Young Matthew

The other day a young man, age 20, died. I knew him as he was a brother of my Legion. He was liked very much by all that knew him.

He had joined the Legion at the tender age of 18 to honour his brother who is an active member in the Canadian Armed Forces.

I remember the day he turned 19 and was able to have his first drink.

This poor young lad had CP and a variety of other debilitating deceases. What I didn't know is he had brain cancer and that is what he finally scummed to. The last time I saw him was when I was getting off the GO Train at Pickering in July 2012. I summized he had come back from Sick Childrens Hospital as he was carrying his pillow and a small suite case.

I will never forget his smile that day when I tapped him on his shoulder to say hello. Never knowing it would be his last hello to me.

I didn't attend his funeral but there was no less a turnout of 500 people including the Lieutenant Governor General for Ontario. At his internment at Duffins Meadows in Pickering there wasn't enough parking to accommodate all. No less than 200 people came to the brief wake at our Legion.

That's all I have to say about this....