Volume - 2 Edition 44 Week Ending November 2, 2008 IN THIS ISSUE War bride honours lost love · War bride honours lost love · The Maple Leaf and The Union Jack · Royal Canadian Mint commemorates 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War with brilliant red poppy circulation coin · War Amps re-releases WWI documentaries to mark 90th anniversary of armistice · WWII nurse considers herself one of the lucky ones · Queen to appear at launch of Canadian war vigil · Author discovers unmarked veteran’s graves · Steeped in modern conflict, artist portrays historic warriors · Monday Night Pool Standings · Legion announces New Regulations Regarding the Dipping of Colours · My Personal Remembrance Day · Sacrifice of soldiers worth holiday, poll says · What's hidden in this box? · We will remember them · Legion - Air Canada and Jazz mark month of Remembrance Squibs Mercier holds a poster she had · Memorial Service for Second World War Hero and 412 Squadron Honorary made celebrating the military service of her husband, Reuben Ash, who fought in the Colonel Charley Fox battle of Ortona, Italy, in 1943. The poster · Wear a poppy - Peace through remembrance will be given to the students of Notre Dame · Legion Announcement Re : Donations for the Canadian Forces High School when she visits with them on · Branch 50 Kicks Off K-W Poppy Campaign November 10th. Credit: Wayne Cuddington, Ottawa Citizen. OTTAWA - Remembrance Day comes early for Squibs Mercier and she spends Oct. 20 withdrawn, letting her thoughts travel to Italy and the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery near Ortona, where they hover at a place she has never seen - the grave of Reuben Ash. He was one of three brothers from Madoc who, together joined the Hastings and King Edward Regiment, the "Hasty P's," also known as the Horse 'n Plow, or simply "the plowboys." Most of them were from farms. While waiting to be sent into battle, the brothers found romance. All three married English girls. "We three couples used to sit in my parents' home (in Dorking, "the Heart of the Surrey Hills") and talk about our plans for after the war.

The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 1 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 Week Ending November 2, 2008 "We would take over the family farm Veterans' Health Centre. They had parts are there. Everything appears to (Elmridge) in Madoc, Ontario, Canada, three children. be working. and buy up a couple of adjoining farms. It was a series of random events that We would be able to share machinery led the couple to Ottawa after the war. and labour and we would all be Being close to Madoc, she re- together. established contact with the Ash "My father was a building contractor brothers, Don and Orville, and their war and he would join in the planning, brides. Only June, widow of Orville, is helping the boys sketch out barns and left and still makes Madoc her home. A equipment sheds, and showing them younger brother, Philip, too young to new building techniques. Such dreams join his brothers in war, lives in we had." Brantford. Until the arrival of the Hasty P's, Squibs The Ash brothers saw John as a Neale had been warned by her parents replacement for their lost brother. 1941: Toronto Scottish Regiment gets royal to avoid "those wild Canadians." The Johnny was a loner and found it difficult welcome to Aldershot, England. farm boys turned out to be gentlemen. to let people get close to him. The Ash So why does it feel like something is They easily withstood the teasing of family broke down those barriers, and not quite right in the relationship their fellow Canadians. there were good years. between Canada and Britain today? "I recall the 48th Highlanders used to Recently, Squibs heard a radio report It is a vexing question. All the more so, get together and mock the Hasties by about students at Notre Dame High given the lack of consensual answers marching while bobbing up and down, School planning a remembrance during a fascinating blue-ribbon summit as if marching across a plowed field." pilgrimage to Ortona and the Moro that sought to unravel the riddle last River Cemetery. She heard the name The farm boys said it was best to week at University of Cambridge. of teacher Jean Richard, a man with a ignore the Toronto rat ranchers. reputation for taking seriously the Billed as an exploration of The Other The Ash boys were strong men, promise to remember. She tracked him Special Relationship: Anglo-Canadian hardened by farm life, and charming down by telephone and asked for a Relations from the Churchill Era to the fellows. favour. Present Day, the room was packed with enough transatlantic brass to fill a war Reuben was particularly hard to resist. They worked out a deal. The Notre cabinet twice over. He was the musician. With little urging, Dame contingent of 10 would carry out he would pull out his guitar and pull her request, if she would, in return, join Not least among them was Lord Peter everybody together in song. Although them for their school remembrance Carrington, who commanded pin-drop she had been warned by her parents services next Monday, the day before silence as he described how it felt when that she was too young to fall in love, the official Remembrance Day. She's that first Canadian battalion arrived in petite and pretty Squibs watched one of those who believes loved ones Britain at the onset of World War II. Reuben look into her eyes, over and don't die if they're kept alive in memory. "I'm now an endangered species – a over, as he sang Have I Told You regular soldier from before the Second Lately That I Love You? "Although I got on with the business of World War," said Carrington, 89, a life, Reuben has been with me every They were married June 10, 1942. former British foreign secretary and step of the way." NATO secretary general. On Oct. 17, 1943, in the Allied push up She has ordered a wreath. The high the Italian Adriatic Coast approaching "I remember only too well the arrival of schoolers, as their part of the bargain, Ortona, Reuben was wounded. He died the Canadian division. It was a will place it at Reuben's grave. It will on Oct. 20. tremendously warm feeling. They were have a ribbon bearing a message. It's the very first friendly troops to arrive. He was 23. His widow was 19. from a heart-broken 19-year-old girl And those of us who were there who still lives in an 84-year-old woman. It would become part of Neale family remember that Canadian contribution lore that on the night he died, back in "Have I told you lately that I love you?" with great gratitude and affection." Dorking, Squibs crawled into bed with © Ottawa Citizen 2008 Fast forward three generations and you her mother, saying there was have the candid admission from High something wrong. Monday, October 27, 2008 Dave Brown , Ottawa Citizen Commissioner Anthony Cary, Britain's She buried herself in work. Gradually, a Section: Veterans current envoy to Ottawa, that even his day at a time, she worked her way to a own children have a much better sense level of acceptance. In 1945, she met of Australia, New Zealand and South and married Canadian airman Johnny The Maple Leaf and The Union Africa than they do of Canada. Mercier. Jack "It is partly because they are not well She married Reuben, she says, Assembled experts see something versed in history, and I apologize that because she needed him, and John 'slightly thin' and 'colourless' about our my children are so badly educated. because he needed her. He died eight special relationship. They meet Canadians in their normal years ago at the Perley and Rideau CAMBRIDGE, England–All the moving life and they muddle them up with Page 2 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending November 2, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 Americans. They take it for an admire the other country but find MacMillan observed without sentiment American accent," said Cary. difficulty in quite justifying our friendship the "element of nostalgia" in much of and affection in the context of the the comments. A sense that the Three of