On June 6, 1944, thousands of Canadian soldiers stormed Juno Beach on the northern coast of France in what would be the beginning of the liberation of Europe from Adolf Hitler’s merciless grip on the continent. Our soldiers were welcomed as liberators and, after the war, celebrated as heroes.
On May 30, the International Children’s Festival celebrated its final day after another successful week of plays, skits, outdoor performances and activities for kids from across the Capital region and many parts of Alberta. For the second year in a row, the Canadian Forces contributed to the event, this year building a massive bridge across the Sturgeon River to allow easier access to the festival site. They manned the bridge to ensure visitors crossed safely, answered questions about the military vehicles also on scene and, overall, did their part to help make the festival the success that it was. Sadly, according to reports from some festival-goers, these same soldiers were at times, insulted and derided to their faces by some adults attending the festival, due in part to the military’s ongoing mission in Afghanistan.
St. Albert is a military community due to our proximity to CFB Edmonton and many soldiers and their families live here. While this newspaper has openly questioned the direction and purpose of the war in Afghanistan, we have never questioned the ability and commitment of our troops. Regardless of the politics surrounding the war, we have always supported our soldiers and so has the rest of the community. In a month’s time a city flag, along with a Canadian one, will make its way to Afghanistan signed by residents of St. Albert to encourage our military forces and let them know that we are behind them.
Thousands of Canadian soldiers who came before, especially those who risked their lives on D-Day, signed up for the military and fought because of the ideals and fundamental freedoms we hold highest and still do today, freedoms like being able to assemble for a festival, and the freedom to speak our minds and share our thoughts. It is the latter that is most easily abused, and was during the festival. Against the backdrop of an event designed solely for the entertainment of our children, where our troops came out to help the community and — let’s not kid ourselves — perhaps plant the idea of a career in the Forces in the minds of some young ones, some few decided it was the appropriate venue to take our soldiers to task over something they cannot control. Instead of focusing on community involvement like the children’s festival, the Forces’ search and rescue efforts nationwide and responses to disasters like floods, their presence overseas, not just in Afghanistan but in countries where help is needed the most, some recalcitrant, unwelcome visitors chose instead to spew insults against those troops who were only there to help our children have a good time. And knowing the metal of our service personnel, they no doubt turned a blind eye to the abuse.
We will not. We thank the members of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment for helping make the children’s festival the success that it was. As for those who could not keep their opinions, however poorly voiced, to themselves, we invite you not to bother attending again until you grow up enough to realize that a children’s festival is not the forum for your disrespectful and hurtful comments.
