REUTERS/Hamid Khatib
Members of the Free Syrian Army chant as one of them plays the guitar near Nairab military airport in Aleppo February 26, 2013.
REUTERS/Hamid Khatib
Members of the Free Syrian Army chant as one of them plays the guitar near Nairab military airport in Aleppo February 26, 2013.
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REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman
A man carries a child who was wounded after a jet missile hit the al-Myassar neighbourhood of Aleppo February 20, 2013.
John McInnis Auctioneers/AP Photo
This undated photo provided by John McInnis Auctioneers in Amesbury, Mass., shows late President John F. Kennedy, right, with his wife, Jacqueline, center, and sister-in-law Ethyl Kennedy, left. The photograph is among items to be auctioned Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. The family of David Powers, a former special assistant to President John F. Kennedy, is auctioning hundreds of photographs, documents, gifts and other memorabilia that once belonged to the late president. Other items include a photograph of John F. Kennedy with Harry Truman, autographed by Truman, and Kennedy's Air Force One leather bomber jacket.
Bernat Armangue/AP Photo
Palestinians flee their homes after an Israeli forces strike on nearby a sports field in Gaza City, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. The Palestinian civilian death toll mounted Monday as Israeli aircraft struck densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip in its campaign to quell militant rocket fire menacing nearly half of Israel's population.
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
An Israeli child plays in a large concrete pipe used as a bomb shelter on November 19, 2012 in Nitzan, Israel. According to reports November 19, 2012, at least 90 Palestinians have been killed and more than 700 wounded during the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Joe Penny/Reuters
A girl watches voters at a polling station during presidential elections in Freetown November 17, 2012. Sierra Leoneans vote on Saturday in elections they hope can propel the small West African state into an era of prosperity based on mining and oil after a decade of difficult recovery from civil war. The presidential and parliamentary polls, the third held since the end of the 1991-2002 conflict, pit President Ernest Bai Koroma and his ruling All People's Congress (APC) against challenger Julius Maada Bio, a former junta leader who represents the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP).
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Every year as Remembrance Day approaches, I think of my father who served with the Polish Forces under British Command during WWII.
My father passed away when I was 21 yrs old. I often wish that I had listened more closely to the stories he had to tell, and had asked him more questions rather than wave him off like the disinterested teenager that I was.
A cherished handful of faded black and white images remain - taken somewhere, sometime during his WWII service in Russia, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, and Italy, where he was wounded during the infamous Battle of Monte Cassino. He received the Army Medal, Cross of Monte Cassino.
Sadly, information is lacking about when and where most of the photos were taken. I am curious about the shot of him wearing a kaffiyeh and the young boys giggling in the background, or him posing with his buddies under what appears to be a citrus tree. Who are the many other handsome young soldiers with him? Did any of them immigrate to Canada after the war too? Who took the photos? So many questions that will never be answered.
As years passed, I wanted to learn more about my father's service during the war. I wanted to see where the Battle of Monte Cassino took place - I needed to know where dad was wounded. I wanted his military records. I contacted the Ministry of Defence in the UK to request his military records, which they provided. And with a big surprise - they also informed me that my father was entitled to four military awards, that were never issued to him. Bittersweet.
WANDA GOODWIN/TORONTO STAR
A Hipstamatic photo of the four medals that my father never received.
British: Italy Star, the War Medal 1939-1945, 1939-1945 Star, and the Defence Medal.
So, on this Rememberance Day, here are a few of my favourite images of my dad. Perhaps this may encourage you to listen your loved ones stories so that you may preserve your family's history for future generations.
Do you have a favourite family war time photo you would like to share?
Email us at thestarsubmissions@gmail.com and we will include it in our Remembrance Day online photo gallery.
Tell us what makes it special for you.
My father on far left.
Dad, on left wearing a kaffiyeh.
Dad, back row, third in from right.
Dad, far left, 1942, Mosul.
Dad, back row standing, fourth in from left.
Dad, third in from left, posing with a citrus tree.
Dad, front row standing, far left.
Standing proud.
Dad, seated, back row far right.
Dad, second from left.
Dad, far left, in Syria.
Dad, far left, 1946 - photo was likely taken sometime around his demobilization on October 15, 1946.
Dad, far right.
Formal portrait of my father, Jan Fracz in his military uniform.
Americans went the polls to elect their President — and it was Barack Obama who was given another four years in office. Come back often as we will be updating the blog with fresh photos as the jubilation and disappointment sets in.
Pete Souza/White House/Handout
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama embrace Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden moments after the television networks called the election in their favor, while watching election returns at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park in Chicago, Ill., Nov. 6, 2012.
Mike Segar/Reuters
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney delivers his concession speech during his election night rally in Boston, Massachusetts, November 7, 2012.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Keesha Patterson of Ft. Washington, Maryland (bottom) proposes marriage to her girlfriend Rowan Ha (C) during the election night victory rally at re-elected President Barack Obama headquarters in Chicago, November 6, 2012.
David Joles/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak went crowd surfing with his mother, Lorraine, after it was announced the announcement that President Barack Obama was re-elected during the Minnesotans United for All Families election night results-watching event at the St. Paul RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday November 6, 2012.
AP Photo/Kathy Willens
Supporters of President Barack Obama Shauna Harry, left, and Alana Hearn celebrate by leaping in the air at New York State Democratic Headquarters following Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama cheer after networks project Obama as reelected during the Obama Election Night watch party at McCormick Place November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Networks project Obama has won reelection against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Romney supporters react as they watch voting returns at the election night rally for U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in Boston, Massachusetts November 6, 2012.
REUTERS/Jeff Haynes
Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama cheer the news of the president's apparent re-election during his election night rally in Chicago, November 6, 2012.
REUTERS/Larry Downing
Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama cheer during his election night rally in Chicago, November 6, 2012.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama cheer during the Obama Election Night watch party at McCormick Place November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama is going for reelection against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
AP Photo/Chris Carlson
A rigger makes his way up top the rafters during the election night party for President Barack Obama Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Chicago.
Allison Joyce/Getty Images
The Empire State Building is lit red white and blue for election night November 6, 2012 in New York City. Voters went to polls in the heavily contested presidential race between incumbent U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
Photo/Burlington Times-News, Scott Muthersbaugh
Alamance County, N.C., Board of Elections chairman Matt Wall closely inspects a write-in ballot at the Board of Elections headquarters in Graham, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012.
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
A supporter watches the election results at the election night party for President Barack Obama Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Chicago.
MEHDI TAAMALLAH/AFP/Getty Images
A view of the Empire State Building in New York, New York that is projecting an LED illuminated meter to show the results of the 2012 Presidential Election as CNN counts the numbers of electoral votes for each candidate, showing US President Barack Obama in blue and Mitt Romney in red, as polling in each state closes on November 6, 2012.
REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi
Supporters watch voting returns at the election night rally for U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in Boston, Massachusetts November 6, 2012.
AP Photo/ John Minchillo
Martha Nunez, 53, of the Bronx, reacts to positive predictions for President Barack Obama as crowds watch election results in Times Square, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in New York.
REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi
U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is seen on a screen during his election night rally in Boston, Massachusetts November 6, 2012.
STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR
As the Democrats Abroad gather Canadian Democrats celebrat early Obama returns at the Sheraton in Toronto for the American election. November 6, 2012.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
A poll worker (LOWER R) assists voters with the help of a flashlight in a makeshift tent set up as a polling place at Scholars' Academy, PS 180, in the Rockaway neighborhood on November 6, 2012 in the Queens borough of New York City.
THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/Getty Images
A blackboard at Harry's New York Bar in Paris shows late on November 6, 2012 the results of a straw poll on election night, giving 305 votes for incumbent US President Barack Obama against 182 for Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
Max Whittaker/Getty Images
Justin Stucki, Leah Quirk, and Kenady Pettingill urge drivers to vote for U.S. Presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney on November 6, 2012 in Spanish Springs, Nevada.
Max Whittaker/Getty Images
A poll worker inserts an electronic voting card into a machine November 6, 2012 in Sparks, Nevada. As Americans go to vote, President Barack Obama and Republican nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney remain in a virtual tie in the national polls.
Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images
A worker vacuums around the stage as the final touches are made in the ballroom at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center for Mitt Romney Campaign's election night event November 6, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts.
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney waves goodbyes to journalists after answering question during the last flight of his presidential campaign, from Pittsburgh international airport in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, to Boston, Massachusetts, on November 6, 2012.
Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/MCT
President Barack Obama visits a campaign office in the Chicago, Illinois neighborhood of Hyde Park on Election Day on November 6, 2012.
Harry Lynch/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT
Durham voter Jennifer Socey fills out her ballot at Pearsontown Elementary precinct 34-1 during voting, Tuesday morning, November 6, 2012, while her son Reid Pressley, 3, keeps a very low profile watching other voters and officials in the school gym.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
People enter Washington Mill Elementary School to cast their vote in the U.S. presidential race, on November 6, 2012, in Alexandria, Virginia.
Max Whittaker/Getty Images
Ora Thornton calls voters at a Romney/Ryan campaign phone bank November 6, 2012 in Reno, Nevada. As Americans go to vote, President Barack Obama and Republican nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney remain in a virtual tie in the national polls.
Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images
Children from Kingdom Kinds Child Development Center march past a polling station to get out the vote at Dunbar High School on November 6, 2012 in Washington, DC. The latest polls continue to show a tight race between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney stands in front of a spotlight as he speaks during a campaign event at the International Exposition Center Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Supporters cheer as U.S. President Barack Obama arrives at a campaign rally at the McArthur High School in Hollywood, Florida, on November 4, 2012. Obama and challenger Mitt Romney criss-crossed America on Sunday, appealing for votes in a two-day final dash for the US election win that both sides claim is within their grasp. (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)
Richard Lautens/Toronto Star
Mayor Rob Ford unexpectedly visited the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, to read a proclamation opening the event for its 90th year. Followng his speach, he toured the Fair and even stopped to help wash Ronald, a short-hair cross from the Dresden Beef Club.
