​A Wartime Romance: Larry and Edith's Love Story - Week 1 Veteran Stone Winner(s)

​Week 1, and our winner was Kim submitting her grandparents stone at Woodland Cemetery in Mitchell, On. What a treat, 2 veterans on ond stone, and an amazing story Kim was willing to share. I hope I do it justice. If not, the pictures will help you along. Join me in saying tribute to Leonard 'Larry' Sylvester and his amazing wife Edith.

Love stories born out of wartime often have a unique kind of strength, forged in the fires of chaos and uncertainty. This is the story of Leonard, a young Canadian soldier who everyone called Larry, and Edith, a beautiful, outgoing British medical truck driver, who found each other amidst the turmoil of World War II.

Larry was a true Canadian boy from Stratford. The son of a no-nonsense plumber and tinsmith, he was as practical and grounded as his upbringing.

He was a natural athlete, thriving on the ice and the field. He was on the winning team for the first-ever Senior WOSSA hockey tournament and was a formidable competitor in track and field. His athletic spirit and easy-going nature made him a favorite among his peers, and it was this same spirit that carried him into service for his country.

Meanwhile, Edith was a woman of equal grit and determination. Her father owned a trucking company, making driving a second nature to her. Her beautiful, outgoing personality was matched by her deep sense of duty. When her nation needed her, she joined with heart in hand, navigating the treacherous roads of a war-torn country, transporting vital supplies and personnel. Her days were a blur of long hours, dangerous routes, and the constant hum of a truck engine, all in the service of saving lives.

​Their paths, seemingly worlds apart, converged in a moment of serendipity. It was in a fleeting moment of respite from the front lines—a chance encounter that sparked a connection stronger than the distance between their homelands. He was drawn to her quiet strength and unwavering resolve, while she was captivated by his warmth, his athletic charm, and the hint of Canadian practicality in his eyes.

Their courtship was not one of grand gestures or leisurely dates, but of stolen moments between shifts, hurried conversations over cups of tea, and the exchange of letters filled with hope and longing. They were two people from different worlds, united by the shared experience of a war that had changed everything.

​After the war, Edith joined Larry in Canada, leaving her life behind for the one she had built in her heart. They went on to have a beautiful family, never boasting of their individual accomplishments. They were simply content to live the lives they were awarded in a small town, loved by many. They were always aware that if it were not for the tragedy of war, their hearts would have never become one.

So now together forever, just as the original plan. Humble until the end, unaware of the trouble of war. We honour, respect and thank Larry and Edith for their sacrifices. And we thank Kim, for entering and sharing a beautiful stone and story. Will your family's story be next?