IN THIS ISSUE T.O. Students Will Stand on the Beaches Where So Many Of

Volume - 2 Edition 22 Week Ending June 7, 2008 IN THIS ISSUE T.O. students will stand on the · T.O. students will stand on the beaches where so many of this old soldier's beaches where so many of friends died -- and D-Day will come alive this old soldier's friends died -- · Show of patriotism pays tribute to fallen soldiers and D-Day will come alive · Bill Weido · Helen MacRae saluted for her dedication to veterans · Second World War's 'kids' hit their 80s · Call For Letters For Past President Lloyd Mark · Canadian Soldier Killed in Afghanistan · Remembering Polish soldiers who trained in Niagara-on-the-Lake 90 years ago · Royal Visitor for Sunnybrook's Veterans · British pensioners living in Canada still seeking fairness · 1896 and all that Reserve troops of the Canadian 3rd Division · Minister Issues Statement on the Occasion of D-Day coming ashore at Bernières, Nan sector, · Former RCMP officers to file class-action suit over pension deductions Juno Beach, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. · Effort benefits Afghan children Credit: National Archives of Canada; photo, · On soldier's 'longest day,' he saved his comrades Gilbert Milne; neg. no. PA137013 · Prince Edward pays tribute to military families during visit to Winnipeg They will walk in his footsteps through · Veterans fear Canadians forgetting sacrifices: poll the killing fields of war. · B.C. family reunited with stolen war medals four decades after break-in · Government 'ignoring' atomic veterans, widow says Tomorrow they will follow this old · Royal Visitor for Sunnybrook's Veterans soldier across the Atlantic, these fresh- · Veteran of Second World War has British army medals stolen in Burlington, faced Lawrence Park Collegiate Ont students almost the same age he was · Wartime pilots to hold last parade when he first shipped out 69 years ago. · Celebrate Canada Day in Fenelon Falls · Veteran left behind rare heirloom: D-Day invasion map Back then, 17-year-old Bruce Melanson · Remembering D-Day: June 6, 1944 thought enlisting in World War II was · On Juno Beach his ticket to adventure. "Really and · The final battle: remembering D-Day's veterans truly, we were going over there for · D-Day: The most impressive thing he's ever witnessed excitement, not realizing, believe me, · D-Day F.A.Q. that this was a war. We didn't think of · History hits home that," he will tell these 31 kids. · Hundreds turn out to support troops "When we got to France, me and my · D-DAY Children help veterans honour bravery, sacrifice buddy looked at each other -- he died · Veteran's hard won medals vanish from Legion over there -- and said, 'My God, this is · Korea Veterans Association Receives Federal Support for 55th Anniversary war. No more girls, no more pubs, no Event more anything.' How terrible it was after that." For the 86-year-old veteran, this week's trip to Juno Beach and Vimy Ridge is the realization of a long dream to bring Toronto students over to see first hand what Canadian troops accomplished in the two world wars. It was an idea first born at Remembrance Day ceremonies several years back when he looked around him and realized how thin the The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 1 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 22 Week Ending June 7, 2008 ranks of his contemporaries had To some, it looked like a display of a vehicle packed with explosives in become. patriotism put on by an organization August 2006, travelled all the way from mired in controversy. Regina to take part in the rally and said They will walk in his footsteps through she was moved by the outpouring of the killing fields of war. But to the hundreds of drivers and support she saw along the highway. motorcyclists who retraced the journey Tomorrow they will follow this old fallen soldiers take when they are "It means a lot to me to come and see soldier across the Atlantic, these fresh- repatriated to Canada, the first "Red that the people are still remembering faced Lawrence Park Collegiate Rally" from Trenton, Ont., to Toronto our boys and girls and just showing students almost the same age he was was just a way to show their respects to support for our troops," said Braun. when he first shipped out 69 years ago. soldiers who have paid the ultimate "For me, I wanted to come down that price. highway without my dead son in front of Back then, 17-year-old Bruce Melanson me." thought enlisting in World War II was Journeying along the stretch of his ticket to adventure. "Really and Highway 401, now known as the All proceeds from the Red Rally are to truly, we were going over there