Today I witnessed something that brought a tear to my eye not only because it was an act of care and love and value of family, but also because it brought to mind the never ending consequences of a similar event that occurred 75 years ago. An event which was motivated by determination and bravery and value for the future generations. An event which if it had not proven successful might have made the occurrence of today's happening an impossibility.
We went fishing and camping this weekend at our local semi isolated spot. I describe it as isolated but in actuality it is not too " Far from the Maddening Crowd " if one counts the arrival of numerous boats, owners, and trailers all in various states of repair, age, and rust.
It being the weekend of Father's Day there were several couples of younger men and older men out for their obvious obligatory time of togetherness on the recent Friday and Saturday evenings.
Last evening one of the younger men was particularly chatty and seemed to approve of our camp site and cheery fire. When this same young man and his father returned today to launch their small 14 foot aluminum boat with 9.5 hp boat motor, it was only mildly surprising that this time they also came with lawn chairs and cut fire wood in the hull. Upon further investigation (via binoculars) we noticed that this couple had taken their boat to a part of the lake accessible only by boat, which had a sandy shore and proceeded set up a fire pit and a circle of chairs. We watched with interest as two cars arrived on the edge of the lake and several people got out with coolers, babies, and life jackets in hand and stood on shore waving to our 'picnic ready' Pop and Son duo.
Then we watched as the small boat made its way laboriously across the lake towards the shore where the waiting hoards awaited and proceeded to load as many passengers as the captain deemed safe and motored back across the lake to the sacred and well prepared picnic site. It took three trips back and forth before everyone was safely on solid 'sand'. Three hours later we watched as the same procedure was repeated only in reverse. Finally a fourth trip was observed to bring back lawn chairs and coolers.. The captain had to load the boat on the trailer at the dock and then travel back home again for work tomorrow.
I am sure all involved were accompanied with memories of happy times and sandy shoes to dream about and discuss with glee at the next gathering of the clan.
While I was watching this procedure of loading and unloading I thought of the care, attention, and determination of the Captain of the boat as he picked up family members and took them safely to their destination. It occurred to me that the success of today's activity was probably motivated by the same type of values inherent in the Captains of the hundreds of little boats that travelled over the English Channel to Dunkirk to rescue the Allied Soldiers some 75 years ago. The operators of so many family fishing boats like the one I saw today, which were en route to Dunkirk traveling the 20 miles across the Channel, were driven by the recognition that there was no question that they had to brave the strait in order to help accomplish their goal to stop those who would challenge the freedoms we still enjoy and sometimes take for granted.
The freedoms to which I refer are inherent in such expression of family values, duty and, respect that was able to be demonstrated by today's captain and his 'evacuees' .
Today was a balmy sunny day at the lake .
The days of the Evacuation of Dunkirk were shrouded in fog.
Ironic?
Perhaps.
Accidental?
Not Likely.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_evacuationDunkirk
We went fishing and camping this weekend at our local semi isolated spot. I describe it as isolated but in actuality it is not too " Far from the Maddening Crowd " if one counts the arrival of numerous boats, owners, and trailers all in various states of repair, age, and rust.
It being the weekend of Father's Day there were several couples of younger men and older men out for their obvious obligatory time of togetherness on the recent Friday and Saturday evenings.
Last evening one of the younger men was particularly chatty and seemed to approve of our camp site and cheery fire. When this same young man and his father returned today to launch their small 14 foot aluminum boat with 9.5 hp boat motor, it was only mildly surprising that this time they also came with lawn chairs and cut fire wood in the hull. Upon further investigation (via binoculars) we noticed that this couple had taken their boat to a part of the lake accessible only by boat, which had a sandy shore and proceeded set up a fire pit and a circle of chairs. We watched with interest as two cars arrived on the edge of the lake and several people got out with coolers, babies, and life jackets in hand and stood on shore waving to our 'picnic ready' Pop and Son duo.
Then we watched as the small boat made its way laboriously across the lake towards the shore where the waiting hoards awaited and proceeded to load as many passengers as the captain deemed safe and motored back across the lake to the sacred and well prepared picnic site. It took three trips back and forth before everyone was safely on solid 'sand'. Three hours later we watched as the same procedure was repeated only in reverse. Finally a fourth trip was observed to bring back lawn chairs and coolers.. The captain had to load the boat on the trailer at the dock and then travel back home again for work tomorrow.
I am sure all involved were accompanied with memories of happy times and sandy shoes to dream about and discuss with glee at the next gathering of the clan.
While I was watching this procedure of loading and unloading I thought of the care, attention, and determination of the Captain of the boat as he picked up family members and took them safely to their destination. It occurred to me that the success of today's activity was probably motivated by the same type of values inherent in the Captains of the hundreds of little boats that travelled over the English Channel to Dunkirk to rescue the Allied Soldiers some 75 years ago. The operators of so many family fishing boats like the one I saw today, which were en route to Dunkirk traveling the 20 miles across the Channel, were driven by the recognition that there was no question that they had to brave the strait in order to help accomplish their goal to stop those who would challenge the freedoms we still enjoy and sometimes take for granted.
The freedoms to which I refer are inherent in such expression of family values, duty and, respect that was able to be demonstrated by today's captain and his 'evacuees' .
Today was a balmy sunny day at the lake .
The days of the Evacuation of Dunkirk were shrouded in fog.
Ironic?
Perhaps.
Accidental?
Not Likely.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_evacuationDunkirk
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