I rarely share anything personal on the blog but this time I’ll make an exception.
I am not one those ‘patriotic’ men who weae Lion coat of arms in their neck or own one of those “Thank you 1939-1945 shirts.” I simply they are tacky.
My brother swore his oath of allegiance on Thursday in Hamina in the Church of Marian. (In Finland the service is compulsory) My grandfather swore his oath also in the same place exactly seventy years ago. In the middle of February 1942.
My brother came home for a three day vacation shooting pool. Grandfather was headed to the front.
Most of the time during ceremony I watched at my grandfather and tried to think of the emotions he went through that day 70 years ago and now watching his grandson going through the same thing in the same place. It must have revoked memories and it was emotional but I would be lying to claim that I had even the slightst idea of his thoughts.
It must have a been a big deal because he asked me to take the picture of him and my brother.