Thursday, May 8, 2025
Sincere condolences to the extended Graham family from Shelley Pleiter and brothers Michael and Philip. Our father, Derk, was the pilot of Arnold's Lancaster crew during WWII. After Dad passed away in 2011, I kept in touch with Arnold, calling around his birthday and on Remembrance Day with the same greeting, "How's my favourite veteran?" He usually replied, "Hanging in there," and often had a little cry when reminiscing about Dad and the other members of that very fortunate and close-knit crew.
I know every Remembrance Day from now on will include a prayer of thanksgiving not only for my dear dad, but also for ‘Porky’, the only name I ever knew him by (the nickname bestowed by his crewmates, in honour of his porcupine-like brush cut). Rest in well-deserved peace, dear Porky.