About->About Answer the Call

About Answer the Call

The objective of "Answer the Call" is to foster an interest in the people who have built this country for the benefit of all of us, primarily during times of conflict and upheaval, but ultimately in all of histories facets.

There is a saying I like that I may have even coined. "If you don't know who you were, you won't know who you are." It seems basic enough, but if you think about it for a moment, it becomes apparant that for far too many Canadians, the truth is they don't know who they where. In other words, we as a people are simply ignorant about those who went before us and laid the foundations of this nation. Many ask why I chose Military history as my main focus for Answer the call. There are many aspects of our history worthy of recognition, outside of our military heritage. But in my mind at least, all the other accomplishments, and they are many, that Canadians should be proud of, are only possible because of the success of our fighting men on the oceans, in the air and on the battlefields that have secured for the scientist, poet and inventor, the society necessary to engage in their creative endeavours that now enrich our lives.

The genesis for this series, begins back in high school when my passion for history first took root. I admit a certain appeal in the pages of the books that recounted the deeds of noble men for great causes. Romantic idealism perhaps, but when you are a 16 year old bookworm who simply can't stop reading, it isn't surprising. Over the years, my passion for military history has gone from the study of the tactics, battles and machinery used during the second world war, especially the Battle of Britian and the Spitifre, to a more mature interest in the personalities involved not only in that war, but in all our conflicts.

Several years ago, listening to the late Paul Harvey and his "Rest of the story" series, I asked myself why dosn't someone do something like that here in Canada? Our history is simply overflowing with examples of unknown heroes that should be household names but, sadly, aren't. People Like Len Birchall, Raymond Collishawand Harry De Wolfe are bonafide superstars, but tragically the vast majority of Canadians simply have never heard of any of these incredible people. I have come to undertand that if you want something done, be prepared to do it yourself, so I sat down at the computer and began to write. The rest as they say, is history.

Answer the call is more than a simple recounting of deeds of derring do. It is an appeal to all of us to find out more about those who paved our way, for in learning their story we are really learning ours.