Last week I wrote about my 2013 research trip to Gettysburg and on to Washington DC regarding the Canadian MOH recipients. The blog mentioned that the timing of the trip was as a result of my continuous "news" searches of these recipients and thus learning of the Medal Of Honor convention in Pa at that time. The trip's timing was further influenced when I learned of the memorial being built to honour the then living recipients, and the opportunity for my contribution in that regard.
Along these same lines, another search in early May of this year led me to a wonderful story in the Toronto Sun about Peter Lemon. Very rarely are these Canadian heroes covered in the Canadian press so I was very pleased to see the 27 April article. While it has taken me this long to get to bring it to you, I would encourage you taking a few minutes to read it. You can find it at. http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/27/the-vietnam-war-hero-canada-forgot
Much has been written in this place and on the net about Peter's heroism back in Vietnam days. Actions that led to his being subsequently awarded the MOH for bravery. Some of this is repeated in the Sun story. But it adds a new twist. It tells of a move on the net to see Peter awarded our own county's Order of Canada, a move this blog fully supports. A move I discussed with Peter a few years back, but somehow ended up getting put on a back burner unfortunately.
You can join me in support of the recomendation by going to the site at... https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peter-C-Lemon-deserves-the-Order-of-Canada/1604298196478773
At this site you will see some very unfortunate comments about Peter's choice of fighting in Vietnam, and also regarding his choice to become an American Citizen.
Peter and his sister moved with his parents to the US when he was less than 3 years of age. The move was probably not his choice! He was given many freedoms in the US, attended public and high school and went with his parents when they took out US citizenship. He was only 12 years of age at the time.
After public and high school, Peter answered the call of his newly adopted country, like so many Canadians did when their counrty made the same call. He did not start the war, but he gave his blood for it... repeatedly... and helped so many others that his adopted country awarded him with the highest medal they had.. the Medal of Honor. There are over 300 million in the US, yet only about 3,500 got this highest of highest honours.
A fact apparently missed by some of those commenting at the above Order of Canada recomendation site!
Peter Lemon is much more than a military hero. After the war he tried to improve his less than honourable record of schooling. He had taken on a few jobs but wanted to better himself. So he tried and tried and tried and tried to get higher education. His previous schooling records precluded those giving higher education to open the doors to him.
But I will let Peter tell you this story himself. Go to this link, and be prepared to hear a dynamic speaker motivate you, like the hundreds of thousands he has spoken to over the years since Vietnam days. Here is the link... https://vimeo.com/77234909
Peter over several decades has made a living not only in the business world but as an international motivation speaker. He talks of his medal and the three men he lost in battle and how he wears the medal... not for himself but for those three men. In fact, if truth be known, when awarded the medal he hid it in a box and did not wear it for about TWO DECADES.
He talks about the conflicts and obstructions thrown in his way over the years and how he has overcome them and how you too, can do the same thing.
His wonderful story about getting a haircut should have you in stitches. It's here ...https://www.google.ca/#q=https:%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D9iMaHFXNJ
_s
You can learn more about the Order of Canada by googling it. There are there levels, the lowest being as a member, the second as an officer and the third as a companion. Peter's accomplishments deserve an award at the highest level, not the lowest.
Along these same lines, another search in early May of this year led me to a wonderful story in the Toronto Sun about Peter Lemon. Very rarely are these Canadian heroes covered in the Canadian press so I was very pleased to see the 27 April article. While it has taken me this long to get to bring it to you, I would encourage you taking a few minutes to read it. You can find it at. http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/27/the-vietnam-war-hero-canada-forgot
Much has been written in this place and on the net about Peter's heroism back in Vietnam days. Actions that led to his being subsequently awarded the MOH for bravery. Some of this is repeated in the Sun story. But it adds a new twist. It tells of a move on the net to see Peter awarded our own county's Order of Canada, a move this blog fully supports. A move I discussed with Peter a few years back, but somehow ended up getting put on a back burner unfortunately.
You can join me in support of the recomendation by going to the site at... https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peter-C-Lemon-deserves-the-Order-of-Canada/1604298196478773
At this site you will see some very unfortunate comments about Peter's choice of fighting in Vietnam, and also regarding his choice to become an American Citizen.
Peter and his sister moved with his parents to the US when he was less than 3 years of age. The move was probably not his choice! He was given many freedoms in the US, attended public and high school and went with his parents when they took out US citizenship. He was only 12 years of age at the time.
After public and high school, Peter answered the call of his newly adopted country, like so many Canadians did when their counrty made the same call. He did not start the war, but he gave his blood for it... repeatedly... and helped so many others that his adopted country awarded him with the highest medal they had.. the Medal of Honor. There are over 300 million in the US, yet only about 3,500 got this highest of highest honours.
A fact apparently missed by some of those commenting at the above Order of Canada recomendation site!
Peter Lemon is much more than a military hero. After the war he tried to improve his less than honourable record of schooling. He had taken on a few jobs but wanted to better himself. So he tried and tried and tried and tried to get higher education. His previous schooling records precluded those giving higher education to open the doors to him.
