This has been a very busy week for me. About a week ago I had to prepare a short talk on my trip to the US for the genealogy society of which I belong. I've also had to prepare to make some remarks at the annual remembrance ceremony at Royal Oak Cemetery where regular readers know a ceremony was conducted recently in honour of Rowland Bourke, VC, DSO and Belgian MOH. I had to also prepare for a brief slide show and talk at the BC Museum with regards to the Gettysburg connection in Canada, and also make sure my booth was ship shape for showing at the 5th remembrance show I was invited to participate in there on the 11th. To top all this off I had to prepare to appear on a live radio interview at CFAX here in Victoria BC. Thus the cancelling of the Friday and Monday columns last.
All of these activities involved the bringing forth of stories about these brave Canadians who earned either the US Medal of Honor or the British Commonwealth's Victoria Cross.
But before today's comments I would like to ask you to check out each of the following 6 videos. Each is most moving and all on topic at a time when we stop in Canada to reflect on the history, the stories and sacrifices of those now serving in uniform, and those who came before them. Each in their own way was.. .or is... a hero. As are those left behind to carry on as they do their jobs so that you and I can enjoy the incredible freedoms we do enjoy, and more often than not, take for granted.
Today is payback day!
Watch first this very moving video of a 4 year old boy in Belgian in 2007. His mother made up a little uniform for him and it appears to be that of the Canadian Scottish here in Victoria. This little fellow gave his outmost respect to Canadian soldiers in Belgium marching on honour of the liberation of Belgium by Canadian troops so many years ago. Here it is. And please note the respect the child receives in return.
enjoy... http://www.wimp.com/belgianboy/ hit exit to come back to blog when finished for this and the others...
Having served in the military for 17 years and attended some form of celebration for about 40 years, you can be assured that I have heard the last post being played many a time. But never like this. This is incredible. It is played by a 13 year old from Holland a few years back and will bring a tear to most viewers eye. And so it should.
Please enjoy.... http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm
We have all seen and heard of the price Canada is playing in the current war on terrorism. We hear of and see the men and women who have given their all and could give no more for our benefit. We can never really appreciate all the loss these hero's families and friends and neighbours will feel for generations since their loved one was taken away from them..
Canadian Rock Legend Brian Adams helps us to cope with this sorrow with his tune...Never Let Go. If only we can live up to his words. Here they are... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luo4BseF9ukhttp://
Jack Lord also brings us powerful thoughts with his tune... Highway of Heroes. Give it a listen at...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34n4AJu2mkg
And before leaving the music scene I want to bring you this great song by Lee Greenwood... Proud to be a Canadian....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckfXr1EHO9U
All of these activities involved the bringing forth of stories about these brave Canadians who earned either the US Medal of Honor or the British Commonwealth's Victoria Cross.
But before today's comments I would like to ask you to check out each of the following 6 videos. Each is most moving and all on topic at a time when we stop in Canada to reflect on the history, the stories and sacrifices of those now serving in uniform, and those who came before them. Each in their own way was.. .or is... a hero. As are those left behind to carry on as they do their jobs so that you and I can enjoy the incredible freedoms we do enjoy, and more often than not, take for granted.
Today is payback day!
Watch first this very moving video of a 4 year old boy in Belgian in 2007. His mother made up a little uniform for him and it appears to be that of the Canadian Scottish here in Victoria. This little fellow gave his outmost respect to Canadian soldiers in Belgium marching on honour of the liberation of Belgium by Canadian troops so many years ago. Here it is. And please note the respect the child receives in return.
enjoy... http://www.wimp.com/belgianboy/ hit exit to come back to blog when finished for this and the others...
Having served in the military for 17 years and attended some form of celebration for about 40 years, you can be assured that I have heard the last post being played many a time. But never like this. This is incredible. It is played by a 13 year old from Holland a few years back and will bring a tear to most viewers eye. And so it should.
Please enjoy.... http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm
We have all seen and heard of the price Canada is playing in the current war on terrorism. We hear of and see the men and women who have given their all and could give no more for our benefit. We can never really appreciate all the loss these hero's families and friends and neighbours will feel for generations since their loved one was taken away from them..
Canadian Rock Legend Brian Adams helps us to cope with this sorrow with his tune...Never Let Go. If only we can live up to his words. Here they are... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luo4BseF9ukhttp://
Jack Lord also brings us powerful thoughts with his tune... Highway of Heroes. Give it a listen at...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34n4AJu2mkg
And before leaving the music scene I want to bring you this great song by Lee Greenwood... Proud to be a Canadian....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckfXr1EHO9U
A few weeks back when I had the privilege of visiting the Canadian embassy, I was given a tour of many areas of the incredible facility. I had a wonderful chat of about 2 hours and whilst there I was shown a medallion about 2 inches in diameter as shown above.
The military contingent of the embassy apparently arranged for this commemorative token to be designed and minted in the amount of a very limited 750 copies. Numbers 1 and 750 have been dedicated to the unknown soldier at Arlington. The purpose of the coin is to recognize the sacrifices of both the US and Canadian troops who have lost their lives in battle. I suspect the coin is also in recognition of the very positive working relationship that has been developed over the years... perhaps even going back to Civil War days when some 50,000 served in US uniforms of the day.
The face of the coin spells Defence with a C, as we do in Canada, and the reverse spells it with an S as they do in the US. Each side also bears the Canadian flag along the rim and the white star of the US along the opposite rim. The coins are carefully controlled and issued to certain officials to present to high officials as they go about their day to day work. I was most pleased to be presented with one of these coins and shall place it among my most treasured possessions.
On November 11 I attended another Remembrance Ceremony at the grave of Commander Rowland Bourke, the WW1 naval officer who was awarded the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Order and the Belgian Medal of Honor for his bravery in Belgium 95 years ago. Regular readers have read much about him in past columns here.
At the left are a few of the sailors from the HMS Mallahat reserve navy unit in Victoria and at centre is an image of the unit's acting Coxswain and the unit's Executive Office placing a wreath At the right are some of Rowland Bourke's descendants in attendance. After that ceremony I had to rush down to the radio station for the interview. You can actually here it by going here... http://www.cfax1070.com/Media/CFAX-Podcasts/CFAX-Afternoons/November-11-2013-11am
At the left are a few of the sailors from the HMS Mallahat reserve navy unit in Victoria and at centre is an image of the unit's acting Coxswain and the unit's Executive Office placing a wreath At the right are some of Rowland Bourke's descendants in attendance. After that ceremony I had to rush down to the radio station for the interview. You can actually here it by going here... http://www.cfax1070.com/Media/CFAX-Podcasts/CFAX-Afternoons/November-11-2013-11am
On Sunday and Monday of this week the BC Museum... for the 12 year in a row, housed a remembrance show that included guest speakers at a podium, and numerous booths for groups and individuals to bring in displays on topic. The above are a few of my posters created over the years and this was the fifth such show I attended bringing the story of the Medal of Honor and its Canadian connection to the public at the museum.
The gathering was well attended and each group no doubt got much very positive feedback for their efforts. I also got may leads to follow up on re the work I have been doing in this regard.
That's it for today... see you on Friday, and in the mean time, if you like what you saw and heard today...PLEASE pass it on to your friends.
And comments on the blog are always welcome too,
Bart
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