Remembering You Dad Poem
72
Norman Francis Varden
Born in 1919, August 11th
In Montreal, Quebec
He was a friend to others
Just a man to some
To me he was my hero
My father, my dad,
Grandfather to my sons
d'orleans, Montreal, Quebec - He passed away in May of 2007
It was his time to go, up to heaven
I think of him often
Throughout everyday
Missing him dearly
In so many ways
When I look back at the challenges he faced
Of raising me on his own
I have to admire him, as he could have said no
Couples had asked to adopt me
When my mother died
But he would not hear of this
He kept me by his side
Joined the Royal Canadian Navy
At the age twenty-one
His parents were proud
Of their middle son
We had our share of ups and downs
As many families do
Today I write this Poem Dad
To say, how proud I am of you
For raising me, as you did
At times, not an easy task
For all the love and care you gave
Rescuing me from harm
In oh so many ways
I have to thank you today
I hope that you can read this
From the heavens above
I know that you watch over me
I can still feel your love
Fought in World War II
Enlisted as a Stoker
In 1941
Serving on the Drumheller,
Stadacona, Cornwallis,
And a few other ones too
They were corvettes and minesweepers
Served until the end of World War II
Medals Include:
1935-45 Star
Atlantic Star
C.V.S.M. and Clasp
War Metal
I’ll always be your little girl
No matter what I do
I miss you Dad
I’ll always love you
©Copyright 2011 Susan Zutautas
Dad served on a ship called "The Orillia", in 1944, and by then he was a Petty Officer. The funny thing was in 1990 my family and I moved to Orillia. Dad never mentioned the names of the ships that he served on, but one would think that he would have made reference to The Orillia when he heard that I was moving there. A few years after he had died I was in the Legion with my mother-in-law having a beer. I spotted a picture on the wall and low and behold my dad was in the picture, standing aboard "The Orillia", with his shipmates . Shortly after that I sent to Ottawa for his personnel records and "HMCS The Orillia", was listed as one of the many ships he’d served on.
Dad was a choir boy and had a beautiful voice. I, as well as many other people thought that he would have done really well if he’d pursued a singing career. He liked all types of music, and I remember when I was growing up, my friends loved the fact that he would never ask us to turn our music down when they would come by for a visit. It didn't matter to him, unless of course he was watching one of his favorite shows on TV, such as Star Trek or an old western movie. I've included a video here, “Over The Rainbow”, a song that he used to sing all the time. This song brings tears to my eyes whenever I hear it.
Thank you for reading this tribute to my father. It is a long time over due. I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Veterans Affairs Canada
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That is beautiful Susan. I feel you. I lost my Dad in 1995 because of colon cancer.He was only 71. He too was a Veteran. I wrote a poem for him in 1993 and he requested that it be recited at his funeral. It was. And printed in the program. I know for sure your Dad knows all about your poem.
What a wonderful tribute to your dad, Susan. After that song and your poetry I had to go wipe my eyes and blow my nose. Thank you, Susan
And that wonderful photo, too.
Hey Susan, a very nice tribute to your father. Please accept my condolences even though they are far into the future. I lost my father when I was 17 years old, so I know what it's like to feel that loss. We always have memories that we can hold on to and cherish as though it was yesterday, but forgetting is something that will never happen. Thank you for sharing a part of you. :)
Oh Susan. I just know your dad is so proud of you and honored. You have "done him proud". And the additional information about his military history is so interesting.
It is a fact that we never stop missing them. After my mom and dad passed on, I felt like an orphan though I was middle aged. Your heart shows beautifully in this tribute to you wonderful father.
Cardisa, Thank you.
Rebecca, My Dad never wanted a funeral even though he knew I objected to this but followed his wishes. I would love to read the poem that you wrote for your Dad. Thank you.
James, Thank you.
Cags, Sorry that you lost your father at such a young age. Memories to hold dear to our hearts. Thank you.
Hyphenbird, I know what you mean about feeling like an orphan. He'd been there for most of my life, so I am grateful for that. Thank you so much.
