I remember my grandfather, “Poppa”, from our summers visiting Charlottetown, PEI where he lived. He would take me fishing to “Wisner’s Pond” early in the mornings, teaching me how to bait hooks, and how to land a fish. The fresh pan-seared trout remains a delicious memory to this day. He and my grandmother lived in this wonderful old house with back stair cases and hidden rooms, an exciting and mysterious place to explore as a child. Poppa also tended the most beautiful rose garden… It wasn’t until I was an adult that I came to appreciate my Poppa’s role as a member of the Canadian military. He saw action at the Somme, Hill 70, and Passchendaele. He was wounded twice, he was gassed at Hill 70, and he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery at Vimy Ridge for maintaining communication under fire. He re-enlisted in 1940, and went to England where he was promoted to Lt-Colonel. He had the privilege of escorting Queen Elizabeth, when she and King George VI inspected the 3rd Division Signals in Farnborough, England. His ship was torpedoed while en route to Italy (with no loss of life), and he subsequently commanded the Reinforcement Battalion in the Italian Campaign. Upon his return to PEI, Canada, he was appointed District Administrator of Veterans Affairs. My Poppa never spoke of these events, and I never thought to say, “Thank you for your service”. Like many others, my grandfather, Lt. Col. Frank Benjamin Conrad, was one of those quiet heroes who contributed in many ways to the preservation of rights and freedoms of the citizens of Canada and of other countries.