuity ( the land and area is in fact a Canadian National Park) honours the over 4000 Canadian soldiers killed in the battle, and also has inscribed on it, the names of the 11, 285 Canadian soldiers killed during the First World War who have no known graves ( over 66,000 Canadian soldiers died during this conflict) The park also contains cemeteries for fallen Canadian and other allied soldiers.

I have had the opportunity and honour on a few occasions to go to the memorial and spend  time in reflection and remembrance. The sheer size of the memorial and the countless names of those who died is both overwhelming and humbling. It is an emotional experience, and I left  that sacred space
feeling pride and gratitude. It is I'm sure the same as one would feel visiting Pearl Harbour, Arlington, the Vietnam Memorial, and countless other memorials which are found across the Europe and elsewhere. These memorials allow us to reflect and remember, they allow us honour lives. They tell the story of lives lived.
As a funeral director, my role in society is to help people celebrate the lives of their loved ones, to give dignity and honour to lives lived and to help loved ones tell the story of who they were, and what they meant to their family and friends. I do this by helping people create the story they want to tell, and provide them with the means to do this. It is an honour to do, and each family we serve, we do so with gratitude for having been giving this opportunity.

As I reflect on the importance of the day in our nations history, I see the Vimy Ridge Monument as a place where the stories of those who died are in essence told, as a place where those who never received a funeral service are honoured, and most importantly a place that showed that these fathers,sons, and brothers lived and where part of our world. It seems the least we can do. This is why to memorialize our loved ones is so important and meaningful- to give recognition that they were with us and to tell their story. To give them a place of permanence and honour. The manner this is done may vary, and in today's society we see less of this, but the importance cannot be diminished. Every life is a story, we owe to our loved ones to tell it. Just my thoughts...

It's not about me!

Ive been away from my blog for awhile. No specific reason I can provide, I just didn't write! I've been struggling with what to say, what direction to go. But I decided what I want to provide in my Blog. I know that most funeral homes will post blogs that provide pertinent and helpful information on a variety of topic that help the families we serve. I think this is important, I think the more information and resources we can provide to help and guide those in need is part of what we do, and who we are. We will continue to do this, and hopefully it will help those we are honoured to serve. What I want to do in the upcoming blogs is promote the many charities, organisation's, and groups which help those of our community in need. These needs are numerous and include the grieving, homeless, hungry, working poor, and many others in our community. Many of these groups work tirelessly and quietly in helping those less fortunate. They do so humbly and without the need for recognition and award. I hope that this blog will draw some attention to their work and inspire others to help those in need. I feel its the least I can do.
Just my thoughts...

Evan's Blog.. " Helping those in need at Christmas"

 Wow!.. Time seems to fly, it seems like yesterday that that September had arrived, the kids were back in school, and the world had returned to"normal" after the summer months. As the Christmas and Holiday Season return for another year ( it comes so quickly, and seems to be over even quicker!), we sometimes get so caught up in our plans and what we still need to do, that we forget those who need help. With the onset of the colder weather ( for those of us who live in winter climates), there are many within our communities that struggle at this time , and truth be told, throughout the year. In my city of Calgary, which has been blessed with an abundance of wealth and a positive economy, there are still many who feel the cold and hard grip of poverty, homelessness, addictions, and loneliness. I'm sure this is the case everywhere, it just seems  during the festive season, these issues are more evident. We are fortunate in Calgary to have a great program to help alleviate some of this suffering not only at this time, but year round. The Calgary Herald Christmas Fund, which is run by the Calgary Herald ( our main daily), takes these problems head on by raising awareness around critical social issues including hunger, homelessness, addiction, abuse and violence. The Fund, which started in 1991 has so far raised over 14.2 million dollars all donated by its readership. All the administration costs are absorbed by the paper, so that 100% of donations can go to the recipient agencies. This year those agencies dedicated to helping other include; Brown Bagging For Kids, The Calgary Interfaith Food Bank, Calgary Urban project Society, Fresh Start Recovery Program, Inn From The Cold, McMan Youth Services, Neighbor Link of Calgary, WYCA Sheriff King House , The Alex, Calgary Drop In and Rehab Centre, Calgary Seniors Resource Centre, and the Recovery Acres Society. All of these agencies are dedicated to helping those in need within our community. Our firm is please to be a participant in the Herald Christmas Fund, as we have for many years. We encourage you , wherever you may be, to support those agencies in your community that help at this special time of the year, and throughout the year. Together, we can make a difference, and if more people can enjoy the Christmas and Holiday season , we will all be better for it.  Just my thoughts....

Evan's Blog " Why I'm growin a stache... Movember Madness!"