for Highway of Heroes, an eclectic mix of go toward the Canadian Hearing excitement, not realizing, believe me, veterans, bikers and patriotic Society to support Canadian Forces that this was a war. We didn't think of Canadians of all ages took to the road veterans. that," he will tell these 31 kids. waving Canadian flags from their Noting his parents were liberated by windows and from the backs of their "When we got to France, me and my Canadian troops in the Netherlands Harleys. buddy looked at each other -- he died during World War II, Muntz said he over there -- and said, 'My God, this is Despite storm clouds overhead and the founded the Red Fridays Foundation of war. No more girls, no more pubs, no controversy surrounding the lack of Canada out of a deep respect for the more anything.' How terrible it was after charitable status of the Red Fridays soldiers. "I was taught to always that." Foundation that organized the rally, a respect this country for what they had few hundred people gathered at the done for our family. This is just For the 86-year-old veteran, this week's rally's finish line in Downsview Park in something I wanted to do out of my trip to Juno Beach and Vimy Ridge is support of the event. Still, it wasn't quite heart." the realization of a long dream to bring the turnout organizers had expected. Toronto students over to see first hand Sunday, June 01, 2008 what Canadian troops accomplished in "We had some bad press and I think Brett Popplewell, The Star the two world wars. It was an idea first that brought our numbers down," said Section: Afghanistan born at Remembrance Day ceremonies Brian Wilkins, spokesperson for the several years back when he looked rally organizers, alluding to suggestions around him and realized how thin the made by the original founders of the Bill Weido ranks of his contemporaries had Red Fridays campaign – a grassroots become. movement to drum up support for Canadian troops overseas – that some Sunday, June 01, 2008 military families were not onside with MICHELE MANDEL, The Toronto Sun the rally. Section: Veterans Wilkins and Red Fridays Foundation founder Brian Muntz had anticipated Show of patriotism pays more than 1,000 vehicles would take tribute to fallen soldiers part in the procession. In the end, only 510 motorcycles (ridden primarily by We are sorry to announce that Bill Canadian Army veterans), 130 cars Weido is in The Grand River Hospital,I and a bus – all adorned with Canadian will be visiting him this week,and will flags – took part in the rally. keep you updated on his progress. The rally also included 83 red vehicles, Sunday, June 01, 2008 one for each of the 83 Canadians who Norma Ash have died in Afghanistan, and a painted Section: Sick and Visiting transport truck depicting a Canadian Forces motif and a bus loaded with the Helen MacRae saluted for her relatives of 13 deceased soldiers. dedication to veterans All were greeted by cheering A woman waves a Canadian flag as a supporters at every overpass along the Entertaining veterans never gets old for procession of red cars moves west along highway, something Muntz says the Helen MacRae. Highway 401 past the Mill St. bridge in families of the deceased don't always The 82-year-old Charlottetown resident Newcastle to Toronto, part of a fundraising appreciate. event organized to support the troops. has been bringing cheer to servicemen Credit: RICK MADONIK/TORONTO STAR But Patti Braun, the 50-year-old mother since the mid-1940s —and she is still going strong. Media controversy surrounding of Cpl. David Braun, who died when a organizer dampens turnout. Canadian supply convoy was struck by “I plan to do it as long as they want me Page 2 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending June 7, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 22 to," she said. “I enjoy it. I’m in good heart and soul of veterans. She sees The early years of the war decimated health. I love what I do." their eyes well up to wartime standards the ranks of Canada's officer corps, so like the White Cliffs of Dover. the country went looking for POMs -- potential officer material. She recalls one veteran who had not been able to move at all for years Newspaper ads called for "bright Grade suddenly tapping a foot to the music as 13 graduates" to enlist and volunteer she played the keyboard. for officer training. The first 200-plus volunteers joined in 1942 and were “That shows that music gets through trained in technically demanding fields even if they can’t communicate," she such as artillery and engineering. said. “That was quite a moving experience to see that.

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