Geoff Bale was just 21 years old, a sheep farmer from Masterton. Within weeks, these men were back in circulation. My grandfather among them, Stuart Franklin, was a man of few words, boundless wisdom, and I loved him beyond measure. What so many young New Zealand men who served would have done to be back home like Geoff Bale, back on the farm. It is for this sake, I believe I owe them a debt I will struggle to ever repay. To have risked so much—the loss to family, potential not realised, dreams never met—and yet all those brave souls flew on. Thousands upon thousands flew on for the freedom of democracy and prosperity, to embrace all things heartfelt, and, for Geoff and Stu, all things home, all things Kiwi. 