Remembrance Day Has New Meaning

I recently have come across an archive of family history that has made Remembrance Day all that more meaningful.  My uncle, Gino Gardin, has told the stories of my Great-Grandparents, Pietro and Antonia Gardin as he recalls it.  I became fascinated reading about the lives and times of generations of family that came before me.

Pietro and Antonia had 3 sons and a daughter. Johnny, Sebastian, Theresa and Gino.  My Grandfather is Sebastian.  Everyone called him Sub.

World War 1

I have just learned that my Great-Grandmother’s brother Luigi-Gino was killed in Russia during WW1 and is buried there.  For many years after his death the Russian Government gave them two skeins of wool.  I assume that this was in compensation for his death. 

My Great-Grandfather Pietro was in the Italian Army called the Alpini (or Little Alps).  At the time Italy was at war with Austria and the fighting was taking place in Northern Italy.  After a while the fighting got very vicious. He became a Prisoner of War for about one year. During that time he had very little to eat and the conditions were terrible, but he survived.  He learned to hate tomatoes, potatoes and cucumbers.  Later in his life he would eat potatoes and some tomatoes but he always hated cucumbers.  I remember my dad telling me this when I was a child.  My recollection is that the cucumbers were mouldy and he had to eat them to survive.    

After the war around 1919-1920 my Great-Grandparents got married and had their first 3 children.  They made a living working on the farm.  They were poor and it was a struggle.

Immigration to Canada for a Better Life

Pietro wanted a better life and came to Canada in 1926-1927.  Antonia and the children arrived left from the Port of Genova in Italy and arrived in New York, Ellis Island and travelled to Detroit and then to Windsor.  They finally arrived in January 1932.  My uncle Gino was born in 1940.

My Grandfather and his older brother did not fight in WW2.  Pietro said that he had fought enough for the whole family. 

Each Remembrance Day we take the time to remember armed forced members who were killed in the line of duty. My heart goes out to all the families who have lost loved ones during wars around the world.  This November 11^th at 11:00 am, I will be reflecting on the past and the freedoms I have today based on other’s who have sacrificed their lives.