Remembrance Day - November 11, 2016
Posted by C. Richard Campbell on Nov 11, 2016
November 7, 2016
Story by: C. Richard Campbell
James Christison, 2nd Vice-President of the Royal Canadian Legion-Simcoe Branch spoke to the Club about Canada's military contribution and the service and sacrifices of Norfolk men and women during the wars and peace-keeping assignments.
He highlighted the proud Norfolk military history in which several thousand served and many men and a woman of Norfolk died.
The members of the Rotary Club learned of the recent dedication of the Rockford Road of Heroes. The small hamlet and surrounding area had 11 die from the 26 men who served in both World Wars. Canadians were involved in most of the major battles. Were there is extreme risks, there are the dead, the wounded and the terrorized.
Vimy Ridge Canadian War Memorial
During the last major battles of World War I, the Canadians were detached from British Command and Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie Canadian Corps took command of the Canadian Corps. Under his leadership, the Canadians had an unbroken string of major victories in 1917-1918 that included Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens, Arras, and the Canal du Nord. He is widely considered to have been among the finest generals of the war. Historians have described it as the coming of age of Canada from a colonial status to a country. The Canadian Army was successful were other allies were not. But there were terrible causalities. Vimy Ridge is a magnificent tribute to the men that died or were gassed and wounded. Many of our Rotarians have travelled to Europe and visited the Canadian War memorials and grave sites. They are maintained impeccably and the older people particularly the ones that were liberated from occupation remember the Canadians.
Carillon War Memorial
You have to look hard to find a war memorial quite like our 1925 Carillon Tower. It is 60 feet high and contains 23 bells. The largest weighs 1,568 pounds and the smallest 68 pounds. With the names of the war dead on bronze plaques including the Petty Officer Second Class Craig Blake who lost his life in 2010 in Afghanistan, you can here the music the bells play for the living at Christmas and concerts.
James told us that one Nursing Sister who died during World War I is listed along-side the men.
The Maple Leaf Forever
James Christison brought a portable record player and played a 78 rpm vinyl disk with the Maple Leaf Forever being played by a local band those many years ago.
There aren't many World War I veterans alive today and the number of World War II and Korean War veterans is less each year. We are proud off the military service and contribution of Norfolk men and women. But there are bitter-sweet memories of our parents, relatives and friends who died in the "wars" and those who are now dying of old age.