his predecessors were in relationships we wish to develop relationship "used to be better, attendance, along with Lord Geoffrey (elsewhere)." stronger. It has now become thin. It Howe, Margaret Thatcher's longest- isn't what it was. serving cabinet minister. There was some chiding of Canada for what Cary called a slightly off-putting "I think that is perhaps inevitable. But is From Canada, a comparable deep pool habit of lording it over friends. has left us with a lot – a shared history. of geopolitical thinkers, including former We went through four wars together in prime minister Joe Clark, former "Because Canada is such a good and the 20th century. We are now in a war defence and foreign affairs minister Bill responsible international citizen and in Afghanistan. We've been on the Graham and Ottawa's current man in behaves so well, there's something same side of a great many issues and I London, High Commissioner James slightly goody-goody and holier-than- don't think you can wipe that away." Wright. thou about Canada. Which is perhaps why people don't pay enough With a shared past, shared institutions, Together, they drew the mighty arc of attention." shared values, shared customs and anglo-Canadian ties that bind. But for shared ways of looking at the world, all its present-day breadth and depth, There was considerable talk about the said MacMillan, Canadians and Britons most acknowledged there is British tendency to see Canada merely come away with a mutual trust that "something slightly wrong, something as "two tribes" when in fact we are so should not be underestimated. slightly thin" and "colourless" in very much more than that – and how dealings between Britain and Canada. Canadians today are almost singularly "Trust is very important. It's not comfortable with the reality of our something you develop overnight." There is "a sense that we take each diverse selves. Which, in turn, led to other for granted, as for both of us the And with evidence pointing toward a talk of how the U.K., which is today United States looms so much larger, new global polarity, with the possibility gripped with issues of diversity, and that we don't put enough energy the United States "may well be a power migration and post-modern identity, into the relationship we do have." in decline," MacMillan suggested old would do well to look more closely at friendships matter now as much as Sir Andrew Burns, who was posted to the Canadian way. ever before. Canada from 2000 to 2003, described a Joe Clark offered a series of period of extended chill on his watch, Monday, October 27, 2008 observations based on lessons learned when Chrétien-era haggling over an Mitch Potter , The Star.com in 40 years in political life. He, too, Section: Veterans ultimately failed contract to procure expressed concern about a widening British helicopters was followed by "a gap between Britain and Canada, running battle" over the quality of four saying Canada is "becoming more like Royal Canadian Mint second-hand submarines sold to the United States rather than less," commemorates 90th Canada. partly as an "unintended consequence anniversary of the end of the Many characterized relations today as of free trade." First World War with brilliant "mature." The Brit political class, it But the abiding difference, said Clark, red poppy circulation coin emerged, is relieved today to discover remains Canada's "culture of that Canada has come into its own consensus" – a quality that is partly without the residual resentment – borrowed from Britain but one that was "colonial cringe," as one called it – that later enhanced "by our domestic sometimes complicates British relations success in dealing with diversity. with former empire outposts. "This is not a trivial asset. It is as real But the bonds between Canada and as a weapons system, as important as Britain are nevertheless riven with a robust economy." distractions. Each finds itself almost wholly preoccupied with its neighbours, It fell to Margaret MacMillan, the highly a process accelerated by free trade in regarded Toronto historian, author and North America and Europe. now professor at Oxford, to make sense of the day with closing remarks. A member of the Governor General's Foot Former British High Commissioner Guards, displays a new 2008 25-cent Burns said the "drifting apart" was She spoke of the occasional irritants: coloured poppy circulation coin frozen on 9/11, when global security Canada's tendency to preach, in what commemorating the 90th anniversary of the concerns saw anglo-Canadian relations Dean Acheson, a former U.S. secretary end of the First World War. Eleven million of knitted anew. But he warned that of state, used to call "the stern voice of these coins enter into circulation today and "behind it all, there lurks the concern" the daughter of God" and from the are available at Shoppers Drug Mart/ that the two countries could revert to a British side, a "tiresome" tendency on Pharmaprix locations across Canada. more distant relationship once the the part of U.K. journalists to invoke Credit: CNW Group/Royal Canadian Mint present crises are over. Canada when "searching for a On the eve of Remembrance Day metaphor to convey something of "In many ways it is a love that dares not commemorations and the 90th stupefying boredom." speak its name," said Burns. "We each anniversary of the Armistice, the Royal The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 3 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 Week Ending November 2, 2008 Canadian Mint, in association with the The 25-cent poppy coin marks the third by visiting ftp:// Royal Canadian Legion, is proud to coloured circulation coin to be communications:[email protected] issue its latest coloured circulation coin produced by the Mint and distributed in a. which features the iconic red poppy, Canada, following the 2004 red poppy To locate a Shoppers Drug Mart/ Canada's flower of remembrance. coin which honoured those who made Pharmaprix location near you, please the ultimate sacrifice to defend The Mint will produce up to 11 million visit www.shoppersdrugmart.ca. For Canada's freedom and the 2006 pink 25-cent coloured poppy coins, which more information on the Royal ribbon coin which raised awareness for will enter into circulation beginning Canadian Legion, please log on to the fight against breast cancer. today and will be distributed exclusively www.legion.ca. at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix In addition to the circulation coin, the For further information: media are locations from coast to coast. Royal Canadian Mint is proud to offer invited to contact: Christine Aquino, Canadians are also encouraged to look three commemorative keepsakes to Director, Communications, Royal for this special coin in their change. mark the 90th anniversary of the Canadian Mint, (613) 993-9999, Armistice: "Through this unique circulation coin, [email protected]; Bob Butt, Director, the Royal Canadian Mint is keeping - A 2008 limited edition poppy Communications, Royal Canadian alive the memory of all Canadian bookmark featuring a 2008 25-cent Legion, (613) 591-3335, veterans who served their country with coloured poppy circulation coin [email protected]; Tammy Smitham, such distinction," said Ian E. Bennett, ($12.95). One dollar from the sale of Director, Communications & President and CEO of the Royal each bookmark will be donated to the Corporate Affairs, Shoppers Drug Mart, Canadian Mint. "Mint employees are Legion's Dominion Command Poppy (416) 490-2892, honoured to pay tribute to those who Trust Fund, which provides financial [email protected] have bravely fought for our freedom, aid to Canada's veterans and their particularly on the eve of such a dependants; Monday, October 27, 2008 significant anniversary." CNW - A 90th anniversary of the end of the Section: Poppy Campaign "The Royal Canadian Legion is First World War commemorative extremely pleased that the Royal set includes a 2008 25-cent Canadian Mint has honoured our uncirculated coin depicting the Tomb of War Amps re-releases WWI veterans with the