We Died for One Day of Remembrance
We walked in slush and snow
We crawled through mud and rain
We laughed as Spring came upon us
We swore as the Sun beat upon us
We fought for Survival
We fought for You
We died to Preserve your Freedom
We died, for Nothing
We sang the song of Freedom, as we killed our fellow man
We chuckled at the slightest Follie, to keep our sanity intact
We lived a life of sorrow, to preserve your right to speak
We died to save you from evil, so you could practice what you preach
How do you repay us? With very little respect
One day a year, You pay homage to the dead
You give a moment of silence, to show your overwhelming respect
You place a wreath, to show your infinite gratitude
We all thank you……
We are the Unwilling…
Led by the Unqualified…
To do the Unnecessary…
For the Ungrateful…
– Bob Petho
Written 51 years ago by South Okanagan Secondary School (SOSS) Grade 12 student Bob Petho for Remembrance Day 1970, the poem reflected not just the era of anti-war protests over US involvement in Vietnam but Petho’s personal feelings about war.
“It’s about the soldiers not wanting to fight. It was written during the Vietnam War when a lot of the guys didn’t want to fight,” he said. He also knew a lot of men who had fought in World War II he said and he feels many people don’t appreciate the sacrifices that were and continue to be made during war.
With the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine Petho feels the poem is pertinent again, particularly with Russian men fleeing their country because they don’t want to fight.
Petho lived in Osoyoos for Grades 11 and 12 before moving away. He has returned to the Okanagan and now lives in Oliver.
