Hi, my name is Chloe Burrows. I am going to share my story today. It is not as significant as the soldiers and veterans, who are here today, but it means a lot to me and I hope it will have the same effect on you as it did to me. When I made it into the arts program at Earnscliffe, I knew I’d get different opportunities but I had no idea that the one that would impact me the most wouldn’t have anything to do with any of the arts. Until this time last year, I knew nothing of the war in Afghanistan. I did know it was happening, and I didn’t like it because I really don’t like any fighting, but I didn’t think about it as much as I do now. Last year on Remembrance Day, I was given the honour of reading the poem, “Why wear a poppy?” I was so thrilled about this opportunity because ever since I first went to a Remembrance Day assembly, I’ve wanted to read a poem. But in grade five I lost my only chance because I was already doing something else to participate and there were little speaking parts at my school. So now that I had this opportunity, I practiced the poem a lot. But when the night before the assembly came I was so nervous I regretted my decision. This was different than reading a poem at my previous school though. Madoc only had three hundred kids and I would have only read four lines. But afterwards I was so filled with pride that I felt I could have read that poem a million times. At the end of the day I was given a red dog tag chain in thanks for participating. For the next few days, I wore it like a trophy. It meant so much to me that I accomplished reading the poem.
A week or so later, Ms. Saunders told my class that we get the privilege to write to a few soldiers in Afghanistan. I was so happy to hear this news because I have wanted a pen pal ever since I saw on TV some cartoon character that had one. After reading my poem it meant so much more to me that my pen pal was going to be a soldier. So I wrote to the soldier that I got and I tried not to get my hopes up too much in case he couldn’t write. After all he must have more important things to worry about than a kid who wrote him a letter. Over the next few months, my classmates received replies from their soldiers. I waited patiently and even though I tried not to get my hopes up, I couldn’t help but hope. Then one day I finally got it! It was hand written which made it even more heartfelt then it already was. I read it and reread it and cherished it. When I got home, I read it to my family. I carried it around with me for the next week, constantly rereading it.
The weekend after I got the letter I went to my grandparent’s house in Niagara. My grandfather is a veteran. He has a cool veteran licence plate and so many unique souvenirs from the places he’s gone. I was so proud to share my letter with him.
“I’ll give you a real dog tag.” He said, “I have two. One that I am keeping and you can have my first one, the one where they spelt my name wrong.” It made me feel so great. I learned a lot more about the war in Afghanistan from my mother. I wanted to know everything I could about the situation my new pen pal was in.
At Valentine’s Day we made cards for our soldiers and I left my email address for my soldier wishing he would email me. I checked my email more often afterwards. He never wrote. Then one day Ms. Saunders received an email that my soldier was airlifted to a hospital in Germany. I felt as if he was one of my best friends even though I didn’t know him. You can imagine how it would hurt to know that one of your best friends was in the hospital but you didn’t know why they were there. I had no clue how serious it was. I didn’t know if it was life threatening. I know that I could never have the courage to go out and help. My friend, Cpl. Wang had gotten himself in the hospital along with tons of other soldiers who were so selfless that they risked their lives for others in need. I had a friend in grade 5 who wanted to join the army when he grew up more than anything. I never liked that choice and I told him that. But now I understand his way of thinking. He had a kind heart just like the soldiers we all wrote to and the many we didn’t write to.
Just before an event we had planned called soldier day, Ms. Saunders got an email that stated Cpl. Wang was ok and he was getting better every day. I said a speech quite similar to this one at soldier day. I have discovered that I love to publicly speak about subjects close to my heart. I have changed so much positively since I started at Earnscliffe.
I have shared my experiences with my girls club at church and we have started an activity called chosen soldier and we are sending gifts to a soldier, Cpl. Ryan Murray. I am knitting him a hat. It fills my heart with joy to know that I can have such a positive impact on other people that would make them want to share a similar experience.
On September 7 this year I emailed my soldier wanting to know of news. He wrote back to me two days later and replied that he is fine and in Germany they took good care of him and he was well again.
Now I am honoured to speak to you again and I am thrilled that Cpl. Wang is here with us today. I hope that you can take away something from what I have said. I need every one of you to acknowledge that war has happened and it is still happening. I need you to remember. Remember what Cpl. Wang and my grandfather have done. Remember what Cpl. Murray is going to do. Remember every single person who has given up their life to protect their friends and family, their country, or strangers who to them have value. To them, I just would like to say Thank you.
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