This was an in-person meeting and a recording is not available.
Yoshie Yokogawa, guest of Lumi Mironescu
Yuria Yokagawa, guest of Lumi Mironescu
Marilyn Reist, guest of Lumi Mironescu
Saimi Hartikaninen, our exchange student from Finland
President's Comments
President Dave welcomed all to our special Remembrance Day meeting.
Club Announcements
The Online Auction
The Auction ends this coming Saturday, November 16. There are still lots of great deals to be had. Be sure to check it out if you have not already done so.
Help will be needed with the distribution of items to the successful bidders on Friday, November 22 from 1:00 to 4:00 and Saturday, November 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please respond when you get the invitation.
A Better Tent City
Neil Swayze thanked everyone who brought in hygiene items to be donated to A Better Tent City, we did collect a fantastic amount of items. He also reminded us of the next campaign which will be for winter clothing in December.
Our meeting today was our annual Remembrance Day observance. We began with a video prepared by Ross Newkirk with scenes from the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry marching into the Ypres Menin Gate, a Remembrance Day poem, a recitation of In Flanders Fields by Leonard Cohen, tributes to the sacrifices made and a moment of silence.
Six of our members then related personal stories of remembrance.
Vince Cerullo spoke about travelling in Belgium and noticed a Remembrance type of celebration happening but not on November 11. He discovered that for that village it was the anniversary of their liberation from the Germans in the Second World War by the Canadian forces. He also learned that this was repeated in a succession of villages each on their own anniversary dates of liberation. The esteem the Belgians have for Canada and our soldiers was in great evidence.
Elena Shpinel spoke about her grandfather who fought with the Russians in the Second World War. He was found to be unfit to serve in the regular army but served as a volunteer, along with over 100,000 other volunteer soldiers. The conditions were brutal and the volunteers had less and poorer equipment. He was missing in action in 1941 and was assumed killed. After her mother passed away Elena found letters that were sent from the front by her father. No postage was required for these letters from the soldiers.
Lew Ford, born in 1937, was aware of the war as a child through stories in the news. The family were farmers and Lew spoke about having German POW’s brought to the farm to work as labourers. One of these was labelled as “trustworthy” and lived with his family. Having only sisters, this soldier became a “big brother” to Lew. After the war he petitioned to stay in Canada and become a farmer himself which did happen.
Graham Gardiner, talked about his grandfather and two uncles. His grandfather, Frederick Gillard lied about his age and enlisted at the age of 15. Uncle Frank saw action at Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, and the battle of Amiens where he was shot and died. The nurse who cared for him sent a letter to the family telling him of his death. In 1918 the family received a silver cross medal in Frank’s honour. They also received a bill for $5 to cover the cost of the blanket in which he was buried! Uncle Art had difficulties dealing with the aftermath of the war and disappeared, never getting in touch with the family. However, they have recently received a note from his daughter in Vancouver and are communicating with her.
JB Moore was born in the middle of the Second World War and recalls a parade in Milton (after the war) where all the people were waving flags but didn’t understand what it was all about. Later on he understood that his father, who was a minister, had the sad responsibility of informing families of soldiers who were killed. JB reflected on the major wars and related events, after the Second World War, that have occurred so far during his life time: The Korean War (1950-53); The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962); The Vietnam War (1969-75); The War in Iraq (2003-2011) with the fake news related to weapons of mass destruction; The war in Afghanistan (2010-14); and the current wars in the Middle East and the Ukraine. Right now there are 37 active wars happening across the globe. With mankind’s inherent tribal nature, JB wonders if there will ever be an end to wars.
Shawky Fahel, has mixed feelings for November 11 as both his children were born on that day. He spoke about travelling to the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day landing at Juno beach with his father-in-law and son. His father-in-law was one of the soldiers who participated in the landing and survived. He spoke of the deep emotions that were present at the ceremonies and in meeting his father-in-law’s fellow soldiers. Later, Shawky wrote an editorial published in the KW Record, which he read to us, telling of his experience at the anniversary and the impact it had on him and his son.
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