I stood on a high hill overlooking the Great Glen and
the river below on that beautiful day in Scotland.
Behind me was a huge statue of a group soldiers. This
monument is dedicated to the 1700 Commandos that were
trained at Fort William on Cameron land to fight in
WWII. Very few returned alive.
Lochiel was ordered to allow these men to train there.
He was not in favor of war (and is not today) of any
kind. Yet, he was ordered by the King of England and
Prime Minister Winston Churchill to permit this. He
agreed, sadly, but he agreed.
Wherever I went in Scotland I wore the Regimental
Tartan. Of course, the Scots knew who I was and what
it stands for. Several approached me and remarked that
we were a proud family, indeed, and directed me to be
proud of the fact that I am a Cameron. One sweet old
man stopped me at the Braemar games and as I passed him
he looked at me, smiled broadly and said only one word,
"Smart." It was my family that helped to keep the
British safe in WWII. The Scots remember things like
that as though they happened yesterday. They still
speak of the '45 as though it was just last week!
Others remember Jenny Cameron of Glendessary, a brave
woman and chief supporter of the Bonnie Prince Charlie
and the '45. She is spoken of widely in the book
titled "Rebel Damn Bitches, The Women Of The '45". She
is my kin, too.
When I stand to honor the Vets of all wars on Saturday
night at Chambers Farms with Native American people
and mixed bloods in my regalia as a " friend" I will
be thinking of those brave and honorable men, many
members of my own blood and the women and children who
were left behind to suffer the consequences of that
terrible war..ALL terrible wars. I will be thinking of
myself with no medals, no honors and my children who
also suffered the consequences of war. Just me and my
Higher Power to remember what we have given. I am
grateful to be a member of a proud and honorable
family..a Cameron...and always will be.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Marlene Cameron