Henry Howard celebrated his 100th birthday last weekend and the frequent visitor to the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion was not about to be late.
Howard arrived at his party 20 minutes early.
“I just want to say thank you to everything (they've) done,” said Howard.
But while the modest and soft-spoken war hero maintained his normal unassuming demeanour during the festivities, more than 200 family members and friends packed the legion's Clubroom on the afternoon of June 12 to honour not only his milestone birthday but to cheer, salute and raise a glass to a true Canadian hero.
“He's a real hero and a real gentleman,” said Ed MacPherson, a member of the legion's executive who MCed the afternoon celebration.
“I am very privileged. This is what we are about, keeping the memories alive and the sacrifices that were made.”
Howard was a member of the 10th Armoured Regiment (The Fort Garry Horse), a unit assigned to storm Juno Beach at Normandy on D-Day. Until early this year, few Innisfailians knew about his heroic Second World War military service for Canada.
Arno Glover, the legion's branch manager, was determined to find out more.
“The first point of reference was to refer to his original legion membership application in 1952, but this revealed little about his military service,” said Glover. “Thereafter I spoke to his longtime friend, fellow Second World War veteran and branch life member Glenn Ferguson, and I learned about his regiment and the fact Henry was a Juno Beach D-Day Veteran.
“We are extremely proud of Henry and his volunteer service during the war – despite his modesty and unassuming nature we have managed to put together an interesting portfolio of his wartime service,” added Glover.
And when all the pieces of Howard's story came together, tributes began to pour in nationally and internationally in time for his birthday.
MacPherson read out a birthday message from Queen Elizabeth II, as well as another from David Johnston, the governor general of Canada. As well, Howard was presented with a birthday card from the Fort Garry Horse Regimental Association in Winnipeg.
To recognize Howard's service on D-Day, the local branch made a donation to the Juno Beach Museum in France, which resulted in a permanent commemorative brick on display in the museum that has an inscription of Howard's name and service details. MacPherson presented Howard with a replica of that brick during the birthday party.
Meanwhile, the Town of Innisfail did not forget the local hero. Mayor Brian Spiller presented Howard with a special plaque, and said it was a privilege to honour a citizen's 100th birthday and D-Day service at the same time.
“There is probably not many of them (Juno Beach veterans) who are left today,” said Spiller. “He has been a good member of the legion and a good member of the community.”
