Should It Be Our Duty to Remember?

Heroes Remember

Should It Be Our Duty to Remember?

Transcript

Oh, definitely. By all means. Because I, there are parts there that, they were great but once we got on the continent, it wasn’t a holiday anymore. But I don’t regret it. It was quite an experience and I was lucky to get out of it, alive that is. Interviewer: If you had the opportunity of speaking to young Canadians of this or future generations about patriotism and duty what would you say to those young Canadians? Well I, I don’t know, I’d have to think this over. Because I’m really a military person. And I don’t, I wouldn’t, I would like to see my grandson to join the army, but not the infantry. Get in, learn a trade and, you know, there are a lot of positions in the service that you can serve your country just as well as an infantry man. But to me an infantry man’s life is too short

Description

Mr. Champoux explains why we should all remember those who fought and gave their lives during the Second World War. He also delivers a very touching message to the youth of today.

Robert Arthur Champoux

Mr. Champoux was born in Hull, Québec on March 21st, 1921. He lived there until the age of 8 when his father, a First World War Veteran, moved the family to Ottawa. Mr. Champoux had three brothers and four sisters; he was the third oldest child. When the war broke out he was attending Ottawa Technical High School. He left school, after his first year, to join the Army after failing to join the Navy and the Air Force (who were not yet recruiting). He left for Europe July 17th, 1940 and ended up stopping in Iceland where he remained for the next 10 months. Mr. Champoux’s wartime service saw him fighting on D-Day and in the Falaise Gap. He also fought in Calais and later on in Holland where he was wounded. Mr. Champoux got a job with the Mint upon returning to Canada. He joined the army again in 1948 retiring in 1965.

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