Remembrance Day: Read Sudbury woman’s poem ‘Open Letter To An Old Soldier’

We received a request to run the poem “Open Letter To An Old Soldier,” written by Sudbury’s Julia Eckert-MacLean in 1974.

“It has been published many times in the Northern Life and Sudbury Star over the last five decades since it was first written in 1974,” said her son, Stephen MacLean, in an email to Sudbury.com.

“Seventy years ago at the age of 20, my father had been mining in Levack when the time came to become a soldier in the Korean Conflict 1950-53.

“Every year growing up, our family was down at the cenotaph in Memorial Park for Remembrance Day.

“One such cold November day in 1974, standing along Minto Street, we learned to stand at attention, and experience a small part of the sacrifice given in times of war, at 11:11 a.m. while the bugle sounded. 

“That day, my mother, a teacher and poet, penned the attached poem that grew out of that day’s experiences.”

Open Letter To An Old Soldier                                                                                                        

I saw you in the park today

Dear, Old Soldier…proud and brave

With ragged coat and scuffed up shoes.                    

But…on your head Beret of Blue!

 

I saw you this Remembrance Day

In too long coat and hair of gray.

With tattered trousers,

Unkempt hair,

I saw you standing, silent there. 

 

The Bugle sounded soft and low.

Upon your face, an inner glow.

And then it seemed I saw you shed

Those ragged garments

Shred by Shred.

 

And suddenly, you were once more

A soldier - Going off to war,

When you were young and gladly gave

A soldier’s heart -

So proud and brave.

 

I wanted so to touch your hand,

To thank you for your valiant stand.

I wanted so to speak your name

But I was shy, and yes, ashamed,

That one who’d fought the battle brave

Was now neglected, old and gray.

The “Last Post” faded fast away.

I watched you turn and walk away…

 

North up Minto - past the lights,

To Salvation Army’s Harbor Light.

Where are you now

Old Soldier Brave,

Who fought…

Our Canada to save?

 

You who fought that I might live -

I could not then, one moment give?

But left you lost and all alone,

A hostel room to call your home.

 

Forgive me - Dear, Old Soldier Brave.

I stood and let you walk away -

All alone… Remembrance Day.       

                            

Forgive me that I did not say

My thanks within the park today.

I bowed my head for all who died

…Forgetting those yet still alive.

      

Forgive me Dear, Old Soldier Brave –

 I stood - And let you - walk away.

 

Julia Eckert-MacLean, 1974