Capture the Flag

You might get a Halo in the end, and that's a pretty exclusive achievement.

We sacrifice our time every day just by living. It's how we direct our energies that determines our outcome in this world. They say that life really is a game, but the achievements most important in the end are the sacrifices we make for our loved ones: Our friends. Our co-workers. Our families. I present to you an heirloom seemingly passed from a family to another sort of family...brothers in arms.

"The story as told to us, begins with an American soldier who was part of the European effort in Germany during the Second World War. He is said to have taken the flag from a captured German soldier who told him the flag was taken from a Canadian soldier at the Raid on Dieppe. It was not known whether the Canadian soldier was alive or dead. Of the nearly 5000 Canadians who fought at Dieppe on 19 August 1942, 3,367 would become casualties, including 916 Canadians who lost their lives. It was the heaviest toll suffered by the Canadian military in a single day during the entire war." The Dieppe Flag – A journey home (legion.ca)

We've all captured the flag at Favela, Rammaza, Blood Gulch or Battle Creek for hours upon hours. Weeks. Months at a time even. But I bet none of us here today would even level up, let alone strip a 70 year old flag from the hand of the enemy IRL. Could you survive the landing, the machine guns or the utter hopelessness of the Dieppe raid? It's not hyperbole to suggest that we've been lucky. I look to Ukraine, Europe and even you Russia to take this month to reflect. Make a positive impact and quell this nonsense.  

So go capture an iconic emblem today. A realistic banner (albeit a small one) that you can showcase your Canadian solidarity and empart your pride with.

Buy a Poppie. Support your Legon and spread the word.

Patrick O'Neal