Being Canadian on Remembrance Day

In 1999 a friend and I went to the Netherlands and stayed with a Dutch guy, Frank, for about a week. I had met him five years previously in Ireland and he enticed me to visit Holland. He was older than me, fairly serious and very well travelled. Frank had a few things in mind to take us to - starting with a climb up a mountain to eat pancakes (right after we got off the plane), biking to a museum and numerous castles over the countryside. One road trip included a war memorial. He kept on referring to it, like it was something huge we wanted to see. Being as he was the driver and we were at his mercy, we smiled and nodded. When we got there, there was were Canadian flags everywhere and we realized it was a memorial and grave site for Canadians. The Canadians that assisted the Dutch and to whom they honored for helping them gain their freedom. Frank believed this would be a very important place for us cocky, entitled Canadians to visit. I was very humbled that day. I kicked my own ass, first, for allowing myself to forget everything I'd learned in school the minute I passed the exam. And second, for being so very arrogant. We do take our freedom for granted. I was proud to be Canadian that day. And I always remember that moment in Holland when the Dutch gave me a wake up call. Lest we Forget.