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Remembrance Day is close to my heart

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Remembrance Day has always been something close to my heart, like so many other people.

On Remembrance Day I find myself thinking and praying softly, quietly to myself, for peace, freedom that we enjoy and to give comfort to all those who fought and sacrificed so much.

I pray for forgiveness, and strength, for those who are ill that they be well soon and for those who are about to cross over the great divide. I also pray for those who are well that they see the light of our creator.

I also remember my uncles who had gone overseas and miraculously all four came back. Dave Gerow, Albert Gerow, Ken Gerow and Hector Gerow.

One warm sunny afternoon I had the privilege of sitting with Ken and Hector over coffee. Hector in his quiet voice relayed the following story to us.

During the Second World War, Hector was a scout for his regiment or troop. He at that time was stationed somewhere in Denmark.

He relayed that one day as he was scouting ahead, he got lost and separated from his troop. So as the day wore on he drove his motorcycle down this road and that road looking for his troop.

Evening was now coming on and it was starting to get dark. In the distance Hector saw some military people outside this hayfield and barn. At first he did not know whether the military men were allies or if they were the enemy.

So he crept closer and closer until he was able to make out that they were not the enemy but allies. Now that it had turned dark out, in order that they didn’t shoot him, thinking he was the enemy sneaking up to them, he hollered out and a Staff Sergeant replied to him to come in.

Hector explained his situation to the S/Sgt. and that he just needed a place to sleep and he would take up looking again for his troop in the morning. The S/Sgt replied no problem and told Hector the boys were in the barn sleeping and to go ahead on in. So Hector went in looked around in the darkness and found an open space of hay between the men, laid down and went fast asleep.

The next morning Hector got up and figured that he better get going and look for his missing troop. He put his gloves on, stepped over his motorcycle to give it a kickstart, when someone tapped him on the shoulder. Hector turned around to see who it was, looked up and saw it was “Big Dave” (Dave Gerow)

Dave told Hector you’re not going before you have breakfast, are you? Hector was so surprised to see Dave, as neither Dave nor Hector knew where one another was and it was only by chance that they met. After chatting and catching up with one another, Hector got on his motorcycle, left and eventually found his troop.

All those Gerow boys are gone now, living out the rest of their days, may they continue to Rest In Peace and always be remembered. Love you lots.

Albert Gerow, nephew