Veteran’s partner voices support for Cenotaph LAV

December 16, 2015 · 0 Comments

(Re: Brock’s Banter & LAV continues roll to Cenotaph park, December 3)

It saddens me to read that anyone would oppose a monument to our veterans.
It is ignorant and disrespectful.
I appreciate that you can see what the LAV means to those that fought overseas.
I will tell you that my partner is an Afghanistan veteran was an LAV 3 Turret Operator for nine months, and his life was indeed protected by this armored vehicle as well as the lives of those he was in charge to protect.
From those 158 fallen soldiers, two my partner knew as close friends. Today he lives with severe PTSD that affects every aspect of his and our lives.
We are reminded daily that freedom is never free and I, for one, am grateful for every sacrifice that these men and women have made, my children get to live safe and free and have a future.
I am grateful that we can have a voice for them and a monument to remind us that war is not pretty and that monuments are not about beauty but sacrifice and pain.
If this “glorifies war” on the eyes of the ignorant, so be it.
The fact of the matter is Canadians have many reasons to be grateful today and this is something that folks who live their lives free have no way to ever understand, what it takes and what it does to the families of those abroad.
As a resident of Aurora, and the partner of a veteran of the Afghanistan war, I welcome and celebrate this monument, as you said there should be more done for those that fight for our country than just monuments but the least we can do is not ignorantly argue their value.
Ask the people that oppose this what would they do if they knew someone who has lost their life or the ability to live normal lives due to their sacrifice, what will their families tell you? What have they lost? I am sure they speak out of not knowing what this means.
No monument is ever going to bring them their loved ones back whether they have lost them abroad or after their return. But it will at least show that this country values and appreciates what they’ve lost to give the ignorant ones an opinion.
I like to hear more about what the families and veterans themselves feel on this matter.
I feel the need to speak up on behalf of my partner our children and our family and I can’t wait for the unveiling date!

Alexandra Sobodka
Aurora