I RETIRED FROM THE CDN FORCES AFTER THIRTY-TWO YEARS,OF SERVICE TO MY COUNTRY... I WAS THAT WHICH OTHERS DID NOT WANT TO BE... I WENT WHERE OTHERS FEARED TO GO... AND DID WHAT OTHERS FAILED TO DO... I ASK NOTHING FROM THOSE WHO GAVE NOTHING,.. AND RELUCTANTLY ACCEPTED THE THOUGHT OF ETERNAL LONELINESS,.. SHOULD I FAIL... I HAVE SEEN THE FACE OF TERROR,.. FELT THE COLD STING OF FEAR,.. AND ENJOYED THE SWEET TASTE OF A MOMENT OF LOVE... I HAVE CRIED,.. PAINED AND HOPED,.. BUT MOST OF ALL I HAVE LIVED TIMES OTHERS WOULD SAY WERE BEST FORGOTTEN... AT LEAST SOMEDAY I WILL BE ABLE TO SAY I WAS PROUD OF WHAT I WAS...AN AIRBORNE SOLDIER AND I ASK LET'S NEVER FORGET TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN THAT THE FREEDOM WE EXPERIENCE IN THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY OF OURS IS DUE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THIS FREEDOM. SOME AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THIS FREEDOM. SOME MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WITH THERE LIFES.I AM MARRIED TO A BEAUTIFUL LADY,GAIL (OKANAGAN LADY) WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR FIFTY-ONE YEARS, WE HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AND A SON,AND TWO LOVELY GRANDDAUGHTERS, A GRANDSON AND A GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER