Perhaps not such a bad thing after all !
I have often said that remembering our heroes should not be limited to just one day of the year. In fact I go out of my way to constantly bring you updates about the Medal of Honor men this blog is dedicated to, and also bring you stories about our Victoria Cross recipients, a list much longer than anything you will find on the web or in military/government data banks. I am always on the look-out for news about any of these heroes so that I can keep you up to date on the latest news about who and where the men are being remembered... and how.
A few weeks back I wanted to bring you some more news from the west coast about Commander Rowland Bourke, a Victoria Cross recipient and also about Captain of the Hold Joseph Noil, from Nova Scotia. He earned the Medal of Honor just after the US Civil War of 1861-5.
I have often said that remembering our heroes should not be limited to just one day of the year. In fact I go out of my way to constantly bring you updates about the Medal of Honor men this blog is dedicated to, and also bring you stories about our Victoria Cross recipients, a list much longer than anything you will find on the web or in military/government data banks. I am always on the look-out for news about any of these heroes so that I can keep you up to date on the latest news about who and where the men are being remembered... and how.
A few weeks back I wanted to bring you some more news from the west coast about Commander Rowland Bourke, a Victoria Cross recipient and also about Captain of the Hold Joseph Noil, from Nova Scotia. He earned the Medal of Honor just after the US Civil War of 1861-5.
On November 11th the local navy reserve unit in Victoria.. HMS Mallahat... visited the grave of Commander Bourke here in Victoria. This was their 7th... and my 9th year, (spread over 10) to do so on Remembrance Day. Family have also attended for the past several years. The navy provided a short service and both the unit padre and commanding officer addressed those in attendance.
A family member and I also shared a few words about the importance of remembering this hero. A man blind in one, and refused entry into both the Canadian and American services and so he went off to England... at his own cost, joined the naval reserves, and then went off to war and in the process saved almost 50 men from drowning.
Members of HMS Malahat then had to head up the road a few miles to Sidney where they have also attended Remembrance Day services for many more than 7 years. I followed and attended a most impressive service that included not one but two flyovers by war planes and also a chopper flying very low overhead. Of course there were the marching bands and troops and vets and many a presentation including a considerable amount of wreaths being laid at the town cenotaph.
The image above shows the original grave marker for Commander Bourke VC, DSO. Like most on site, it lay flat in the ground and was most difficult to see. Efforts by many groups and individuals, including myself pitched in to arrange for the ordering, mounting and hosting a very formal and dignified unveiling ceremony for the Canadian Commonwealth Graves marker also shown above, in May of 2013.
While the Royal Oak Memorial Grounds service for the Commander took place at 9 a.m. Victoria BC time, four hours earlier DC time, it was 8 O'clock, and at that hour, the very officer that helped to unveil the Bourke Marker in 2013, was now attending a Remembrance Day ceremony for Nova Scotia born Joseph Noil at St Elizabeth's Cemetery just a few miles away from the Canadian Embassy at Washington DC.
I am of course talking about Rear Admiral William Truelove, the Commander of all maritime forces along Canada's west coast back in 2013, but today is the Commanding officer of the Military attache at our embassy in Washington.
A family member and I also shared a few words about the importance of remembering this hero. A man blind in one, and refused entry into both the Canadian and American services and so he went off to England... at his own cost, joined the naval reserves, and then went off to war and in the process saved almost 50 men from drowning.
Members of HMS Malahat then had to head up the road a few miles to Sidney where they have also attended Remembrance Day services for many more than 7 years. I followed and attended a most impressive service that included not one but two flyovers by war planes and also a chopper flying very low overhead. Of course there were the marching bands and troops and vets and many a presentation including a considerable amount of wreaths being laid at the town cenotaph.
The image above shows the original grave marker for Commander Bourke VC, DSO. Like most on site, it lay flat in the ground and was most difficult to see. Efforts by many groups and individuals, including myself pitched in to arrange for the ordering, mounting and hosting a very formal and dignified unveiling ceremony for the Canadian Commonwealth Graves marker also shown above, in May of 2013.
While the Royal Oak Memorial Grounds service for the Commander took place at 9 a.m. Victoria BC time, four hours earlier DC time, it was 8 O'clock, and at that hour, the very officer that helped to unveil the Bourke Marker in 2013, was now attending a Remembrance Day ceremony for Nova Scotia born Joseph Noil at St Elizabeth's Cemetery just a few miles away from the Canadian Embassy at Washington DC.
I am of course talking about Rear Admiral William Truelove, the Commander of all maritime forces along Canada's west coast back in 2013, but today is the Commanding officer of the Military attache at our embassy in Washington.
Five months after the Bourke marker unveiling I traveled to the US, and to Gettysburg to participate in an unveiling of a marker I donated in honour of Peter Lemon, a Toronto born Medal of Honor recipient. While there I met with about 40 Medal of Honor recipients and told them of stories they never heard about Canadians and of more than 100 MOH's we were also awarded.
