Can-a-da!

I was thinking about writing a Canada Day blog when the Princess beat me to it, and did so in an impressive fashion. But I thought I would build on her expression of pride. The title of this blog is Can-a-da, the reason being is that if you were born in time to celebrate the country's centennial back in '67 you'd remember the song written for the occasion and that's how it starts out... Can-a-da, one little, two, little three, Canadians, weeeeeee love theeee... now we are 20 million... okay so now we're MORE than 20 million but whenever I think of Canada Day, the song sings in my heart and my youth.

Princess is correct, we Canadians are proud of our country but we eminate a quiet proud, humble would almost be a better word, and I like the demeanor. We go about our business in a friendly, polite way, and when we're needed on the world stage we step up to the plate! I have to add a word of thanks here to all the vets and current troops who have put their lives on the line for us. My father-in-law was one of them, part of the Northshore Regiment who were first to land on the beaches of Normandy in WWII to help liberate France and Holland. He never talked much about those battles, but it seems like he didn't have to because our girls instinctively understood the sacrifice very deeply and wouldn't miss a Remembrance Day ceremony to save their soul. And they were very proud of their grandfather as a soldier.

Tomorrow Princess Madie and Grampy Dave will walk in the Canada Day parade with the parade marshalls, the UNB Varsity Reds Men's Hockey Team who are National Champions this year. With all the fun festivities planned by the local committee and the ever-popular fireworks it's a worthy celebration for a GREAT country, the best in which to live in the world, according to the UN on a number of occasions. But no one has to tell us that.

Yet there will be men and women who won't be home to celebrate with us... they are in a foreign land trying to bring peace, prosperity and freedom to others. Think of them too when the fireworks explode into glorious technicolour and say a quick prayer for their safety.

OH CAN-A-DA WE STAND ON GUARD FOR THEE!