Omar Bainto
A TRIBUTE TO THE CANADIAN SOLDIERS
(Who Died In Afghanistan)
Captain Nichola Goddard: Killed in Action: May 17, 2006 (aged 26) – Panjwaye District, Kandahar Province, AfghanistanThey were young; they lost their lives too soon
The country mourned, the maple leaf in half-mast flown
To honour these young soldiers from the land of the loon
Atop the Peace Tower, what an ultimate gesture shown.
But alas! A new Caesar has emerged to make an alteration
To his predecessor’s way of showing appreciation
To the warriors who gave up their lives without reservation
The flag in half-mast shall fly no more, and met no objection.
I was thirteen when Captain Goddard of Calgary died
I expected my hometown to have all flags in half-mast fly
But when the day of her funeral came, I was tongue-tied
The flag at St. Martha still in full mast, I wondered why.
I asked my teachers and other staff of the administration
Why the flag was still flying high, I queried in frustration
Beyond their control, I was told without hesitation,
“The government makes the decision; they give us direction.”
I was hurt but I didn’t know for sure why it was so
When the half-mast flag over the Hill for our heroes, lost
But I know for certain why it would hurt me if adults do
Take away what was given to me that I treasure most.
©Copyright November 8, 2007 by Omar Bainto
Author’s Note: When the Liberal government was in power, the Canadian Flag was lowered atop the Peace Tower in Parliament Hill to half-mast every time a Canadian soldier was killed in action. When they were defeated by the Progressive Conservatives, that practice was stopped. Even the Canadian Legion has agreed to that. I was a student of St. Martha School when Captain Nichola Goddard was killed. On the day of her funeral, I actually asked the school administration to lower the flag to half-mast but I was told that they did not receive any authorization from the authorities.
N.B. the Loon is a well known Canadian bird