production of this very the Unknown Soldier at the documentaries to mark 90th special poppy coin," said Mr. Wilfred National War Memorial in Ottawa. anniversary of armistice Edmond, Dominion President of the Three soldiers representing Royal Canadian Legion. Canada's land, sea and air forces stand in tribute. The set also includes the "Shoppers Drug Mart is honoured to be 25-cent poppy circulation coin ($24.95 a part of the circulation of this CDN); commemorative coin that recognizes the valour and courage of those - A limited edition poppy proof silver With this November 11th marking the Canadians who served in the First dollar featuring a finely sculpted poppy 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War," said Tammy Smitham, in ultra- high relief ($139.95 CDN). World War, The War Amps is re- Director, Communications & Corporate releasing five internationally award- These products are available directly Affairs, Shoppers Drug Mart. "In winning documentaries from its popular from the Mint's 2008 poppy website at partnership with the Royal Canadian Military Heritage Series. www.mint.ca/poppy or by calling 1-800- Legion, our Pharmacist-owned stores 267-1871 in Canada or 1-800-268- In A Vimy Veteran Remembers, war will also be a distribution point for 6468 in the US. The coins are also amputee Perce Lemmon describes life poppies during the Remembrance available from the Mint's global network as a young soldier in this pivotal battle. period to raise further awareness and of dealers and distributors. The Blue Puttees tells the remarkable funds for our Veterans." story of the Royal Newfoundland The Royal Canadian Mint, which is Between 1914 and 1918 over 650,000 Regiment, nearly wiped out in the celebrating its centennial in 2008, is an Canadian men and women fought to Battle of Beaumont Hamel. War Amps ISO 9001-2000 certified company and protect the peace and freedom our members talk about surviving the war in the Crown corporation responsible for country enjoys today. Of those, more If Ye Break Faith, while In Flanders the minting and distribution of Canada's than 66,000 gave their lives and Fields tells of the sacrifices of Ypres, circulation coins. In operation since another 170,000 would be wounded. the Somme, Vimy Ridge, and 1908, the Mint is recognized as one of Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Passchendaele. No Man's Land tells of the largest and most versatile mints in Canadian medical officer during the Canadian artist Mary Riter Hamilton, the world, offering a wide range of First World War, was responsible more commissioned in 1919 by The War specialized, high quality coinage than any other for the adoption of the Amps to travel to the battlefields of products and related services on an poppy as a symbol of remembrance in Europe to paint the scenes of postwar international scale. For more Canada and the Commonwealth. destruction. information on the RCM, its products McCrae was also the author of the and services, visit www.mint.ca. War Amps CEO Cliff Chadderton, who famous war memorial poem In Flanders produced the documentaries, Images and product details of the Fields. commented recently on his blog Mint's newest collection are available Page 4 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending November 2, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 (cliffchadderton.ca) about the war's anniversary of the Lincoln and Welland The Lincoln and Welland Regiment impact: "When it began in 1914, little Regiment Association. Association, established in 1948, has did the world know that four years of held 60 consecutive reunions. The association celebrated with a death and destruction lay ahead in a reunion and dinner Saturday for "A lot of regiments, their associations conflict revolutionized by high explosive veterans, spouses and other interested are dying because the veterans are shells, rapid-firing machine guns, parties at the Polish Legion on Niagara dying," said Bill Leslie, president of the poison gas, submarines, tanks and Street. association for the last seven years. airplanes. Nor did they know that it would destroy virtually a whole The celebration coincided with the The 87-year-old veteran, who now lives generation of young men." anniversary of the 1944 liberation of the in Mississauga, said the association's city of Bergen-Op-Zoom in Holland, ability to survive is a testa-m ent to the The documentaries, which will air on which was also remembered with a tremendous volunteers who put in regular and specialty channels across church service and parade from the endless hours. Canada up to and on November 11th, armoury earlier in the day. are available at a cost-recovery price "We have such a solid bunch of people (DVD or VHS) by calling toll-free 1 800 Dandy's late husband, Jim, was a that donate their time and raise money 250-3030 or at waramps.ca. More reserve colonel with the Lincoln and for the regiment," Leslie said. "Such a information, including clips, can be Welland Regiment in the late 1950s. wonderful group of people." found at waramps.ca/military. While she worked in a hospital for The association is currently trying to For further information: Canadian soldiers requiring brain raise $2 million to build a new war Communications, 1-877-60MEDIA, surgery and plastic surgery from 1942 museum and to refurbish military [email protected] to 1945, her beau was sent to the vehicles. lowlands. Monday, October 27, 2008 Leslie said the association has about CNW His regiment helped liberate Bergen- 150 members. Section: Veterans Op-Zoom. In January 1945, he was hit Hugh Boyle of Alliston attended the in the arm with shrapnel, but once reunion and was in the Bren carrier again, the war was good to Elsie platoon with Leslie. His job was to carry WWII nurse considers herself Dandy. one of the lucky ones a flame thrower. He was wounded "He was lucky," she said, pointing to twice. the spot on her upper arm. "It stopped A member of the association for 50 just before it hit his heart." years, he said he enjoys reminiscing The couple married in England two with all the people he was overseas weeks after Jim got out of the hospital, with. on St. Patrick's Day, with family in "We fight the war again," he said. "And Hamilton sending ingredients to make we always win." trifle and coupons for sugar. The couple settled in Grimsby after the Monday, October 27, 2008 war and Jim th the regiment. KARENA WALTER, THE STANDARD STAFF Section: Veterans She said they returned to Bergen-Op- Holborn Circus in London burns at the Zoom for their 50th wedding height of the Blitz. London was bombed on anniversary and sat on the Lincoln Queen to appear at launch of 76 consecutive nights as part of the Battle Bridge, which is named after the Canadian war vigil of Britain campaign by the German airforce regiment. during 1940. Ceremony in London will mark 90th Dandy said she has never missed a anniversary of end of First World War. Bombs could be felt, but hospital Lincoln and Welland Regiment never hit. Association reunion. PARIS -- Queen Elizabeth will take part Elsie Dandy feels the Second World "The regiment has been very good to in a unique Canadian Remembrance War was good to her. me. It was just a part of our life," she Day ceremony in London next week to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of The hospital where she worked as a said. "I'm more of a veteran than when I came home." the First World War, Buckingham nurse was never bombed, although it Palace announced Monday. was just south of London in Daughter Peggy Barrett-Doerr of Basingstoke. Fergus said her mother likes the The Queen and Prince Philip will camaraderie. participate at an evening event Nov. 4 "We could feel the bombs," she said at Canada House, the Canadian High Saturday while at an event at the Lake But for the veterans in the regiment, her Commission building on Trafalgar Street Armoury. mother represents the nurses who took Square. A huge projector will display in The 91-year-old former Grimsby care of them during the war. sequence, over seven straight evenings resident who now lives