Bruce

“🇨🇦 Veterans and their loved ones; I am acutely aware of my polarizing presence and the unease it may bring. Today however is not for anyone's ambitions or political efforts. I myself am a combat veteran of the Afghanistan campaign, so this is me leaving my personal rucksack at the door. Despite what some or even many may think of who I am and what I'm about, the military community was a foundational building block of who I am as a man and a Canadian. I wouldn't be who I am and where I am without that experience and the lessons, love and loss endured through the crucible of war and it's aftermath which is arguable much more difficult. That's what brings me to this post. I've been there for the funerals, the suicides, the casualty collection points, spraying blood out of the vehicles, sharing long painful knods in clinic waiting rooms, nights of insomnia and days overwhelmed with frustration, anger and feelings of betrayal. I see you. I am you, and you are me. One thing I can promise you is an actual legitimate space for you to speak and be heard by others who truly do care and are interested to hear what you have to say free from self interested hypocritical businesses and politicians angling for photos with "look at me" speeches while you choke down the memories they know absolutely nothing about. If there is interest, I will host a space later this evening for veterans and their loved ones to enter and say your piece. Or maybe you just want to sit around and listen, be reminded and comforted that you aren't alone. No one wants to hear from politicians, business owners, civilian legion members or quite frankly, reserve force cooks that flipped eggs for 10 minutes. The people overwhelming want to hear from the main eventers - you guys and girls that did the business and got your boots bloody. It's a long hard road to walk down, often alone, and if there was ever a time or place to tell everyone else its time to shut up and listen to the front line survivors, it's today. It belongs to you, you earned it. A close friend I lost recently dedicated his life after service to helping our veterans and I can't help but feel partially responsible to pick up the pace and do what I can to fill the void left in his absence. He would have done the same for me. Comment below and share around to any veterans from Canada or our allies. Have a tolerable day, as much as you can stomach it. Head up, eyes out, still in the fight.” - @JeremyMacKenzie