War was a Unifying Force

Heroes Remember

War was a Unifying Force

Transcript

I had no feelings of patriotism particularly. It was just a case of doing something that had to be done and I thought that it was appropriate and away I went. The war to me unified all segments of the country. We were all in it. Then we sort of forgot and I don’t think we would like another war in order to unify us, but it was a special time and morale was good. It was really good. It was tremendous. I still get tingles in my spine when I hear “O Canada” being sung and if we want to be able to sing that and continue that then we need to pay attention and we don’t all have to rush out and join up, but we could be maybe a little more conscious of being good citizens and making this a better country.

Description

Mr. Aitken discusses his thoughts that the war unified Canada, and what his ideas of patriotism are.

John Aitken

John Aitken was born June 4, 1917, in Kenora, Ontario. He was the eldest of three children. His family moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta, where his father worked as a flour miller. After graduating high school at age seventeen, Mr. Aitken became a teacher and then school principal. He graduated from university in 1942. Mr. Aitken initially enlisted in the artillery, but after his arrival in England was selected to train as a meteorologist. As the war progressed he achieved the highest level possible, Independent Forecaster. After the war, Mr. Aitken continued a distinguished military career, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant.

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