IN THIS ISSUE 95-Year-Old Ottawa Veteran Completes His First Skydive
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Volume - 2 Edition 26 Week Ending July 4, 2008 IN THIS ISSUE 95-year-old Ottawa Veteran · 95-year-old Ottawa Veteran completes his first skydive completes his first skydive · Death leads to legion's license suspension · Air Force Club of Windsor loses club building · Royal Canadian Legion wants urinating on cenotaphs to be a Criminal Code offence · Families of soldiers serving in Afghanistan band together · HMCS Kitchenener CTV News · War Amps Cliff Chadderton to appear on national radio show July 1st · Disabled veterans' families feel strain on finances, health: survey · CUTHBERT, Ron J. George Gow. Credit: CTV News · Minister Issues Statement on the Occasion of Beaumont-Hamel Anniversary · Canada Day celebrations range from silly to sombre A 95-year-old Ottawa man has done · Moncton Legion celebrates Canada Day with show of support for our troops something most people a quarter his · Canada Day another day at the office for some Canadian troops age would never dare try -- he threw · New Nova Scotia memorial honours great sacrifices himself out of a plane for a skydiving · Government of Canada to Support Veterans’ Participation in Quebec City’s adventure. 400th Anniversary Parade George Lyall Gow completed the · Governor General presents Military Valour Decorations at the Citadelle skydive early Saturday evening, the · Why Gen. Hillier was so loved by his troops first ever jump for the Second World · June was deadliest month for troops in Afghanistan war War veteran. · Ex-Chancellor Schmidt Reflects on The Cold War · Soldiers helping fellow soldiers "(It was) absolutely marvelous," he told · Sombre anniversary for Canadian troops CTV.ca just after the jump in · No stopping Senior of the Year Gananoque, Ont. "I'm ready to go back · Legion 8-Ball All Ontario Champions anytime." · 2008 Legion Convention Reports and Resolutions He said he wasn't scared at all during · Change Of Command the jump, describing the experience as · Stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes, soldier's widow says "stupendous." · Random act of kindness floors a soldier. · Iconic Liberty Belle bomber lands on English soil for the first time since World Gow said he got the idea for the War Two tandem jump after a conversation with · PM honours slain officers at Mayerthorpe memorial a friend. The pilot told Gow he would · Comrade Griffin 'Bill' Johnson take him up in his plane, if he was up for the challenge. "I never had the opportunity to make a jump before. I said I would love to do it," Gow said. "You only live once." Gow has always had an adventurous spirit. He's travelled extensively since retiring from his desk job at the Bank of Canada. Just a few years ago, he went horseback riding through the Rockies. But his latest idea has some of his friends and family concerned. "The reaction has been great, but some people think I am out my... head," he The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 1 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 26 Week Ending July 4, 2008 said with a big laugh. second time bloodying his mouth, the George McMahon, past president of board was told. the club and current trustee, said there His daughter, Gloria, told CTV.ca she was a time, during the 1960s and supports her dad, but his plan had her Bar staff took Fiefield's car keys, put 1970s, when membership totalled more worried. him in a wheelchair and took him to his than 200 and the club was a going car to "sleep it off," the report said. Two "I think he's nuts to do it," she said concern, hosting events and hours later, a concerned legion flatly before the jump. celebrations, raising money for student member checked on him and called an bursaries and supporting local air But she said her brothers are fully ambulance when it appeared he had cadets. behind her dad's jump, and she has suffered a stroke. come around. But now, with Second World War Fiefield died three days later. veterans now well into their 80s, the "You got to do what you got to do," she The board ruled the legion staff's membership has dwindled to just 71 said, resigned about her dad's resolve. handling of the matter was and the costs of running the building Gow became one of the oldest "irresponsible and, indeed, prohibited," have become too high, said McMahon. skydivers in the world. However, he's the report said. "Demographics has raised its ugly shy of breaking any records just yet. Saturday, June 28, 2008 head," he said. "This used to be a busy According to the Guinness World UPI.com place, but see what has happened to Records