I attended some of the public functions during their annual convention, did research there and even met with a relative of the famous General Chamberlain who's defense at Little Round Top, saved the day for the Union at a cost of many a life... including some Canadians. I visited many of the Canadian graves at Gettysburg and then went to Washington to do further research and visit the grave of Joseph Noil.
This sailor died penniless. His wife and two small children were trying to etch out a destitute life at New York and could not even come to see Joseph at his death bed or even attend his funeral. He ended up being buried under the WRONG NAME and with no notice whatsoever that he was a true hero and recipient of the Medal of Honor. He rested that way for OVER 134 YEARS. Above you see me visiting the grave.
Several months ago that marker was replaced, and the story told in this space. (Search for numerous mentions of the event with the search engine at upper right.)
I attended some of the public functions during their annual convention, did research there and even met with a relative of the famous General Chamberlain who's defense at Little Round Top, saved the day for the Union at a cost of many a life... including some Canadians. I visited many of the Canadian graves at Gettysburg and then went to Washington to do further research and visit the grave of Joseph Noil.
This sailor died penniless. His wife and two small children were trying to etch out a destitute life at New York and could not even come to see Joseph at his death bed or even attend his funeral. He ended up being buried under the WRONG NAME and with no notice whatsoever that he was a true hero and recipient of the Medal of Honor. He rested that way for OVER 134 YEARS. Above you see me visiting the grave.
Several months ago that marker was replaced, and the story told in this space. (Search for numerous mentions of the event with the search engine at upper right.)
Many people played important roles in the background work leading up to the fruition of their work... the unveiling of this beautiful marker that the American Government produced in honour of a Canadian citizen. Rather than just a grave marker, it is a historic artifact not only for the family, found just weeks before the event, but also for the military history and heritage of the military family, and entire populations both north and south of the Canadian American borderline.
And to help with the ceremony was Canada's own Rear Admiral Truelove and many of his associates at the Canadian Embassy, sharing... and preserving... history. A history that back in 2005 was so obscure that I was told by the Canadian Ambassador to the US, that... "none of us was aware of." This of course referring to the number of Canadians who earned the MOH.
But now to Remembrance Day a few weeks back.
And to help with the ceremony was Canada's own Rear Admiral Truelove and many of his associates at the Canadian Embassy, sharing... and preserving... history. A history that back in 2005 was so obscure that I was told by the Canadian Ambassador to the US, that... "none of us was aware of." This of course referring to the number of Canadians who earned the MOH.
But now to Remembrance Day a few weeks back.
Here once again doing his part to remember our hero, Rear Admiral Truelove and his wife visited the Noil marker at 8 a.m. on the 11th. This is a very moving picture. To me it is telling the world that visiting graves is one thing, but this visit was truly from their hearts... far and above the call of duty. Both husband and wife placed roses on the Noil marker. Then then remove the poppies they were wearing and affixed these to the roses. They then stepped back and gave a heart felt salute to this great Canadian who gave his life while in the service of the US Navy, and along the way in that service was awarded another nation's highest medal for bravery... the Medal of Honor.
Most would never know this, but the Admiral's shoulders were very heavy that day. He was indeed carrying more weight than even the day before. For this was day one of his wearing around his neck the Order of Military Merit, at the highest of three levels, that of Commander. He had just been promoted from within the Order's ranks from Officer to Commander the day before by our Governor General at Ottawa. At the remembrance ceremony, it would be his first full day wearing it.
Most would never know this, but the Admiral's shoulders were very heavy that day. He was indeed carrying more weight than even the day before. For this was day one of his wearing around his neck the Order of Military Merit, at the highest of three levels, that of Commander. He had just been promoted from within the Order's ranks from Officer to Commander the day before by our Governor General at Ottawa. At the remembrance ceremony, it would be his first full day wearing it.
Lt. Colonel L Pacarynuk, Chaplain General from the Cdn. Embassy looks on as Rear Admiral Truelove and his wife salute hero Joseph Noil and his new marker.
Lt. Col David Devenney from the public affairs branch at the Cdn. Embassy has also been of great support to me and this blog's work over the last few years. He is with the Royal Canadian Air Force and is shown at far left. I do not have the name of the officer on his right. Mrs. Truelove, the Chaplain General and Rear Admiral Truelove are next. At far right are retired US Navy Rear Admiral C Weaver and his wife.
Note all the American flags in the background. This year about 500 of these flags were placed by hospital/cemetery staff at graves of veterans. Note the lone Canadian flag at the Noil marker as well.
Ar 11, all attended a formal remembrance Ceremony at the Embassy and spent several hours after lunch at Arlington where they payed their respects at the grave of PEI MOH recipient Charles MacGillivary (often mentioned in this space) and 6 other graves of Canadian veterans.
Note all the American flags in the background. This year about 500 of these flags were placed by hospital/cemetery staff at graves of veterans. Note the lone Canadian flag at the Noil marker as well.
Ar 11, all attended a formal remembrance Ceremony at the Embassy and spent several hours after lunch at Arlington where they payed their respects at the grave of PEI MOH recipient Charles MacGillivary (often mentioned in this space) and 6 other graves of Canadian veterans.
The poster says it all!
See you next week.
Bart
See you next week.
Bart
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