Growing up in Canada I was aware of Queen Elizabeth II. During my school days there were pictures of her hanging in every classroom. In those days opening exercises included singing “God Save the Queen” one week and “O Canada” the next week.
No one told us why we did this odd ping pong of songs, the teacher would just announce which song to sing. Sometime after I left school her pictures were no longer displayed and children stopped learning any national song other than O Canada.
It would be a civics class in high school before I’d hear any mention of the Queen being our Head of State during discussion about our parliamentary system. It was after I became a Legion member and started learning the ropes from the WW1, WW2 and Korea War Veterans when I became fully aware of her place in the political and military structures of the country.
Being a person interested in history as well as current events and how events influence our lives, I explored the subject of the Monarchy and those within it often over the years. As I explored the life of Queen Elizabeth II my respect and admiration for her grew.
The lack of understanding about the Sovereign and her role in our country showed up when school children would arrive at the branch for Remembrance presentations. As they would pass the picture displayed in the branch we’d be asked, “Who is that lady?”.
I made a point of taking time every year to explain who ‘that lady’ was. After the first couple of years, there was usually at least one student in the group who took great pride in jumping up to explain who she was to his classmates.
She was a remarkable woman who set an example of devotion to duty and service literally until the day she died. Today was the day she died.
She ascended the throne before I was born and has been a constant when other world leaders have come and gone. She displayed a grace, strength, wisdom, duty, dedication and humour that some notable world leaders need to take example from.
When Diana was killed in 1997 I joined the millions from around the world in a reaction of shock and heartbreak as we watched the Royal family’s struggle to deal with the tragedy.
In 2012 I was among several thousand Canadians who received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. It was given during the anniversary of her 60 years on the throne in recognition of service to community and country. What made me especially proud of receiving this honour was that it was given to honour her service.
During the pandemic of all the public figures who made comments, who sought to reassure us that this too would pass, it was her address to the Commonwealth that spoke most strongly to me.
As I’ve seen the reports over the last several months of Her Majesty’s health issues I became increasingly aware that this woman who had been a public presence in my life was going to be leaving us in the not too distant future. I’ve felt a sadness each time I thought about that inevitable occurrence.
She is a woman I’ve never met, never even laid eyes on except through images and video. Yet, I dreaded the idea of losing her from our lives as though she was a member of our family.
I was hosting PYPT today when my iPad started going nuts with notifications. I glanced down and saw the dreaded news flash up on the screen. It hit me hard, not as hard as I had expected thankfully. I was able to pass the information to those present and complete the show.
It’s been a rough day. I think I’ve shared enough for now.
RIP Queen Elizabeth II.
Shadowspub is a writer from Ontario, Canada. She writes on a variety of subjects as she pursues her passion for learning. She also writes on other platforms and enjoys creating books you use like journals, notebooks, coloring books etc.
NOTE: unless otherwise stated, all images are the author’s
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