”My family and the community were very supportive of me but I didn't
know what to do with myself."
"The war memorial brings back a lot of memories for
me," said Gravel. "I came across a better understanding of
myself when it was all over. How far you are willing to go for
that person beside you. It’s a real eye opener."
Since returning home to Windsor, Gravel has found it
difficult to re-adjust to civilian life. He takes his dog for a walk
by the river like he did before the wars, only this time past the
Afghanistan War Memorial where he reflects on his
deployment. Gravel also joined legion Branch 143 on
Marentette Avenue where he has since been able to share his
experiences with other veterans both young and old.
The legion is a place to interact with fellow veterans, and a
place where vets can help each other heal. Gravel bonded with
an older veteran of a war that started nearly 76 years ago. His
name is Larry Costello, aged 90.
Costello joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1941, assigned
to protect convoy lines that were shipping supplies to England.
He wasn't the first one in his family to join the war. Coming
from a family of seven siblings, his two sisters joined the air
force and three brothers joined the army while another sister
became a nurse.
"Everyone had a role to play in defending our country,"
said Castello. "We all came back from the war but one of my
brothers died shortly after from his wounds."
Because of Remembrance Day’s roots - it is the
anniversary of the 1918 Armistice - it’s usually our
community’s contributions to World Wars 1 and 2 that take
centre stage in memorial ceremonies. The Second World War
in sheer numbers alone - more than a million Canadians went
off to war, and millions more men and women contributed at
home - changed Windsor-Essex irrevocably. As a British
Dominion, there wasn’t a local household that was untouched
by the conflict overseas. Before World War 2, Windsor was the
heart of the Canadian automotive industry. After the war
began, Windsor went from producing cars to weapons,
ammunition and fighter/ bomber aircraft.
“The men were getting shipped off to war, so the women
had to take over the manufacturing industry here in Windsor,"
said Castello. "The women were critical for us winning the war.
If we didn't have the industrial might of Windsor and the
United States we would have lost for sure. You cannot win a
war without supplies and equipment, and Windsor provided
both."
After World War 2 Windsor was a different city.
"Once the war was over, many of the women enjoyed their
jobs and were really good at them too," said Costello. "They
wanted to continue what they were doing and many of them
did. Windsor's workforce became pretty diversified."
Costello found it difficult to adjust to the peace and
calmness of civilian life when he returned. "I was a lost soul
when I came back, "said Costello.”My family and the
community were very supportive of me but I didn't know
what to do with myself."
Although both Costello and Gravel received support when
they returned home, Gravel’s homecoming didn’t feature
ticker tape parades and worldwide adulation. Canada’s
peacekeepers
typically return from
Each year, Windsorites gather at the Cenotaph in City Hall
Square for Remembrance Day Ceremonies