Shedding a Tear for Remembrance

First of all I think of my dad. My dad, God rest his soul, he’s been dead now for five years. I think of him a lot at the Carleton York monument here in Fredericton. I go to it. I shed a tear for him. I also shed a tear for a few soldiers that I knew that died of other related incidents, not in the military. But I also shed a tear for the soldiers that are, that have died and when their names are mentioned it bothers me. It means a lot to me and I’ll give you how much or let me tell you this, two years ago I was travelling to Quebec on Remembrance Day and I felt so bad that I wasn’t standing in front of a monument because I was listening to the radio station and he said we’re going to pause for a two minute silence. I pulled the car over. And I stood outside the car in front of the car with my head bowed. That’s how proud I was and cars were going by and I was saying why aren’t you stopping? Why aren’t you stopping to honour your fallen? That’s how I felt. And people say well maybe that’s you’re crazy doing that, no I’m not crazy that’s, I felt guilty driving and not stopping to pay my respects. Even though I was miles away from a cenotaph. That was on the Trans Canada Highway on my way to Quebec and I pulled over. Yeah, did I cry? Yeah I had a few cries. I wanted to. Saying hey I’m sorry dad, I wasn’t at that monument this morning, but I got things to do. And I am hoping he heard me, you know, and it’s things like that and every Remembrance Day I do get choked up. I be quite honest with you and if a soldier doesn’t then there’s something wrong if he hasn’t lost a loved one and I have lost loved ones.

Mr. Wiseman remembers his Dad and other soldiers who have gone, and expresses the honour he has for service to our country.

Robert Wiseman

Mr. Robert Wiseman was born October 9, 1953 in Bathurst, New Brunswick. With his father being a Veteran, and his five other brothers joining up, Mr. Wiseman made this the reason for joining the service. In 1974, fresh out of high school, Mr. Wiseman travelled to CFB Cornwallis Recruitment Camp receiving 11 weeks of training then to CFB Gagetown for advanced training as a combat soldier. Mr. Wiseman joined the army experiencing one tour to Cyprus and later in his career travelled to Bosnia holding the rank of Warrant Officer. His service in Bosnia provided humanitarian support to the Bosnian people after the Srebrenica massacre where many people were killed. After discharging from the army, Mr. Wiseman returned to Fredericton.