in Fergus, was "As Jim used to say, everybody loved leading up to Remembrance Day on in St. Catharines for the 60th their nurses," Elsie Dandy said. Nov. 11, the names of Canada's 68,000 war dead on the building's walls. The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 5 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 Week Ending November 2, 2008 The same spectacle will begin several underneath me don't quite get it." broadcast from Ottawa, by going to hours later as night falls in Canada, www.1914-1918.ca. He said he often tells Canadian starting in Atlantic Canada and moving schoolchildren that their country's Community groups wanting to gradually from east to west. current military losses in Afghanistan, participate in vigil activities in the cities while tragic and relatively high involved, or acquire the projection compared to the casualty rate of other software package for smaller vigils, can nations in that conflict, pale in contact the Canada's National History comparison to the tragedy of the 1914- Society at vigil www.historysociety.ca 18 "war to end all wars." or go to www.historysociety.ca. The 68,000 dead, as a percentage of © The Vancouver Sun 2008 the Canadian population at the time, Wednesday, October 29, 2008 would equal close to 300,000 today, he Peter O'Neil, Canwest News Service noted. Section: Veterans Thomson said part of his inspiration comes from letters written by his five Author discovers unmarked great-uncles who fought in that war. veteran’s graves Four died as a result of the conflict, two in Europe and two in Canada, while the fifth was wounded. Thomson said he tried for months to secure West Coast participation in hopes of having the vigil end on the The main Canadian display will be at walls of the B.C. legislature in Victoria. the National War Memorial in Ottawa But he said provincial officials balked at near Parliament Hill, although official the $62,000 price tag. "It's sad because vigils using the technology will also be Victoria would have been really held in Fredericton, Halifax, Toronto, important to have," he said, adding that Regina and Edmonton. British Columbians can watch the name display on the vigil website. The project is the brainchild of After conducting research into the lives Canadian actor R.H. Thomson and A representative of B.C. Tourism, of veterans of the First World War who lighting designer Martin Conboy, and is Culture and the Arts Minister Bill lived on the Port au Port peninsula, intended to symbolically "repatriate" the Bennett said Monday the ministry Lourdes author Bill O’Gorman made a bodies of the war dead who, by law, decided to pass on the project because startling discovery. had to be buried in Europe. it wanted to proceed with a soon-to-be- “Since I’m doing a book on the veterans Its other goal is to remember on an announced collaboration with the BC Veterans Commemorative Association. … I went looking for them in the individual basis the dead who, for 89 graveyards. Through the parish years, have been remembered "The B.C. veterans project is a records, I knew they were there, but collectively during Remembrance Day provincewide project that will reach there was no headstones for them,” ceremonies. everyone and not just be about our said Mr. O’Gorman. contribution to World War I but Thomson said he didn't expect when “The statement, ‘lest we forget,’ has the project was launched that it would contributions everywhere," said David Greer. very little meaning when you discover get the Queen's support, and he hopes this.” the news will prompt schools, historical No details about this project have been societies, community groups and Royal released, including whether it will be Mr. O’Gorman then contacted the Canadian Legion branches to acquire considered the province's sole provincial branch of the Last Post Fund the software to hold their own smaller- Remembrance Day celebration. Greer to see what could be done to rectify the scale vigils. could not say whether the province has situation. He noted that the Queen was born in planned any other festivities that day. The Last Post Fund is a non-profit 1926, eight years after the end of a Veterans Affairs Canada contributed corporation that is supported by devastating four-year war. "I'm quite $340,000 to pay for the production of Veterans Affairs and private donors. cognizant of her interest of the men in the National War Memorial vigil in “We provide financial assistance for the that generation who died in the Ottawa, the simultaneous webcast of funeral and burial of war veterans, and millions," said Thomson, 61. the event, and the coordination of vigils we also provide the headstones,” said "Her generation understands the size of in the other cities that were funded by Maxine King, Newfoundland and that loss. Her generation gets it. Her local and private sector sources. Labrador branch member. Canadians can look up the names of father and her grandfathers must have Ms. King said they also have a program talked a lot about it. relatives who died during the war, and determine the exact moment when their called the Special Marker Program, "My generation and the generation names will be displayed during the live which places headstones on the unmarked graves of veterans. It was Page 6 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending November 2, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 through this program the corporation Fresh from a stint as a Defence Disquiet also greeted Keep the Peace was able to place headstones on the Department artist in Kandahar in 2006, or I'll Kill You, a poster bearing those graves of the veterans buried on the during which she helped mop up words around an image of Major- Port au Port peninsula. soldiers' blood after a suicide bombing General Lewis Mackenzie, and a series killed diplomat Glyn Berry, Ms. Kearns of paintings of an anguished Lieutenant- She noted Mr. O’Gorman was a great was commissioned for a far different General Romeo Dallaire, who led the help in getting the required information duty: to paint Tecumseh and Brock, the woefully understaffed United Nations about each veteran to them, so that the Shawnee Indian leader and British peacekeeping mission to Rwanda grey granite headstones – measuring major-general who fought to keep during the 1994 genocide. about 76 cm wide, 91 cm high, and 38 Canada out of American hands in the cm deep – could be installed. "It wasn't a ploy on my part," Ms. War of 1812. Kearns said of her intentions. "The last Mr. O’Gorman said there would be a thing I do is something that's going to commemorative ceremony at the cause a public sensation. They have to Lourdes Church Cemetery at 2 p.m., cause a sensation within me, and that's Nov. 1, to honour the veterans. where it stops." Representatives from the Royal That the Department of Defence invited Canadian Legion, Veteran Affairs, her to document the Afghanistan Lourdes Cadet Corps, and various mission despite these minor tempests politicians, dignitaries have been invited reassured her that military commanders to the ceremony and reception. Mr. "got it," even if some in the wider public O’Gorman said the general public is Gertrude Kearns’s paintings focus on did not. also encouraged to attend. expression as well as the inner thoughts of her subjects. From left: Dallaire #3; The "When they know where you're coming Identifying the veterans Dilemma of Kyle Brown. from and they know that you know what Here’s a list of First World War Credit: CANADIAN WAR soldiering and defence are about, veterans whose unmarked graves Mr. MUSEUM–19950091-001 they're comfortable," Ms. Kearns said. O’Gorman said he found on the Port au Jarring as the shift was, Ms. Kearns And so, there were compliments rather Port Peninsula. was no novice in the art of war, than complaints from Colonel Steve At the Lourdes Cemetery: Peter particularly in exploring "that existential Noonan, then-commander of Canada's Cornect and Theophile Dube' of line that soldiers walk. It's about conflict forces in Afghanistan, when she made Mainland; Peter Woods, William Victor and