In Flanders Fields Brings Back Memories Of Mrs Kukelko

By Ben Meisner

In Flanders fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row, that mark our place; and in the sky the larks, still bravely singing, fly scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.

Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Nearly 65 years have passed in my life since I recall  being held in the arms of Mrs Kukelko as she cried and cried. A few minutes earlier a man had come to the house with a brown envelope, he removed his hat, looked at her with sorrow, handed the telegram and then turned and left the yard, he had other telegrams to deliver.

She didn’t open it; she just picked me up sat down on the step and began to cry, holding me as close to her as she could.

I couldn’t quite realize why she was crying so loudly.

It was some time later that I came to understand that the telegram was to inform her that, “Frank” would not be coming home from overseas. Frank, who had taken me for a ride on his motorcycle, Frank who had thrown me in the air in play and I’m sure Mrs Kukelko's favourite son, had been killed in action.  He was the second son to die in a year , a 17 year old died of natural causes the year before.

That memory is etched in my mind and while on Nov 11^th I often think about a father that I can’t remember ever meeting, Mrs Kukelko's crying is burned into my soul.

War is hell and Mrs Kukelko who lost a son was living proof on that fateful day.

Mrs Kukelko , used to baby sit me while my mother worked as a chore woman in the community of Maryfield, Saskatchewan.

As best that I can recall it was towards the end of the second world war , I a product of mother trying to make it on her own with four kids, little money , what there was , would only buy what the ration book would allow.

I don’t know whatever happened to dear old Mrs Kukelko, who made the best donuts, chicken soup and yes buckwheat soup when she didn’t have the ingredients for the latter (and I know that she went without so I could eat when food was tough to come by. )  She had her own family of five to feed , plus five of us on many occasions . I can only pray that there is a here after and she is now enjoying a life with her two sons that were taken from her at such an early age.

November 11^th and reciting of Flanders Field has something special for me, it is a day that I remember Mrs Kukelko , she would be amongst thousands of Mums who understand the meaning of this day.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

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