You have heard much about Joseph Noil and Douglas Munro in this space over the past few weeks. And so you should. Noil was one of only two men of colour in Canada to be awarded the Medal of Honor. Munro was the only man so awarded in the USCG. And both earned their medals while on sea service. Both also probably lived at a coastal town. Munro at Vancouver and Noil possibly at Halifax.
The birth places of these two heroes span almost the entire width of our country. And now these two hereoes are joined together, sort of, by being less than a mile apart, Noil with a final resting place at St Elizabeths Cemetery, and Munro with the naming of the new CG headquarters building, less than a mile away and on the same piece of real estate.
The birth places of these two heroes span almost the entire width of our country. And now these two hereoes are joined together, sort of, by being less than a mile apart, Noil with a final resting place at St Elizabeths Cemetery, and Munro with the naming of the new CG headquarters building, less than a mile away and on the same piece of real estate.
Douglas, pictured here in his late teens or early 20's, and Pat, his older sister by two years, were born at Vancoiuver where their father was running power electric works with the BC Electric Light and Power.
By the age of 2 or 3 the family moved south of the border into northerm Washington State and moved about for several years with his work in a railway company before finally settling at Cle Elum where they would be schooled. Sister Pat told me several years ago that he was a great dancer and catch for the girls of the day. He played both the drums and buggle and taught himself to play both so well that he went on to earn championships with his music. Pat would also recall that he would practice on their fronrt loan and then move into the woods around the Cle Elum Cemetery to constantly practice playing TAPS, as, in his words, "it was the least I could do for those old fellows." With the scouts he would one day find himself off hunting, with rifle to eye and a deer in the sights, but he couldn't pull the tigger. It being so cruel!. He apparently never went hunting again... till war time.
After being killed at Guadalcanal and buried there, soon the body was brought back to Cle Elum and his was laid to rest at the very cemetery he used to practice playing TAPS at. A boyhood friend and he went off together at about the same time. He with the USGC and the other with the army. After the war his buddy was so moved by the loss of his best friend that he decided to honor him with the raising and lowering of a flag in Douglas's honor. And did so... EVER DAY... for almost 30 YEARS. Since then a new pole had been mounted with a light and this removing the need to raise and lower the flag daily. I'll let you read the very emotional story at... http://www.jacksjoint.com/munromem.htm
From this story you will seem the incredible respect the entire coastguard family then and to this day has for Douglas Munro and his leadership and bravery in September of 1942. A respect that is reflected on certain key dates each year at the gravesite, at Cap May and elsewhere.
By the age of 2 or 3 the family moved south of the border into northerm Washington State and moved about for several years with his work in a railway company before finally settling at Cle Elum where they would be schooled. Sister Pat told me several years ago that he was a great dancer and catch for the girls of the day. He played both the drums and buggle and taught himself to play both so well that he went on to earn championships with his music. Pat would also recall that he would practice on their fronrt loan and then move into the woods around the Cle Elum Cemetery to constantly practice playing TAPS, as, in his words, "it was the least I could do for those old fellows." With the scouts he would one day find himself off hunting, with rifle to eye and a deer in the sights, but he couldn't pull the tigger. It being so cruel!. He apparently never went hunting again... till war time.
After being killed at Guadalcanal and buried there, soon the body was brought back to Cle Elum and his was laid to rest at the very cemetery he used to practice playing TAPS at. A boyhood friend and he went off together at about the same time. He with the USGC and the other with the army. After the war his buddy was so moved by the loss of his best friend that he decided to honor him with the raising and lowering of a flag in Douglas's honor. And did so... EVER DAY... for almost 30 YEARS. Since then a new pole had been mounted with a light and this removing the need to raise and lower the flag daily. I'll let you read the very emotional story at... http://www.jacksjoint.com/munromem.htm
From this story you will seem the incredible respect the entire coastguard family then and to this day has for Douglas Munro and his leadership and bravery in September of 1942. A respect that is reflected on certain key dates each year at the gravesite, at Cap May and elsewhere.
One of the latest ways the CG recognizes Douglas A Munro is through its foundation, and the Douglas Munro Scholarship program recently created. To assist in the founding of this venture the foundation has created these gorgeous keepsakes of Douglas. Today I purchased one of these sets. It cost me $100. Please join me and do your bit to help with this honourable undertaking and more importantly to help keep Douglas' story very much alive.
The foundation site is at http://www.coastguardfoundation.org/connect/news/329-douglas-munro-challenge-coin-available-now
The foundation site is at http://www.coastguardfoundation.org/connect/news/329-douglas-munro-challenge-coin-available-now
These are great keepsakes of one of our forgotten heroes. Please do your part and support this blog and its goals to keep these stories live, and support the USCG foundation at the same time,
And also keep a few bucks aside... rumours are that a book is about to come out on Douglas Munro in February...
I'll do my best to bring you the story when it happens...
thanks,
Bart
And also keep a few bucks aside... rumours are that a book is about to come out on Douglas Munro in February...
I'll do my best to bring you the story when it happens...
thanks,
Bart
RSS Feed