Susan, what a beautiful tribute to your father. I know what it's like to have that kind of father, so I know how fortunate you must feel to have had that kind of father.
How lucky you and your children were to have him as long as you did. I don't doubt that you don't need me to make that particular remark.
One of the subjects I've been thinking about writing about (in the form of a story - not a poem) is the way my own father refused to even think about allowing us to go into foster homes when my mother was hospitalized (for several months) for Tuberculosis. Knowing that my father worked and had three kids, including a baby son, to take care of; the doctor was emphatic (I was there) when she kept pointing out to my father that he didn't really have any options other than putting us into foster homes. He kept saying he wouldn't have that. The doctor kept saying, "Well, what are else are you going to do?" He told her he'd figure something out, and he did. It cost him most of his modest income; but at a time when we needed him (particularly since we couldn't be with our mother) most, he made sure we wouldn't be separated from him, as well as our mother.
A whole lot of people aren't fortunate enough to have had "one of those kinds of fathers", so when we have it's reason to feel particularly grateful and want to honor them.
Susan, let me chime in with the others. What an awesome tribute to your father and to the daughter he raised.
Well done, well written. I was born in 1944 and my father was in the Navy on the U S Wasp.
Thank you for such a wonderful, moving and inspiring story.
Voted up, awesome and beautiful.
Susan, this is a beautiful tribute! It brought tears to my eyes and moved me deeply. I'm sure your dad was very moved too from his place in Heaven. Thank you for sharing this poem and tribute with us!
What a lovely tribute to your father, Susan. This little poem came to me as I enjoyed your introductory photo;
A girl and her dad are a powerful duo,
especially when he is her Canadian hero.
Recalling his smile and those masculine arms,
no other guy measures up to his big daddy charms.
We women treasure those men of our little girl youth,
a playful kiss on the cheek is a daughters salute.
I enjoyed ever bit of your work here, and am honored to have read it. I hope you don't mind, but I will be adding this link to one of my hubs. Thank you for a priceless bit of work.
HubHugs~
K9
Susan - as I read this - it brought back lots of memories of the major:) I miss him too....I am so glad - and isn't it so strange - how you saw that picture of him on The Orilla? You'd have never seen it if not for that beer perhaps....wow! I'd say he was giving you a nice shout out!!
Up and everything.
How lovely to write a tribute to your dad. I found what you wrote about him being on the Orilla but never talking about it particularly moving. My father is still alive at 88, and has been battling cancer for 3 years. He has often talked about his times in WW2 but when I was younger I didn’t pay much attention. Now I ask to hear more of his stories, and we are hoping to get them recorded. It is amazing what that generation went through.
Lisa, Thank you for sharing a bit of your story with your own father here. I hope that you write this story soon as I would love to read it.
Pixienot, So nice to see you, it's been awhile. Thank you for stopping by to have a read and for your really nice comments.
time2write, Thank you so much.
K9, I love your poem! I don't mind you adding a link at all and really appreciate it. Thank you so much for everything! xxx
RH, There are times when I will be doing something and all of a sudden my dad's voice comes to me (in my head not out loud) with something he said to me years ago and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy:) Thank you and glad that this brought back some nice memories of the Major for you.
Melvoy, There was another thing in his records that I rec'd that I did not include above. When my Dad left the navy he wanted to pursue a career in the Police force. He never once mentioned this to me. Funny how you find certain things out. I am glad though that you are able to ask your father questions. Wish I would've done the same when I had the chance to.
This is a lovely tribute to your father. He was a loving, wonderful dad. You do bear a strong resemblance to him, Susan, inside as well as out. Voted up.
Susan - or have you had a vivid dream that is so real? I had this technicolor - surround sound dream where I was driving to work - on highway 270 - I looked over and the major was sitting in the passenger seat right next to me! He had a huge smile and he said, "you're doing really good things with your life kid". Then he evaporated - but I've been happy so many times when I think about that dream. If anyone could reincarnated themselves to send a message - he would do it! Lol
Beautiful poem Susan! You have done a great job here.
