I know not everyone is a fan of Prince Harry, but you have to admire the Invictus Games he created. Next year they will be in London. I found this article quite moving about a Canadian soldier:
"Some of you may know what bagpipes mean to me, so I couldn't help but hope they'd be played!" he started.
The Price was visible emotional as he continued, looking at James in the crowd. "Yesterday I met with Master Corporal James Gendron from the Canadian team in the Invictus 2025 tent," he told the arena.
"While we were chatting, I noticed bagpipes lying on the floor in the far corner. Some of you may know what bagpipes mean to me, so I couldn’t help but hope they’d be played!
"Little did I know that thirty minutes later, it would be James picking them up and offering to play - yet I had NO idea what they meant to him. Nor did I know what memories they triggered for him. In Afghanistan, he played 63 ramp ceremonies. For 63 caskets. For 63 souls. For 63 families.
"For four years after that last ceremony, he couldn’t touch them. This week he wasn’t sure whether he could bring himself to play them. But he did. What had once haunted him – dare I say it – may now be what helps heal him. Thank you, James, for your service, for your courage, for sharing your gift."