conscience, as someone once a poster of his face flanked by the Young and Mike Young of Three Rock said." words, Planning from the Front, Cove, and Henry Martin Jesso of Tecumseh and Brock fought in a Leading from the Rear. Piccadilly. different era under different conditions In their conventional context, those At the Cape Cemetery: Allan Lemoine, for a different purpose, but when their would be fighting words to any self- Yves Lagatude, Phillip Simon and portraits are unveiled tonight at the respecting military leader. But Col. Joseph Lemoine. Royal Canadian Military Institute in Noonan knew exactly what Ms. Kearns Toronto, astute viewers will see the was trying to convey - that the unique At the Piccadilly Cemetery: Stephen same complexity that Ms. Kearns challenges of the Afghan theatre Green. typically divines from her contemporary demanded a different approach; that he At the Port au Port East Cemetery: subjects. "created a working concept out of a brothers Henry and Joseph Felix of "That's the excitement for me, realizing derogatory thing." Felix Cove. a point that's open for interpretation," While more subtle, the portraits of Mr. O’Gorman said there may be more Ms. Kearns said in her Toronto studio, Tecumseh and Brock, both killed in unmarked graves identified by the time in a house where Margaret Atwood battle, carry similarly nuanced he finishes the research for his book. once lived. "And I don't really care what messages. happens after that." Wednesday, October 29, 2008 "I knew the expectation in general CHRISTOPHER VAUGHAN, The Georgian The soft-spoken 57-year-old, who grew would be to do the tough warrior," she Section: Veterans up trying to interpret the tumult of the said of the Tecumseh piece, which the 1960s, was referring to the controversy institute commissioned alone before it that followed some of her more recent realized a companion portrait of Brock Steeped in modern conflict, works. was essential due to the leaders' close artist portrays historic In 2005, veterans groups complained and crucial association. "But there's so warriors when the Canadian War Museum much more about [Tecumseh]; the humane warrior, the poet. I wanted to The blood and the paint had barely decided to display Somalia #2, Without show the sense of concern and despair dried when Gertrude Kearns was asked Conscience, which depicts the torture as well." to turn her eyes from Afghanistan and of Shidane Arone by a Canadian cast them back nearly 200 years, to soldier. The Somali teen's death led to And so, while his left hand - "the another key conflict in Canadian the disbanding of the Airborne measured hand of a statesman," Ms. history. Regiment. Kearns called it - cradles a musket, his The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 7 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 Week Ending November 2, 2008 right is clenched in a fist and upturned, be practiced by Legion Colour Parties Hospital, and lasted all of 60 seconds. representing "what he's trying to hold at any function, public or private, with Even now, 44 years later, it still brings a on to and what he wants to attain" not the exception of the Legion Banner at quiet tear to my eye. (The Kitchener- just for the Shawnee, but for all first ceremonies for the purpose of Waterloo Record published it as "Letter nations. "And I thought it would connect Remembrance. of the Day" on November 11th three well with what is going on today." years ago. It is Legion policy, as directed by Brock, more controlled and confident Dominion Convention and Dominion I thought our fellow Comrades (and with the might of the empire behind Executive Council, to dip only the perhaps their children or grandchildren) him, holds an Indian war club and Legion Banner during the playing of the might enjoy this my true story entitled wears a sash given him by Tecumseh, “Last Post” for the purpose of "MY PERSONAL REMEMBRANCE while his left hand, sinewed and solid, Remembrance. DAY". grips the hilt of his sword. At a Remembrance Service, when the My most memorable Remembrance Ms. Kearns acknowledged the first note of the “Last Post” is sounded, Day did not occur in November, but challenge of trying to capture the the Colour Party Member carrying the rather on May 14th, 1964, on a essence of long-dead historical figures, Legion Banner steps forward one pace, Thursday morning before the Victoria with only the portraits of previous artists and the Legion Banner is dipped in a Day weekend. I was about to meet to rely on. "It's all supposition," she slow and dignified manner, held in the Charlie, a World War 1 veteran for said. But then, she has seen enough dipped position during the Silence, and about 60 seconds, but that memory contemporary subjects to know there recovered in a slow and dignified would stay with me for more than 40 can be limits around anyone's truth, manner when the first note of “Rouse” years or so. - Let me backtrack a bit. alive or dead. is sounded. The Legion Banner should Barely out of my teens, I had finished not be allowed to touch the ground. "Sometimes that core is the hardest first year at the University of Toronto. thing to see, for any of us." The Legion Banner should achieve the With my strong background in Army Wednesday, October 29, 2008 Carry position on the last note of Cadets, I had landed a summer job with ANTHONY REINHART, The Globa and Mail “Rouse.” the Canadian Military. I would be Section: Afghanistan trained during the next few summers to At the end of the tribute, the Colour become an Army Officer. But first, there Party Member steps back into were tedious, but necessary, medical formation. Monday Night Pool Standings tests at Sunnybrook Medical Centre in Wednesday, October 29, 2008 North Toronto. Back then, Sunnybrook E-Legion was not a public hospital, but was Section: RCL totally devoted to treating active military personnel, and injured war veterans, My Personal Remembrance many of whom lived there permanently Day (as they still do, incidentally), in long term care. On that sunny May morning, I marched smartly, as a brand new Officer Cadet Male: in my stiff new uniform and my squeaky 1st - Nick Vinski - 19 points new boots on their second day of wear. 2nd - Pete Whiteall - 17 points With my medical file under my arm I 3rd - Mike Moser - 17 points was headed for x-rays. - That's when I Female: first saw him, the man the nurses would 1st -Gwenn Kirton - 16 points later on refer to as "Charlie", a man 2nd - Paula Mahoney - 16 points who had lived at Sunnybrook for more 3rd - Marj Gardner - 13 points years than anyone could remember. I would later be told Charlie had been Wednesday, October 29, 2008 injured close to 50 years earlier, in a Judith Littlefield Section: Sports gas and artillery attack in France, and that he had been confined to a wheelchair and hospital setting ever Legion announces New since. But again, I am getting ahead of Regulations Regarding the myself. Dipping of Colours Dear Comrades, Actually, I saw the wheelchair first, parked on a graveled path beside a At age 64, I am an ordinary member, beautiful flower bed. As I got closer, I but too young to have been in any war. saw a blue, plaid blanket draped across The attached personal story is my own his lap. Approaching further, I realized experience with a remarkable WW1 there were no feet visible, but only the veteran called Charlie. It occurred in outline of two stumps under the plaid May 1964 at Toronto's Sunnybrook No dipping of colours of any sort shall blanket on the wheelchair seat. Closer Page 8 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending November 2, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 yet, I discerned the sad redness of an "Yes, I quite agree, it is a beautiful conducted for Canada's National amputated right arm protruding from day", I uttered in a husky, firm and History Society found 86% of the short-sleeved shirt. Now sufficiently masculine tone, while my emotions respondents think Remembrance Day close to make eye contact, I was churned inside. "Now, you'll have to should be a national holiday. While only inwardly