The Way It Was: Giving Back To Veterans, One Stitch At A Time

THE WAY IT WAS Patterns Of Honour . . . Unfolding Hearts To Hands Story And Photo By Andrea Grimes

Military culture produces men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces who put the needs of others before their own.

Although war produces lasting scars, it’s not the worst part of military service. The transition from war to home, has been known to turn many lives inside out.

For many returning home from their tours of duty, their lives begin to unravel even before they walk through the front door.

They carry with them guilt, anger, fear, and isolation; grief, moral injury, and feelings that they don’t know who they are anymore; that they will never be able to “measure up”.

While adjusting to civilian life, some may experience feelings of being “outside of themselves”. They try to “talk about it,” but does that result in being bitter or getting better?

The medical field tells us that recovery is possible in terms of returning to a semblance of normalcy in life, however, the experiences of combat, and the trauma it causes, has been known to present challenges for our Veterans as they prepare to reintegrate into the life of their communities.

Understandably, talking about what they are bringing back home with them just doesn’t happen often enough.

The late WWII Veteran Stanley Scislowski, (see page: WindsorPublicLibrary.com/?page id=40221) often shared his experiences of what he went though … over there.

“While recovering in hospital in England, a physiatrist told me to keep my mind occupied — to write about what I had experienced and what I was struggling with — to give myself the time to heal,” said Scislowski during one of his Legion presentations.

Scislowski took the doctor’s suggestions to heart and at the age of 73 he published his first book, “Not All of Us Were Brave”.

He indicated: “It was just the therapy I needed. If it wasn’t for that doctor’s advice, I wouldn’t have survived everything that life threw at me all these years. My advice to our men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces, who are bringing home things they don’t understand, is to open up and talk about what is going on inside of them. To keep it all bottled up will drive them to the darkest corners and they will be unable to get back up and on with their lives.”

Communities all across Canada respect courage and bravery spent in the name of freedom. As such, society moves forward to “take up the cause” with the ethical and moral responsibility needed to support those returning from military service who may be struggling to reintegrate into the life of their communities.

This social contract is a gift that a grateful nation gives in exchange for a commitment and dedication to serving Canada.

Throughout southwestern Ontario, there are countless numbers of dedicated volunteers who are committed to “giving back” to our Veterans. One such organization is Quilts Of Valour — Canada Society, (QOVC; visit: QuiltsOfValour.ca).

Janet Bergeron, QOVC Regional Representative says, “In 2019, we presented 91 ‘quilts of hugs’ to Veterans throughout Windsor and Essex County. Each quilt is made ‘just for them’ with love, respect and gratitude

Shown is a Quilt Of Valour presentation to Korean War Veteran, Chuck Milks on December 14, 2016 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 with Pauline Gaudette QOVC (left) dedicated quilter and Janet Bergeron, QOVCRegional Representative.

for what they gave to Canada. We attach our label on each quilt, which features the hand-written date of the quilt presentation and the Veteran’s name.”

Windsor resident, Dona Parent served in Germany with the 1st Canadian Guards and in Cyprus as a NATO Peacekeeper.

Parent says, “I was very humbled when Janet Bergeron came to the house to present me with my Quilt Of Valour in 2018. To this day, my heartfelt thanks go to our Quilt Of Valour volunteers.”

Bergeron adds, “Our quilts represent our Veterans’ commitment to duty. Their courage and valour comes through every stitch . . . patterns of honour: unfolding hearts to hands.” As a civilian Veterans Advocate, Andrea Grimes was presented with the “Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal” and the “Governor General’s Medal” recognizing her volunteer service to Veterans and military families of our Canadian Armed Forces, as well as with military family service-support organizations to include, North Wall Riders Association, Windsor Veterans Memorial Service Committee, Military Institute of Windsor, the Royal Canadian Naval Association, the Korean War Veterans Association and the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association.