A 12-year-old girl traveled more than 230 miles to aid a disabled World War II veteran who is more than seven times older than she is. London police decided to honor the girl who went to such great lengths to fulfill the goal she set out to complete.
The 90-year-old war veteran was victimized during a home invasion. He had served in the army during the second world war. Three sentimental flags were stolen from his home in Windsor. They are memories of his past bravery and his fallen comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice.
A Grade 6 student named Marayah Bailey was genuinely moved when she heard about what this veteran endured. In Canada, there are very proud of their veterans.
Bailey, who attends Lord Nelson Public School in London, is a Navy League Cadet, and she knew that she wanted to help in some capacity. More specifically, she wanted to bring Patrick Mullen a brand new Canadian flag – with a side of hope. However, as a 12-year-old unable to drive, she was facing some logistical problems. It is a good thing she has parents who were willing to help!
She approached her parents to ask them to join her cause. All together they headed to buy Mullen a new Canadian flag. The next step was driving to Windsor to hand-deliver it.
The school safety officer Const. Tanya LeClerc heard about the good deed from another parent at Lord Nelson. She said, “It was such a mature thing for a 12-year-old to do, and it was something so outstanding that she wanted to take it upon herself to present him with a new flag.” LeClerc felt it was only right to facilitate some kind of acknowledgment at the police board level.
At London police headquarters, Bailey released a statement saying, “He fought for us to have our freedom, and so instead of living in war and being stuck in our houses, we can go outside and be free.” She just did not think it was fair that a veteran had to experience home invasion and theft of sentimental belongings after all he had done for his country.
The London motto police adhere to the motto ‘Deeds not Words’. LeClerc felt Bailey’s work was closely related. Despite being only 12 years old, she was determined to help out a veteran. Not surprisingly, the chief of police was all too happy to give Bailey a certificate of recognition and a water bottle.
Canada played a big part in the Second World War, and it is only right that the country’s veterans are given the honor and respect they deserve. Throughout the conflict, well more than a million Canadian servicemen did their part in fighting for the Allies.
They were involved in almost every theater of war, specifically in the Atlantic, Western Europe and the Italian Peninsula, and lost over 44,000 lives in the process. Canadian forces were also a major component of the Allied armies that landed in Normandy as part of D-Day, on the 6th of June 1944. In fact, these soldiers made up the majority of the invading force at Juno Beach, the capture of which was their primary task within the overall operation.
The United Kingdom and Canada have enjoyed a well-established and very positive relationship over the years. This is partly due to their shared military history, fighting together as close allies in the First and Second World Wars. Canada is also one of the Commonwealth of Nations, and shares the same Royal Family and Head of State as Britain.
This close connection between the two countries makes Bailey’s mission all the more commendable, as part of the a long tradition of positivity and friendship between the people of Canada and Great Britain.