shaken by what my youthful excuse me, I am almost late for my a fraction of those surveyed plan to eyes saw. This man's face was greatly next appointment", I added with just a vacation or go shopping on the day disfigured. It was red and burnt-looking, minimal smile, and glancing self- reserved to honour Canada's war dead, with the left eye almost totally shut. A lit importantly at my medical file folder. only 22% participated in organized cigarette dangled awkwardly from the ceremonies last year and just 20% plan "Oh, of course, sir", replied Charlie, three fingers that formed his left hand. to attend services this Nov. 11, the 90th "and I'm sorry for delaying you", he Here was a massively disfigured man, anniversary of the end of World War I. added, as he raised his three fingered who had probably lived in that state for hand and cigarette in a respectful Half the respondents believe individuals most of his life. It was hard for me to salute. "Not at all", I replied flatly over should do more to recognize and look at the sorry sight of Charlie, but I my shoulder, as I returned his salute observe Remembrance Day, and think would have to acknowledge his and marched off smartly, just as the all three levels of government should presence, and greet him in passing. first tear escaped from the corner of my play a greater role in encouraging No sooner had I mumbled "good eyes. public participation. morning", that Charlie contorted his Now, more than four decades later, my Several provinces, including Alberta, pained face into a smiling grimace. Yet, brief encounter with Charlie still fills me already treat the day as a provincial it was not his grimace, but rather the with a sense of awe and of deep holiday, but other, most notably Ontario first three words Charlie uttered, that respect for the indomitable quality of and Quebec, do not. struck me like a boxer's punch, and the human spirit. made me stop by his wheelchair. Deborah Morrison, president of ---- Canada's National History Society, said "Good morning, sir", Charlie said, the survey results show the legacy of having noticed my single rank pip with Alan J. Nanders is a recently retired remembrance is not waning. the strip of white cloth, indicating my teacher from Bramalea Secondary lowly Officer Cadet status. What right School (Brampton) and lives in "I think it's quite reassuring that did I have to be called "Sir" by this Kitchener, where he is a member of Canadians still have this very strong experienced and sad-looking old Branch 50 of the Royal Canadian attachment to Remembrance Day," she soldier, who was probably older than Legion. As a military Reservist, Captain said. "There have been a lot of my grandfather? So far in my teenaged Alan Nanders, CD served with the questions in recent years about life, I had achieved nothing more Royal Regiment of Canada, and later whether it carries the same meaning as noteworthy, than first year of university, as Commanding Officer of an Army generations move further away from and a successful battle with my tube of Cadet Corps in Toronto. From 1997 to World War I and World War II, and Clearasil acne cream. But, as Charlie 2008 Alan taught and supervised Army about whether it's losing its continued to speak, I found it Cadets at Summer Camp at Canadian significance. I think these results show increasingly difficult to listen to him. Forces Base Borden. it hasn't."

"If you don't mind me saying so, sir, just Wednesday, October 29, 2008 Morrison said the war in Afghanistan is look at how wonderful a spring day Capt. Alan J. Nanders, CD serving as a contemporary link to we're blessed with to-day! Does it not Section: Veterans soldiers' sacrifices in past wars. The make you feel wonderful, just to be rapidly shrinking number of veterans of alive?", Charlie continued with WWI, WWII, the Korean War and disarming sincerity. Sacrifice of soldiers worth subsequent peacekeeping missions are holiday, poll says compelling Canadians to find ways to At this point, an emotional lump formed keep history and remembrance alive. in my throat, and I was starting to feel embarrassed by an unmilitary moisture, About 75% of respondents said they which was starting to creep into my wore a poppy last year, and 63% intend eyes. Here was a physically broken to pin one on this year. man, and I could hardly bear to look at The poll of 1,902 Canadians was him. How could this man find anything conducted between Oct. 8-16, 2008, to be joyful or glad about, after decades and is considered accurate between as a pained prisoner of the wheelchair? plus or minus 2.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. As a young man barely out of his teens, I was at a point of emotional overload, Thursday, October 30, 2008 and greatly afraid that real tears would Most Canadians want Nov. 11 KATHLEEN HARRIS, The Winnipeg Sun Section: Veterans soon roll down my cheeks. Although enshrined as a national statutory the term "macho" was not yet widely holiday and think Remembrance Day used in 1964, my perceived military ceremonies should be mandatory in What's hidden in this box? pride would not allow me to linger any schools. longer, than politeness required. It started out as a base project for A Pollara Strategic Insights poll sending gift packages to members The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 9 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 Week Ending November 2, 2008 deployed to the former Yugoslavia, site said Mr. Millette. “It’s always good for partners who lend a hand to thank of the most important mission at the those who are so far away from their those working far away from their loved time. The project, which began at CFB loved ones to receive a package from ones. Petawawa, was Operation SANTA home.” Thursday, October 30, 2008 CLAUS. Every gift package will also contain Steve Fortin, The Maple Leaf Section: Miscellaneous another very special item: a small angel handmade by Suzanne Thomas of Toronto, who is blind and confined to a We will remember them wheelchair. Her physical disabilities in no way hamper her dedication to the work done by Canada’s soldiers. Over the last two years, she has made more than 7 000 angels, each of which takes about 30 minutes to make. Many soldiers have written to thank her, Personnel soon to be deployed to which makes her very happy. “My Afghanistan are proud to stand with Larry heroes are not on the radio or Josie (centre), a trucker whose trailer has television. My heroes are Canada’s been painted with a tribute to the work done soldiers who are defending the values by CF personnel in Afghanistan. The trailer of this country, here and abroad,” says contains Op SANTA CLAUS donations from Ms. Thomas. “I like to think that this Sobeys. little angel might be their guardian At first glance, it seems to be an Credit: The Maple Leaf angel when they have to face danger.” ordinary photograph. Events, however, This year, marks the tenth anniversary Public participation in Op SANTA give it an almost surreal symbolism. of the nationwide operation that now CLAUS reached a new level when It’s a photo of the new 5 Area Support extends to all personnel and their Sobeys manager Matt Derouin, from Group (5 ASG) and 5th Canadian civilian counterparts participating in the the Barrie region, stepped up to the Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG) many CF missions and operations plate. Mr. Derouin was looking for a cenotaph, showing a worker putting the around the world, including those at way to do more for the community and finishing touches to the imposing CFS Alert. Today, Op SANTA CLAUS ended up doing two things at once. Not monument so it will be ready for its mobilizes many individuals within the only did he manage to mobilize his Remembrance Day inauguration. The CF, Director General – Personnel and community, but he did so in support of scene is dominated by the main stone Family Support Services, and the the soldiers. Taking advantage of of the cenotaph, but in the lower left- Legion, and many donors, private- customer traffic in the grocery stores, hand corner is