But I will let Peter tell you this story himself. Go to this link, and be prepared to hear a dynamic speaker motivate you, like the hundreds of thousands he has spoken to over the years since Vietnam days. Here is the link... https://vimeo.com/77234909
Peter over several decades has made a living not only in the business world but as an international motivation speaker. He talks of his medal and the three men he lost in battle and how he wears the medal... not for himself but for those three men. In fact, if truth be known, when awarded the medal he hid it in a box and did not wear it for about TWO DECADES.
He talks about the conflicts and obstructions thrown in his way over the years and how he has overcome them and how you too, can do the same thing.
His wonderful story about getting a haircut should have you in stitches. It's here ...https://www.google.ca/#q=https:%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D9iMaHFXNJ
_s
You can learn more about the Order of Canada by googling it. There are there levels, the lowest being as a member, the second as an officer and the third as a companion. Peter's accomplishments deserve an award at the highest level, not the lowest.
Peter Lemon has brought his message of hope, conquering of obstacles and duty to family, community and country to, I suspect, hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions of women and men and children from all walks of life over the decades. His trips to see school children number in the hundreds. And his message is not about war..but peace. His gift of talk has resulted in considerable accolade from leaders in may fields, from presidents to the public schoolroom.
Shown at above left, his compilation of the stories of many Medal of Honor recipients resulted in the above center pictured book which he has donated to over 17,000 schools in the US. One of the high points in Peter's life must have been one of his many visits to DC. This one in 2009 shows President Obama presenting the Outstanding American By Choice Award, spondored by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
While about 100 of these awards have been presented since inception back in 2006, to men and woman from over 40 countries, Peter would be one of I believe only two such recipients from Canada. The above presentation was the first ever by a serving President.
In commenting on making the award to Peter, President Obama said that... " his experience is a testament to the men and women who have come to this country to work for a better life for themselves and their families and also have, by their very accomplishments, made America a better place as well."
Most interesting as these words seem to sum up some of what you can see on our own Order of Canada site and reasons for making that award.
Shown at above left, his compilation of the stories of many Medal of Honor recipients resulted in the above center pictured book which he has donated to over 17,000 schools in the US. One of the high points in Peter's life must have been one of his many visits to DC. This one in 2009 shows President Obama presenting the Outstanding American By Choice Award, spondored by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
While about 100 of these awards have been presented since inception back in 2006, to men and woman from over 40 countries, Peter would be one of I believe only two such recipients from Canada. The above presentation was the first ever by a serving President.
In commenting on making the award to Peter, President Obama said that... " his experience is a testament to the men and women who have come to this country to work for a better life for themselves and their families and also have, by their very accomplishments, made America a better place as well."
Most interesting as these words seem to sum up some of what you can see on our own Order of Canada site and reasons for making that award.
Peter Lemon's heroism is recognized throughout the United States, but not so in Canada, a shame if ever there was a shame in Canada. His name can be found enscribed in various places. His awards and acknowledgements are far and wide..in the US.
And weeks back this continued with yet another series of stamps honouring the brave Medal of Honor men. This one is for the recipients from Vietnam. There are 50 of these heroes still alive, and 48 gave the US Post permission to use their images on these memorial stamps.
Called the Vietnam Memorial Forever Stamps, they were unveiled in the presence of several of these heroes on Memorial Day at the Vietnam Memorial Monument at the National Mall at Washington DC, shown above.
Peter Lemon's image is at the top and third from the left. Both the Canadian Embassy at Washington and the Press Secretary for the Minister of National Defence at Ottawa have been contacted by me to advise that this former Canadian is now being celebrated across the United States on these stamps. Yet again I made the plea that these Canadian Medal of Honor heroes need considerable more attention given to them in THIS country as well.
I have already purchased copies of these stamps and you can too by contacting the US Post.
And weeks back this continued with yet another series of stamps honouring the brave Medal of Honor men. This one is for the recipients from Vietnam. There are 50 of these heroes still alive, and 48 gave the US Post permission to use their images on these memorial stamps.
Called the Vietnam Memorial Forever Stamps, they were unveiled in the presence of several of these heroes on Memorial Day at the Vietnam Memorial Monument at the National Mall at Washington DC, shown above.
Peter Lemon's image is at the top and third from the left. Both the Canadian Embassy at Washington and the Press Secretary for the Minister of National Defence at Ottawa have been contacted by me to advise that this former Canadian is now being celebrated across the United States on these stamps. Yet again I made the plea that these Canadian Medal of Honor heroes need considerable more attention given to them in THIS country as well.
I have already purchased copies of these stamps and you can too by contacting the US Post.
Peter Lemon is shown here visiting a US Post office where he once lived and bringing along an image of the new stamps, representing the three main services.
Each folio of stamps consists of 24 stamps that can be peeled off and used. The folio opens up and a description of the criteria for receipt of the MOH is given. It also notes that of the 268 recipients from the Vietnam war, only 50 survive today, and 48 of these are depicted.
At the right, as shown above, are the names of these 48 Vietnam recipients. Peter Lemon's name appears at mid page on the line shown by the red arrow.
See you next week,
Bart
At the right, as shown above, are the names of these 48 Vietnam recipients. Peter Lemon's name appears at mid page on the line shown by the red arrow.
See you next week,
Bart
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