Thank's for sharing this ! :)
drbj, Thank you.
RH, Had a dream like that about my mother telling me everything was going to turn out okay. I had just moved to Toronto at the time and was getting exasperated looking for a job. Within three days I got a job :)
katrinasui & Barry, Thank you for reading and commenting.
Great hub. Your father is a hero.
That is so wild! I loved that dream....wish I could have another one...it was like a quick happy visit:) I hope you have another tonight!
Beautiful Susan. You had a handsome Father. I'm sure he is smiling..Thank you...
This is a fantastic tribute, Susan. The love is tangible. And I have to say, I am a big fan of that song. It gets stuck in my head every so often, randomly.
Again, very good hub here.
masmasika, Thank you, I think he is.
Ruby, He was a hunk in his day :) Thank you.
emichael, Thank you so much!
What a wonderful tribute to your Dad Susan. I think it is important, especially as we go on to raise our own kids, to give them credit for parenting us and doing the best they could...Not always an easy task either. He did a good job! Very inspiring!
Yes your love shines though in this, and great photos. I found it poignant, in some ways, that he should never have mentioned the ships he served on, especially the Orrilia. What a surprise to find the photograph in the Legion, but it makes me wonder a lot why he never mentioned it. Just me, a deep thinker that way. Now, if I knew who your dad was, I might ask him to take that apostrophe out of 'heaven's', cos it just clouds his otherwise sunny sky up there where it is. LOL Lovely mark of respect for your dad.
A beautiful poem that moved me to tears and a wonderful tribute to your father.
Somehow I know your father will read this and be so very proud of you.
Kathy, Thank you.
Ercolano, Thanks for your comments especially ('), I appreciate that.
MM, Thank you so much.
Hi Susan
This is such a beautiful and touching tribute to your dad; your hero.
Voted up up and away!
Sue, Thanks so much.
What a sweet, wonderful tribute to your father! I wrote one about my dad, too. Aren't we lucky to have had such fathers? Voted up!
habee, Very lucky. Thank you, and I am going to go and read yours about your dad. If I can find it, you have a lot of Hubs :)
A great tribute to your father!
Nice poem.
I love these lines:
"I know that you watch over me
I can still feel your love"
Bijja, Thank you, I appreciate you reading this and leaving such a nice comment.
Beautiful. What a hero he was and what a wonderful tribute to him.
acaetnna, Thank you :)
Ver moving, great job!
arusho, Thank you.
I love the flow of this poem, I too am a veteran of the US Navy, so I fully understand his honorary commitment to the armed forces of his country & his duty to uphold freedom. Your father must have been a great inspiration to you.
I wish you luck on your voyages on the web, and I'm proud to have met someone of your stature. To be a child of a veteran such as your dad means a great deal. Voted up as beautiful. Such a lovely poem.
CloudExplorer, Yes my Dad was a great inspiration to me. I had thought of joining the Navy myself at one time. I am so glad that you like the poem.
Very nice to meet you too, and thank you very much.
Your Poem actually motivated me to write the 10 miles hub you just recently commented on, thanks Just Ask Susan for the feedback there. I'm off to reading another of yours, cant wait to do so your definitely an inspirational writer.
CloudExplorer, Thank you for letting me know that my poem motivated you to write your 10 mile hub. I appreciate it.
This is awesome... I voted up up up ...beautiful... Like your dad my dad is a hero. He served 21 years in the Army.. He fought in Korea when I was a baby and two terms in Vietnam..I really love your poem... Made me cry...
Deborah, Sorry to make you cry, but glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you.
Such a beautiful tribute Susan to your father. I loved learning the additional information as well. No doubt he is proud of you.
Sharyn
Sharyn, Thank you. I am so happy to have so many wonderful loving memories of him to carry with me.
Cardisa Level 8 Commenter 6 months ago
Susan, your dad was a hero. You are a wonderful daughter to write such a tribute to him. He must be proud of you looking down at your right now from heaven.