a green parking sign like sector businesses and caring civilian he hung more than 220 metres of those you see everywhere on CF volunteers. All these people unite their banners in four different stores – two in bases. It reads “CMDT 5 GSS”, efforts to thank those serving their Barrie, one in Angus and one in marking the commander’s parking slot. country, far from their loved ones. Alliston. “I think that nearly all of our All this attention is impressive. In fact, it customers have signed these banners,” The photograph, taken in the week is critical and necessary once you Mr. Derouin says. “Some write personal before Thanksgiving, has become very understand the task to be messages to members of their family precious. Sadly, Colonel Karen Ritchie, accomplished. More than 4 000 gift serving abroad. Others take the Commander 5 ASG, died in a traffic boxes will be prepared at 25 Canadian opportunity to thank the soldiers for the accident October 13. Suddenly, the Forces Supply Depot (25 CFSD) in sacrifices they make serving their cenotaph has taken on even greater Montréal and sent all over the world. country.” meaning, becoming a way of remembering CF personnel whether These care packages contain a variety In addition to the banner this year, the they took part in missions or national of items including chocolate, razors and grocery retailer also donated a full 16- and international operations, or whether shaving cream, condiments of all sorts, metre trailer of food and other products they were part of our everyday lives. batteries, jam and other surprises. But including soft drinks, anti-bacterial hand We must never forget those who have according to Michel Millette, manager soap and granola bars. of special projects at 25 CFSD, the accepted the challenge of serving their most valuable item in each box is a Whether they are in Afghanistan, country. As commander of 5 ASG, Col Christmas card, made by a Canadian Germany, Cyprus, Egypt, Haiti, Ritchie advocated exactly this in child, thanking the recipient for his/her Kosovo, the Middle East, Sarajevo, promoting the restoration of the work. “Every card is carefully made by Sierra Leone, Sudan, in HMCS Ville de cenotaph. Québec or in the endless night of CFS a youngster here, and we receive more The inauguration of the new cenotaph, Alert, all deployed members of the CF of them than the number of packages located across from 5 CMBG and 5 will receive a gift package this year. If planned each year. It’s a pleasure to ASG headquarters, will be the cards were filled out with the names of send out these precious cards to culmination of a lot of work by many those involved in sending out the gifts, deployed members, even after people. One of them, Chief Warrant the pile would be imposing, given all Christmas with surplus items or other Officer André Jutras, who has 35 years the personnel, civilians and business gifts that sometimes arrive a bit late,” in, has contributed greatly to the Page 10 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending November 2, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 monument. Around 5 ASG, he can throughout the month of November by Chief Executive Officer, Jazz. "We sometimes be heard referring to it as displaying the poppy symbol on the honour the Canadian men and women his cenotaph. The humble chief warrant fuselages of 20 Air Canada Airbus deployed around the world who officer admits he did work closely on narrow body and 10 Jazz Dash 8 continue to fight for peace and the design of the final plans with the aircraft. freedom." engineering team. "We are extremely pleased that Air “The old cenotaph was located in a part Canada and Jazz have chosen to place of the garrison where few people went,” the poppy on 30 of their aircraft to mark CWO Jutras says. “It was at the end of the airline's commitment to the parade ground, which is seeing less Remembrance," said Wilf Edmond, and less use, and was therefore a bit Dominion President of The Royal isolated. So that this important Canadian Legion. "They honour all of monument could be visited, seen and our veterans with this special admired by as many people as commemoration. possible, and be an integral part of the The annual Poppy Campaign is the lives of people on base, we made plans most important branch project of the to move it to its current location, one of Left to Right: Chuck O'Donnell, Lead station year. For two weeks each fall, Legion the busiest spots in the whole garrison.” attendant, Air Canada, Dorval On leave, members from more than 1550 currently serving in Kandahar, Afganistan branches throughout Canada volunteer This kind of construction can be very Sergeant, Armored car commander; Robert their time to conduct this campaign, grandiose but also very distant, even Groulx, 1st Vice President, Royal Canadian which raises the funds essential to cold, says CWO Jutras, as if it should Legion/Quebec Command; Montie Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air providing the Legion's on-going support be contemplated from afar. The new Canada; Bill Bray,President, Royal and assistance to our veterans. The cenotaph has been built from the old Canadian Legion/Dorval campaign also serves to foster the monument. Here, they wanted to build tradition of Remembrance by affording a cenotaph that would be more Credit: Air canada all Canadians an opportunity to wear a welcoming, that would encourage At a ceremony in Toronto today poppy. Since 1921, the poppy has visitors to come closer, would draw coinciding with the start of the Legion's stood as a symbol of collective them in. As a result, the cenotaph is Poppy Campaign, Air Canada and Air reminiscence, our visual pledge to unique in style. “When visitors enter the Canada Jazz and representatives of never forget all those Canadians who cenotaph enclosure,” he says, “the the Legion unveiled an aircraft bearing have fallen in war and military place comes alive. Through their the poppy. For more than 80 years the operations. presence and contemplation, visitors Legion's trademarked poppy has pay tribute to the dead.” served as the symbol of Remembrance There is a natural link between Air Canada and Canada's military heritage. In its new location, the garrison in Canada. Air Canada and Jazz are Air Canada (then known as Trans- cenotaph will provide a link between honoured to take that symbol and its Canada Air Lines) personnel played a those who lost their lives in conflicts in message of Remembrance across the key role in transportation and flight the past and those who dedicate their country's skies. training during World War II. Many Air lives every day to serving their fellow "Today, more than ever, it is important Canada and Jazz employees, past and citizens and comrades. This was the to commemorate Canadians who died present, have served or are currently intent of the new inscription on the in both past and current conflicts and serving as reservists in the Canadian middle stone of the monument. so we are displaying the poppy symbol Armed Forces. There are hundreds of As the photograph symbolizes, when with great pride and respect. We at Air employees with loved ones who have the cenotaph is inaugurated on Canada are sadly reminded of the served or are currently serving in the Remembrance Day, Col Ritchie, who ongoing sacrifices made by Canadians military. so strongly promoted its creation, will every time we have the honour of Air Canada is also proud to have be honoured, as will be the team that taking our soldiers killed abroad on the employees in uniform participate in the moved the precious monument. last part of their journey home in Canada," said Montie Brewer, laying of a wreath at the National War Thursday, October 30, 2008 President and Chief Executive Officer. Memorial and the Tomb of the Steve Fortin, The Maple Leaf Unknown Soldier at annual Section: Afghanistan "Air Canada and its employees join all Canadians in remembering and Remembrance Day ceremonies in celebrating the men and women who Ottawa. Legion - Air Canada and Jazz have given their lives for Canada and Commemorative ceremonies