Remembrance Day holds a special place in Cynthia Cummings heart. Not only does one of the Langford woman’s children currently work in the navy, but her husband has served in the army as a physician assistant for 25 years and counting.
As a mother of six and owner of Nifty Thrift Shop in Langford, Cummings wrote a poem, titled A Veterans Wife, in 2012.
A Veteran’s Wife
I am a veterans wife.
I am the woman who sees the man beyond the uniform, or the many medals that now rest in the glassed shadow box.
I am the woman who has seen into the eyes of his pain, sorrow and death, even when he smiles.
I am the wife that has wiped away the tears that have been shed from the nightmares, even though he tries to comfort me.
I am the woman who smiles at him in the morning, with complete understanding that he will never be the same man he once was, although he tries desperately to be.
I am the woman that has always loved him when he couldn’t love himself.
I am the woman that picks him up when the nightmare of memories flood back, as the flow of liquor continues.
I am the woman that will forgive when the harsh words spoken are not remembered.
I am that woman that loves him so deeply that I will try to blanket him with the painful memories of the war.
I am the woman that will love him for what he can share with me, and so grateful for what he does not.
I am a woman that loves her country, and her husband so fiercely for defending it.
I am the woman who truly understands he is not the same man .
I am the woman who knows our country, and others, are a better, safer country for his service.
He is not. He is broken.
But he stands proud to be a Canadian.
Proud of his military service.
He would die to defend his country.
Even to this day.
Despite his deep pain, not a complaint.
Ever.
I love him beyond measurement.
As he stands at attention to pay his respects to those who haven’t come home, I see despair in his eyes
He wishes it was him.
Although he carries on, the fight continues.
I am the woman who will continue fight side by side with him to the end.
He is a veteran.
I am a veterans wife.
- Cynthia Cummings
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