A life well lived

By Patricia Dawson

Remembrance Day is a time to pause, reflect and remember the brave men and women who made sacrifices for our freedom. For me, it is also a time to remember someone very special in my life, my uncle, Tommy Felix, a courageous veteran of the Second World War.

My uncle was just 22 years old when he left Canada to serve overseas. Born and raised in Fallsbrook, New Brunswick, a small French community, just outside Campbellton, Uncle Tommy served as a gunner during the war. His service took him to the United Kingdom, the Central Mediterranean and Europe. For his service and dedication, he received the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France-Germany Star and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.

I often think about what it must have been like for a young man to leave his family and everything familiar behind, never knowing what the next day might bring. Back home, my grandmother did what so many mothers did during wartime. She sent packages, filled with homemade treats and cookies, to her son, overseas. I can only imagine how much those packages meant to him. Beyond the familiar taste of home, they carried a mother's love, and comfort and reassurance during some of the most difficult and uncertain days of his life.

After the war, Uncle Tommy returned home to his family. My father shared a heartwarming story about his older brother's return. Uncle Tommy would bring chocolate bars home for his brothers. It was a simple gesture, but one which speaks volumes about the kind of person he was. Even after experiencing the hardships of war, he remembered the little things which brought happiness to those he loved.

Mr. Felix was an active member of the Legion, in Toronto, and worked for Canadian National Railway for 37 years. During part of his working life, he lived in New Brunswick, with my father and their father, in their small family home. Later, he moved to Toronto, where he spent the remainder of his life sharing a home with his daughter.

I have fond memories of visiting my uncle. We always enjoyed sitting together and talking. One thing I will never forget is when he brought out his military medals to show me. You could see how proud he was of them. Each medal represented a part of his life and service, and I felt privileged to have the opportunity to see them and hear about his experiences.

As I reflect on my uncle's life, I realize how much those personal stories mean. History books can tell us about battles, military campaigns, and the sacrifices made during wartime, but family memories remind us of the people behind those stories. They remind us of the young men who left home, the mothers who waited and sent packages, the brothers who welcomed them back, and the families who carry their memories forward.

Uncle Tommy was a wonderful older brother to my father, a cherished son, a caring uncle and a courageous veteran. I will never forget him, his kindness, our conversations or the pride he took in his medals.

This Remembrance Day, I will remember Uncle Tommy, not only for his service during the Second World War, but also for the life he lived and the love he shared with his family.

I am forever grateful for his courage, his sacrifices and the freedom we enjoy today. Lest we forget.