across mark month of Remembrance who today still serve our country." Canada culminate with a national Aircraft poppy symbols unveiled at "Jazz and its employees are proud to ceremony on November 11 at 11:00 start of Royal Canadian Legion's Poppy fly the symbol of Remembrance to 55 a.m. at the National War Memorial on Campaign. cities across Canada, and to pay Parliament Hill in Ottawa. respect to the Canadians who have Air Canada and Jazz, in association High resolution, downloadable color fallen in war and military operations," with the Royal Canadian Legion, are photos are available http:// said Joseph Randell, President and observing Remembrance Day www.aircanada.com/en/about/media/ The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 11 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 Week Ending November 2, 2008 facts/logo.html under "Facts and France. He was awarded the poem influenced this decision. Photos". Distinguished Flying Cross twice for his On November 11th, Canadians all efforts during his combat tour. SOURCE: AIR CANADA across the country will stop to pay For further information, please contact tribute to the men and women killed in SOURCE: AIR CANADA - PRODUCTS Lieutenant Annie Morin, 8 Wing Public Canada’s wars and military operations. & SERVICES - AWARDS - Affairs Officer, at 613-392-2811 Thanks to the millions of Canadians PROMOTIONS extension 4565 or 613-243-7330. who wear poppies each November, the Friday, October 31, 2008 little red plant has never died. And Canada NewsWire Friday, October 31, 2008 neither have Canadians’ memories for Section: Poppy Campaign national Defense 116,031 of their countrymen who Section: Veterans perished in battle. Please wear a Memorial Service for Second poppy to honour those men and women Wear a poppy - Peace through who laid down their lives – we owe our World War Hero and 412 remembrance freedom to them! Squadron Honorary Colonel PEACE THROUGH REMEMBRANCE. Charley Fox [local content edited]

Friday, October 31, 2008 MARIAN WADHAMS, Caledon Enterprise Section: Poppy Campaign

Legion Announcement Re : Donations for the Canadian Forces

OTTAWA – Media are invited to attend a memorial service for iconic Second World War veteran and passionate promoter of Canadian military history, Honorary Colonel Please be aware that although the Canadian Forces ship material to our Charley Fox, at the Ottawa airport on The Poppy – The Flower of troops in Afghanistan, they cannot Sunday, November 2. Remembrance and Symbol of Unity – is accept many donations for numerous the International symbol for those who HCol Fox, a Second World War Spitfire reasons. For example, they will not died in war. The connection was made pilot and two-time recipient of the accept dolls, toys or teddy bears, between the poppy and battlefield Distinguished Flying Cross, served as especially those with a Canadian flag or deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the Honorary Colonel for 412 Squadron logo on them. Because their religion the early 19th century. Fields that had in Ottawa for the past four years. does not allow representation of people been barren before battle, exploded or animals, if a child was to accept such He died in a tragic motor vehicle with blood-red flowers after the fighting a toy the likelihood is that he or she accident on October 18 near ended. Tillsonburg, Ontario. would be targeted by the Taliban for Prior to World War I, few poppies grew supporting the NATO alliance. When: Sunday, November 2, 2008 2:00 in Flanders. During the tremendous Therefore, before anyone starts any p.m. Media should arrive no later than bombardments, the chalk soils became campaign to send any material to the 1:45 to set up. rich in lime from rubble, allowing troops deployed in Afghanistan for any Where: Transport Canada hangar at “popaver rhoeas” to thrive. When the reason, please carefully consult the the Ottawa airport, 200 Comet Private. war ended, the lime was quickly web page at www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/ Parking is adjacent to the hangar. absorbed and the poppy began to Donations/index.asp and make contact disappear again. with the military. What: A vintage Spitfire and Mustang as well as a CC-144 Challenger will be Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, the This page will also tell you how to go on display inside the hangar. Canadian doctor who wrote the poem about getting things to the troops and Lieutenant-General Angus Watt, Chief “In Flanders Fields”, made the same about other programs that are in of the Air Staff and Ted Barris, connection some 100 years later, and existence. You should be aware that Canadian military author, will address the scarlet poppy quickly became the The Royal Canadian Legion Dominion the gathering. symbol for soldiers who died in battle. Command conducts many programs for all our deployed troops including our In Canada, the poppy was officially HCol Fox flew Spitfires during the “Troop Morale Fund” that helps buy adopted by the Great War Veterans Second World War and was credited those sent to Afghanistan a coffee and Association of 1921 and there is little with injuring German Field Marshal a doughnut at the local Tim Hortons in doubt that the impact of John McCrea’s Erwin Rommel during an air patrol over Kandahar every two weeks and Page 12 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Week Ending November 2, 2008 WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 44 Operation Santa Claus that sees each and those red lapel poppies have come deployed troop around the world get a to symbolize remembrance in general. Christmas present from the Legion. We The idea of the poppy is of course also do this on 1 July. In addition, we drawn from the famous poem, "In have sent 3,000 chairs to the troops in Flanders Field" by John McCrae but Afghanistan and we support a visit to has come to symbolize much more. Vimy Ridge for each Nijmegen The poppies themselves are not sold, marcher. We also support 15 military but are a gift to all those who donate a sports championships each year and few coins to the poppy campaign. Each the military’s annual sports awards year the campaign raises funds to help ceremony and Hall of Fame induction. support local veterans. All money In order to maintain a good relationship collected is spent right back in the with the military and avoid unfortunate community in which it is raised. In many results for well-meaning individuals, all cases, the money is spent to provide our members are strongly urged to read specialized equipment to local hospitals the web page noted and to avoid that is required for the treatment of a making donations that cannot be sent particular Veteran's ailment and to the troops. subsequently used for the benefit of the community in general. Yours in comradeship, With our latest conflict happening in Wilfred Edmond Afghanistan, the need for this campaign Dominion President continues and is of more importance as Friday, October 31, 2008 an untold number of veterans return Dominion Bulletin Board with wounds and mental scars. So Section: RCL please, when you see a poppy box, drop in your loose change. Branch 50 Kicks Off K-W At the end of today's ceremony, the first Poppy Campaign batch of poppy-donation boxes was delivered across the city by volunteers on motorbike. You should see them appearing in stores and offices across the city up until November 11th, when the campaign formally closes.

Friday, October 31, 2008 Webmaster Section: Poppy Campaign

Once again this year the Kitchener branch of the Royal Canadian Legion Once again this year the Kitchener branch of the Royal Canadian Legion started off their poppy campaign to the sound of motor cycles. K-W Poppy Chairman and Branch President David Davidson officially launched the start of this year's campaign at the Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario Branch 50 (Fred Gies) at 524 Belmont Ave. W. in Kitchener. The poppy campaign is a long standing tradition of the Royal Canadian Legion The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario) Page 13