Padre's Corner - Standing Guard by our Tree
November 9, 2021 - Lt(N) David Jackson, Unit Chaplain, 3rd Canadian Division Headquarters
Most are probably unaware of the fact that commencing this Nov. 11, all chaplains of the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service will commence wearing our branch badge, which features the image of a tree, as our new chaplain cap badge.
According to the Canadian Heraldic Authority, the image of the tree is “taken from a stained glass window, named ‘Hope in a Broken World,’ located in the Hall of Colours at Beechwood National Memorial Centre in Ottawa.
The tree is an ancient symbol that is common in many faith traditions and depicts the ministry of chaplains throughout history. Known as the ‘Tree of Life,’ it is surrounded by rays representative of the light of the Divine. The roots and the rock symbolize activities strongly rooted in faith.”
This Remembrance Day, as I contemplate this change in our chaplain cap badge, I cannot help but think of a poem written by a civilian colleague of mine, the Reverend Kurt Reinhardt, Pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church near Kurtzville, Ont. The poem is titled “A Son Stands Guard,” and is dedicated “to the memory of Master Corporal Anthony Klumpenhouwer, a casualty of the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan, who is buried near an old maple tree in the small country cemetery of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church near Kurtzville, Ontario.” The poem can be found in the expanded edition of Rev. Reinhardt’s book of poetry, My Light and My Salvation.
The poem makes very effective use of repetition and of the maple leaf as a symbol of Canada, as well as reference to the Canadian National Anthem with the words, “On the north strong and free.” Interestingly, the poem describes the passage of time through the seasons backwards, beginning with Fall and ending with Spring. This may be a reference to the history of the world based on a religious understanding. Finally, the last verse of the poem speaks to the theme of sacrifice and leaves us to contemplate on those who paid the supreme sacrifice, and in particular of this young man. The final word “Tree” is capitalized, leaving room for the poem to also take on a fuller significance from a religious perspective.
I leave you now with the words of this poem, that you may also use it as a means of contemplation this Remembrance Day:
A Son Stands Guard
By Kurt Reinhardt
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)
A son stands on guard
By our great maple tree,
A son stands on guard
There for you and for me,
A son stands on guard
By our great maple tree.
As the leaves fall down
From our great maple tree,
As the leaves fall down
In our land true and free,
As the leaves fall down
He’s on guard by our tree.
As the snowflakes fall
On our great maple tree,
As the snowflakes fall
On the north strong and free,
As the snowflakes fall
He’s on guard by our tree.
As sap starts to run
In our great maple tree,
As sap starts to run
In our home rising free,
As sap starts to run
He’s on guard by our tree.
As leaves shade the ground
‘Neath our great maple tree,
As leaves shade the ground
Of our land growing free
As leaves shade the ground,
He’s on guard by our tree.
He gave up his life
For our great maple tree,
He gave up his life
Both for you and for me,
He gave up his life
To stand guard by our Tree.