Bon Papa, as he likes to be called, is a hero. He fought in Europe during the Second World War after landing on the Normandy beachhead in June of 1944. His outfit drove trucks carrying food and supplies to the front lines in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He carried survivors from the concentration camps back to what remained of civilization.
Maurice met the love of his life, Adrienne, in Belgium in 1944. It was love at first sight for Maurice who often tells the story of the first time he Adrienne when she was decorating a Christmas tree. Apparently he whistled at her and without turning around she said "Oh, that must be one of those Canadians!" They were married on December 27, 1945, as soon as the army would allow it. After the war, many tragedies and much adversity, Maurice and Adrienne returned to Canada where they built a life for themselves. They recently celebrated their sixty-fourth wedding anniversary. Adrienne and Maurice have five children, seven grand children, and three great grand children. Bon Papa walks several kilometers every day, he always has a project of some kind and always does his best at whatever he chooses to work at. He's returned to Normandy every year since I have known him, to honor the men who landed on the beaches in 1944.
Beautiful portraits and lovely story. Hope you'll come back to Sunday Soup next time you're on Gabriola. Cheers.
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