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Lakeshore Advance, 2012-11-21, Page 13Wednesday, December 14, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 5 Community Sands of Time Lynda Hillman -Replay Editor, Lakeshore Advance Spend some time with a child for the magic of Christmas A sure fire way of getting yourself into the holiday spirit is to go to one of the events where Santa is the main event. 'lhere will he children and where there are children, the innocence of youth shines through. I had a nice talk with two three- year olds last week. They were pretty sharp answering my ques- tions, telling me stories and then when Santa's Ho! Ho! Ho! could be heard in the distance. Faster than you could say Rudolf- they were gone. I listened as a young per- son interrogated Santa. "I low did you get here?" asked the child. "Reindeer" Santa answered. "Which ones?" came the next ques- tion. "All of them," answered Santa, "Where are they now? asked the child with a defiant look as she stared through the big guy in red. "They are waiting for me on the beach," he answered to a satisfied three year old. She got her candy cane and was on her way. Santa's ample beard was pulled by a five month old boy and he was able to talk about hockey with a youngster who had different views regarding the best goalie ever. 'Ihe school lunches, (that is one of nay favourites, the kids have some great imaginative stories), concerts and church choirs and the sounds of the season is a good way to leave the hustle and bustle of busy on a back burner- even if it is only for an hour or so. The wide eyes, the excited squeals, the wishful looks are won- derful indications that Christmas is a magical time. Maybe it is the anticipation of Ballerina Barbie or Ipod anything or even the sled that will be used again and again- kids make this holiday the special time it is. It was December 25th, 1944 11 The Christmas I cherish the most Leo De Bryn Special to Lakeshore Advance It was December 25th, 1944 in Ant- werp Belgium. Together with approximately 200 wounded people, all gathered in the gym (An school, which was turned, into a makeshift hospital, we were getting ready for a Christmas Special event not ever to be forgotten. Most of the wounded had been vic- tims of the V bomb as well as the Ger- man Rockets that were aimed from Ger- many to cause damage in England and Belgium. Belgium had received its share of misery caused by the V bombs in par- ticular.'1'he V bomb was designed like an airplane and powered by jet fuel. One could hear the V bomb approaching very clearly, however, the scary part was that at some point it would run out of fuel and within 30 sec- onds would hit the ground or whatever was in its path, causing tremendous damage, killing and wounding people by the dozen, sometimes by the hundreds. My sister Anny, who was four and me, (I was seven) had been wounded by one of the rockets targeted for Antwerp. On October 22nd, while crossing our street to meet some friends, the rocket hit and exploded about one block away from where we were, flattening 40 or more houses, killing over 60 people, young and old and wounding nearly 100. My sister and 1 had several shrapnel wounds throughout our body. We were eventually picked up by two Canadian soldiers driving by our area and taken to the make shift hospital in a school not too far away. Nuns gave most of the medical assist- ance from a local convent. They were knowledgeable nurses, kind and devoted. Because of my wounds in my leg and buttocks, I was on my stomach for 6 weeks so the wounds could be treated twice daily and thus given a chance to heal properly. My sister's left foot was considered for amputation but by the determination of one older nun, the foot was saved and dressed several times during the day and night by the sante nun. During the period of our stay at this makeshift hospi- tal, we made many friends with young and old people as well and certainly with the nuns. The nuns had planned a Christmas variety show. Even though we had very little food to eat and really nothing like chocolates or fruits available for such an event, the nuns somehow managed to get some baked goods from patrons living near the school and cooked up some licorice beverage to ad(i a bit of flavour to the meager servings. The entertainment was unbelievable. Many talented people from the group of wounded as well as the vol- unteers, offered to either sing or play an instrument. Deco- rations, however a local par- ish priest and the nuts made few, available did a wonder- ful job creating an intimate and spiritual atmosphere. My mother who also was wounded when blown out of our apartment as our house collapsed, had mentioned to the dedicated nun who was looking after my sister, that I was a member of a local boy's I was seven years old... choir and often sang solos. 1 was approached by the senior nun responsible for the Christmas presentation to find out 1(1 would sing, providing that 1 would be able to get off my stomach and walk. I answered posi- tively and was excited that perhaps 1 was able to walk around a bit too. Meanwhile the V bombs kept coming at the rate of 5 or six during the day and 3 or 4 during the night. In most cases the roar of the engines lasted long enough for us to find shelter so we did not worry too much where they would ultimately drop. On that December 25th at 2pm all those who could walk and others helped by rela- tives or staff had gathered in the gym. The presentation lasted nearly two hours. My performance was scheduled to be the final one. I did rehearse with Sister Enanuella who was the con- vent's pianist and chorister as well as a qualified nurse. My selection was a Lullaby by Brahms and Adeste Fideles, a well known Christmas E lymn. When it was my turn, two nurses who positioned me near a tall desk helped me onto the stage. I supported myself by pressing my hands on the desk. 1 looked around and saw all my friends as well as dozens of people just there with their wounded relatives, anxious to capture a glimpse of the Christmas Spirit. On my left was Sister Enn nuella at the piano 1111(1 on my right sat most of the Leo DeBruyn and his sister Anna as children nuns, nearly 20 waiting for my perform- ance before the baked goods and lico- rice drinks were going to be handed out. 1 looked to the pianist, she nodded and 1 started to sing. Halfway through Adeste Fideles, we heard a V bomb approach. The roar of the engine was exceptionally loud as if the bomb was flying less than a hundred meters above us. Suddenly the roar stopped. We all knew that we should head for the base- ment in ease of a direct hit. In just a matter of seconds, while still singing, 1 looked to where the nuns were sitting and watched them bowing their heads in prayer. 1 was singing I.uete'1'riumphante and looked at the pianist. She kept playing and motioning to me to go ahead. 1 finished the song just before the bomb hit the ground some 500 meters away from the school. By a miracle and by the grace of God, the bomb did not explode. I'II never forget the roar of the people in that Gym, the applause directed to Sister tnantella and myself for being guided by God to finish our perform- ance in order to celebrate the birth of the Savior. Oh what a Christmas that was! Leo De ttruv,i is a frequent contribu- tor to the Lakeshore Advance letters to the editor Grand Bend school Association says thanks! Help for smokers to quit /)ear Editor: GBPS 1 tome & School Association would like to thank our friends & families who participated in our Christmas'1'ree fundraiser. It was fun & successful! For those of you who followed your I loliday traditions of going & cutting your own Christmas Trees down, while sub- mitting our ll-CUI' coupons, 'Thank You! For those who chose to let us go get your Christmas Trees & bring them to you, we also say TI SANK YOU! It was fun getting into the festive spirit together. We enjoyed spreading some Christmas cheer while supporting our children & school in the process. Without your continued support this would not be possible. Special thanks to "It's Jackie Stenhouse for giving our supporters a discount shopping weekend & for donat- ing tt beautiful Christmas Basket for a draw to those who participated in our Christmas Tree fundraiser. Congratulations to Steve & Brenda Bannister from Nairn. Season Greetings! Sincerely, GBPS Home & School Association. 1)elir Editor: I atm a fortunate ex-smoker who had the chance to quit last year with the help alive nicotine replacement therapy (NR'1'), or "the patch,' I say fortunate becalise there are few places in lluron County that you can get it free - and it was a lifesaver (literally). 1 see that the S'I'OI' program is hack in Huron County in Jan- uary with free NR's' and 1 just Walued to encournge all smokers who want to quit to sign up.'Ihe people who love you will thank you for it - my kids do regularly. You can call the health unit to sign up. Wade Sanford