I have to admit, I think I'm pretty cool with my two week old fumanchu (sort of) stache. Nobody else seems to think so, my family think I'm a bit strange, and my kids have been making fun of me on a daily basis. Even my staff and friends have been taking shots at me over the last couple of weeks. I'm holding up pretty well so far, we will see who is laughing at the end of November! I'm supporting MOVEMBER this year, Movember is in support of Prostate Cancer Research , and basically one grows a stache, becomes a " MOBRO" and raises money through donations to support research. In 2011, over 25,000 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer ( 4100 will die), it is estimated that 1 in 7 men will be affected by prostate cancer in their lifetime, and it is the most common type of cancer for men, also more men in their 40's are been diagnosed. I'm certain that these numbers are equatable to men in the United States as well. The good news is that 90 percent of the prostate cancer cases can be cured if detected early. The bad news is that there are no symptoms in the early stages.  In both my personal and professional life I have been affected by prostate cancer. I have seen what it can do to men, to families, and to myself. That's why this unique fund raising idea, and the donations it garners, are important to me, and to so many others. Cancer sucks, and the more we can do to stop it and cure it  are positive moves. There are so many other fundraising cancer events, all are great and serve an important and lifesaving function for many. We need to keep supporting these events, and each other! Guys over 40, get checked, girls, make them do it! Guys, think of your families, your friends and yourselves. If you are so inclined, grow a stache ( the good thing about MOVEMBER is that you only have to keep the
 stache from November 1 to November 30) Although, I may keep mine...... just my thoughts.

 If you need a good laugh, my Movember space can be found at  http://mobro.co/evanjstrong   

Evan's Blog " Why We Remember"

As I watched the November 11 ceremonies from the National War  Memorial in Ottawa this morning, I was touched ( as I am every year) by the amount of veterans that participate in the march past. Each year the numbers of these heroes from World War Two diminish as age and illness takes its toll. We now have a new breed of veterans, those who served in Iraq, Afganistan, and other parts of the world since the  Korea Conflict. What strikes me is that these men and women believed in something more important than themselves. They served their country because they believed in something, they believed in freedom, the right to live a life in peace and harmony, where all have opportunity. Many died for this in places that we know and revere, Vimy Ridge, the Somme, Holland, Arnem, Belgium, Pearl Harbour, Iwa Jima, the beaches of Normandy, the list goes on. Countless more were wounded and came home disabled both in mind and body. The men and women who served and fought came from Canada, the United States, Great Britain and many other countries that believed in freedom . We remember these heroes ( although they would never see themselves this way, they saw what they did as " doing their job", doing what needed to be done) because of their courage, honour and dedication to their country. They were and are a different breed, a special type of person, they remain this way in our minds and hearts, even decades after their service. We remember them and their effort with pride and a tear. We remember that they have allowed us the life we lead with their death, injuries and sacrifice. On this special day we pause to remember, to reflect, to honor. We do this with gratitude..... just my thought
      " Age shall not weary them, not the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning.. we will remember them.
    I remember with gratitude Private Bertie Strong, Canadian Infantry ( Alberta Regiment), Killed in Action, November 19, 1916 , and Robert Strong RCAF Pilot, Killed in Action June 7, 1942.

  

Evan's Blog... " Why I do what I do"

On Friday I was priviledged to help Connor's Vanderveen's family celebrate the life of their special son. Connor was born with Hunter's syndrome, a rare inherited genetic disease in which sugar molecules are not broken down properly in the body.Those with early onset Hunter's have a life expectancy of 10-20 years. Connor passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side at the Alberta Children's Hospital. At Connor's graveside service, his family gathered to say goodbye, not forever, but for now. As we gathered around his casket for prayers and his comittal to the earth, the family took markers and wrote messages, quotes from scriptures, and " Connorisms" on his simple pine casket. It was a sad time, but yet for those present , including myself, it was also an uplifting, powerful and meaning time. It was a time of reflection and love, of telling the story of Connor's all too brief life here with us, and the legacy and memories he leaves with his family and friends.   Connor's life told a story, and those at the cemetery that day reinforced this. The need to tell the story of our loved ones, to reflect and celebrate, to do something that shows they were here with us, and we loved them, and continue to do so. During the service his family sung the " Veggie Tales" theme ( one of Connor's favourite songs and show). It seemed fitting, it seemed right, it told a story. There are times that I'm not always sure that I'm helping families tell the story of their loved ones the best I can. Connor helped me recharge, and know why I do this, why it's important. Thanks Connor for helping me know that what I do makes a difference. Just my thoughts.....

My Blog " I'm running for...."

This past Sunday, my daughter participated in the CIBC Run For The Cure. For those not familiar with this run, it is in support of Breast Cancer research. The run is held across Canada, and I believe something similar happens in the Sates as well. Many of the participants, besides wearing a variety of pink things ( be it runners, hats, boas, whatever you could think of!), also had on their shirt who they were running for. Some were running for loved ones who were fighting cancer, some for those who beat it, and many were running for a loved one lost to breast cancer, or another type of cancer. What these runners were doing on that sunday, the thousands who came out on a cool but sunny morning, were celebrating lives. Those who participated here, indeed those who were part of the Run across the country or wherever, saw the importance of life and what it meant to them in an individual way. The names on the shirts represented and symbolized a struggle to beat this cancer, for some it was a celebration of a battle won, for others it was the recognition of a battle fought, but ultimately lost. What was overwhelming and touching was that all those participants saw the importance of recognizing a life-what it is now, or what is was. And by being there, joining with others who saw value in the same thing. It is great to see a community make the celebration of life and lives lived, an important action. One day this cancer and all cancers will be beat, and hopefully we will continue to feel the need to celebrate the lives of our loved ones and tell their stories. Just my thoughts...