For a 90 year old Canadian veteran this latest battle has been nerve wracking, frustrating, and difficult to comprehend.
His plane leaves for Holland where he will participate in ceremonies to mark the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Holland. Canadians in WWII played the major role in that liberation, and it is something the Dutch have never forgotten in all those decades since. But so far he will not be accompanied by his son, a teacher, who wants to go but is not being allowed by the local school board.
This year is a major commemoration as this may be the last time most of the few remaining and now very elderly veterans, including Art Boon, will be able to attend.
The elder Boon, landed on D-Day and was among the first who crossed into and later fought across Holland.
Art wants his son Rick to be there with him, to help him. The problem is that Rick is a teacher at Central Perth Elementary and the local school board has refused adamantly to grant him a short –unpaid- 6-day leave of absence.
Since the news has been made public in the past several days, the Avon Maitland District School Board has been inundated with hundreds and hundreds calls and emails many angrily denouncing their refusal to let a son accompany his aging veteran father on this most important pilgrimage.
They say in making their decision they took into account the number of unpaid leaves Rick Boon had previously taken and the effect his temporary absence would have on students.
Time is running out quickly
Loreena McKennitt, a renowned Celtic musician from Manitoba, has started an online petition on behalf of the Boons.
One person wrote, “I am appalled about the lack of respect that this shows for Mr. Boon and his son. Do you not have substitute teachers?”
“Absurd” wrote another, adding, “I guarantee you that these students will learn far more from Rick and Art Boon about Canadian history and the war than they ever will from a text book. Please rethink your decision”
But there’s almost no time left for son Rick as his father’s plane leaves on Friday night. While the ageing veteran may be accompanied by his grandson, but he would really like his son to be there as Rick has more experience with his medication and with helping him.
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