website, a 100-year-old Section: RCL us. It's just the way the world is. We American woman made a tandem jump started losing money and the choice in 2004. Air Force Club of Windsor was obvious. We had to sell to survive." George Lyall Gow said he enjoys all of loses club building McMahon said the club will go on and the attention he's getting. He's had lots members will still hold meetings at the of calls from the media. But he notes new legion-owned club. They will he doesn't want notoriety -- just continue supporting cadets and may re- adventure. establish the bursary program. Fog in the Ottawa area Saturday "The esprit de corp will continue," he morning threatened to cancel his jump. said. "But it's a sad day. Look around. He was supposed to jump at 2 p.m. but There are a lot of tearful people." it was delayed until blue skys came over the area at about 5:30 p.m. Many stood wiping their eyes as the sky-blue air force ensign, emblazoned Saturday, June 28, 2008 CTV New s with the maple leaf rondelle that Billy Section: Veterans Bishop designed, came down the pole, along with Canada's Maple Leaf flag, for the last time. Death leads to legion's license suspension Members of the Air Force Club of Windsor © The Windsor Star 2008 look at the RCAF and Canadian flags that were taken down and placed on the Sunday, June 29, 2008 podium during a closing ceremony as the Don Lajoie, The Windsor Star building has been sold. Section: Veterans Credit: Pawel Dwulit, The Windsor Star The Air Force Club of Windsor, Wing Royal Canadian Legion wants 412, "has not passed on but continues HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, June 27 (UPI) -- urinating on cenotaphs to be with a new life, one without the burden A Royal Canadian Legion branch in a Criminal Code offence of a building." rural Nova Scotia had its liquor licenses suspended for a month after an That was the message Rev. Stan intoxicated man was served drinks and Fraser gave to about 70 club members later died. gathered on the lawn of the venerable old club building on Marentette Road The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Sunday, as the long-time home away Board, the provincial agency that from home for air force veterans passed regulates the Liquor Control Act In response to the urination incident on into local history, with its official revoked the Stellarton branch's license the Peterborough Cenotaph earlier this closing ceremony. after the stroke death of John Fiefield, year, the Royal Canadian Legion is 64, in October 2006, the Canwest The building, which has been in pushing the federal government to News Service reported. constant use since it was built in 1961, include the offence in the Criminal has been purchased by the Royal Code of Canada. The man reportedly told staff he'd Canadian Legion Branch 143 for consumed a pint of liquor before arriving At the 42nd Dominion Convention in $340,000. Ownership will be transferred but was served drinks. Twice, Fiefield Ottawa this week, the national ruling Friday. fell out of his chair onto the floor, the body agreed to lobby to stiffen the punishment for desecrating the Page 2 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending July 4, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 26 monument, said Fred Rathburn, The national group also focused on Buzak, 36. president of Peterborough’s Royal generating improved benefits for "And then he doesn't phone you or e- Canadian Legion Branch 52. veterans, said Hogg. who has attended mail you and (you feel like) ... nobody the convention since 1947. “We want urinating on the Cenotaph cares. It's just the loneliness. put in the Criminal Code of Canada,” “We’re always trying to get our Sometimes you just get tired of being Rathburn said. veterans better pensions and facilities,” alone when you're in a couple. he said explaining it’s geared towards Sometimes it's just hard." “The $65 fine for the boy in keeping them in their homes as long as Peterborough is not enough. We are She proudly shows off a picture of a possible. going to push for stronger punishment.” recent holiday in Italy with her husband- “There have been drastic improvements to-be, Master Cpl. Robert Jackson, 38, The community was angered when a over the years,” Hogg said. of the Calgary Highlanders. He's been 17-year-old boy was charged with a gone since February and is due back The next Dominion Convention is being municipal offence on May 5 for this fall. They are to be married Nov. 8. held in Winnipeg in 2010 and the urinating on the Cenotaph. The $65 provincial convention is scheduled for "I would like him sitting right here penalty was too lenient for many.