Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is like the US Veterans Day but it is observed mostly by countries that are or were in the British Commonwealth like Canada. It happens on every November 11th and since I was in Kindergarten on this day on the 11th minute of the 11th hour everyone gives a minute of silence for those that were killed in World War I (and WWII - though the original sentiment was to recall the end of WWI back in 1918). In Canada that minute of silence usually was extended by the length of whatever marginally successful musician had decided to make a Remembrance Day song - Bryan Adams and Tom Cochrane just to name a few - which was blasted over the school PA system. Since I was old enough to understand what Remembrance Day was all about I knew that some of my family members were in the "Great Wars". My Great-Grandfather who lived to 96 years was in both of them and I knew him quite well growing up. Most of my Great Uncles on my Dad's side were in WWII, one of which - Lee - was killed in action though I don't really know the whole story on that one. But when Tom Cochrane's Victory Day was blaring over the PA my head was always thinking of my Great Uncle David and his sacrifice.
I never knew Uncle David, he was my Grandma's brother on my Mom's side. He was in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve during WWII. I believe he was my Grandma's youngest brother and I think when he died he was only 21. What happened? Well he was stationed in the South of France during the German occupation and the Allies were trying to push the Germans completely out at this point. By 1944 they had almost completely pushed German forced back to western German borders. But Germany wasn't finished looking for other footholds in France.
What I believe happened was that his plane was damaged in a German air strike and he was going down, heading straight for a hill side but instead of hitting the hill he changed direction to hit a bridge instead. His plane crashed, he was lost, and the bridge was destroyed. Turns out that the bridge was where the approaching German forces were headed to cross into the town of Fuveau which is about 24 km from Marseilles. The Germans had no choice but to look for another way across and the town was saved.
When it was discovered what had happened, my Great Uncle was celebrated as saving the town and he was given a large memorial in the town. My Grandma visited Fuveau back in the early 90s and was thrown a parade in her brothers honour!
I really want to visit Europe someday, both my brother and sister have been to various countries over the years, but never made it to Fuveau. I think by the time I am 30 I want to visit Fuveau.
But first I have to brush up on my French. I haven't taken a French class since grade 8! Which is on the short list of classes I have failed in my life. Here is the short list:

French 20
Math 30*
Comp Science 114 (first year university)
Animal Physiology 241 (second year university)

*recommended by teacher to take the Math 33 final after struggling with Math 30 in case I failed - I later took Math 30 again and passed.

Looking at it, it's not too bad.

But I have gone off track. So today I won't be listening to any cheesy Canadian rock (well maybe some Rush) and instead I am going to think about my Uncle David.

Here is a snap of his name in the Second World War Book of Remembrance: