Honouring Those Who Served
Picture Care of Sunnybrook Foundation
On Remembrance Day, each of us carries someone in our hearts — a parent, grandparent, or loved one who sacrificed more than we’ll ever truly understand.
For our Operations Manager, Lori, it’s her grandfather, a proud young pilot who flew a Lancaster bomber during WWII. His plane was called Lady Be Good, and throughout his service with the Royal Canadian Air Force, he filled journals with notes, kept meticulous flight logs, and held on to mementos that told stories words often couldn’t.
Lori shared,
“I was so young and don’t remember a lot - he didn’t talk about it much, even though he had an entire room dedicated to his time in the war. I do remember reading a story about a fire that broke out mid-flight, and looking through his slides from his time in the Arctic. His photos were all carefully labeled, sometimes hauntingly, with words like MIA or KIA. I wish I could go back now, as an adult, and talk to him before his Parkinson’s and Dementia took over.”
For Denise, one of our team members, Remembrance Day brings memories of her father, who lost his right arm during his service. His courage, strength, and unwavering pride continue to inspire her every single day.
Remembrance Day means something different to everyone, but the feeling is the same - gratitude. Gratitude for the bravery, the selflessness, and the quiet strength of those who gave so much for the freedoms we have today.
This year, our owner Leanne was scheduled to join Denise at Operation Raise a Flag with Sunnybrook Hospital — a beautiful tradition where 30,000 flags are planted across the Sunnybrook campus to honour Canada’s Veterans. Unfortunately, due to the snowy weather, the event was cancelled. Even so, seeing photos from past years, with thousands of flags fluttering in the wind, it’s impossible not to feel deeply moved by the lives they represent and the sacrifices they symbolize.
Sunnybrook is home to one of Canada’s largest Veteran Centres, providing leading cognitive, physical, mental health, and stroke care to those who served our country. If you’d like to show your support, you can visit Sunnybrook’s Operation Raise a Flag or call 1-866-696-2008 to donate.