Letter to Léo Labonté
from Sophie LeVasseur (pictured at left, with John Fraser)
Dear Soldier Labonté,
I would like to thank you for your service during the First World War
conflict. Your experience of this war is an act of bravery and engagement
towards all of us. You had to manage the noise of guns and bombs, fear
and misery in the trenches, as well as wounds of war and death itself.
I am grateful for your accomplishments on the battlefield, where you
brought support and comfort to the troops. Your actions have served
Canada, and you have served this country well. Canadians owe you a
deep sense of gratefulness.
It is with pride that I write you this letter, as you have sacrificed a
great deal for us all and for Canada. You didn’t let us down, and this
is a behaviour that we should all emulate on a daily basis. If I were to
summarize how I feel: I am proud of you.
Thank you great-grandfather for your actions and your engagement.
Grandma Madeleine always had very special thoughts for you, and you
deserve all of the affection and acknowledgement you get for a duty well
accomplished. Your merit is more than honourable.
When I wear the poppy, and in particular on November 11th of each year,
I think of you, but also of my grandfather Armand who served in the
Second World War, and my father who is a military officer.
Your engagement towards our country is a precious gift. Quite often, it
is so easy to forget the engagement of people who protect this peace,
especially when there aren’t any conflicts. Without these people who risk
their lives at critical moments, we would not be able to live with joy and
happiness on a daily basis in Canada.
There are people like you, who stand up to defend our most fundamental
values at the ultimate price. I hope that in heaven, you can read this
letter and know that we are grateful.
Soldiers quite often suffer in order to ensure other people’s peace and
happiness. In order for us to enjoy our rights and freedoms, many soldiers
paid the ultimate price.