Earlier this year, Canadians commemorated two significant anniversaries in Canadian history. On July 1st colourful celebratory events took place in every community, large or small, to commemorate 150 years of the Confederation of Canada.
On April 9 many Canadians witnessed smaller (but just as significant) events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. It was a battle of the Great War perceived by many military historians as a “turning point in Canadian history” with Canadian army divisions fighting collectively for the first time as a unified force. Many commentators cite this event as the “beginning of Canada's evolution from dominion colony to independent nation”.
As we progress through our own lives we choose to take part in our own personal special events and commemorate those dates that we recognize as special family occasions or anniversary dates.
And as we enter Remembrance Week, many of us choose to honour and pay our solemn respect to those who have served their country, and in particular, we choose to remember those who have suffered, those that have lost family members and those who never returned from conflicts around the world.
For a brief period every year, we are therefore given the opportunity to remember and show appreciation to those men and women who have served and defended our values. Remembrance Day has become for many a special day of significance in our lives, just as much as a loved one's birthday or any other special family occasion.
In my short time in Innisfail I have been privileged to witness innovative examples of how the community and committed individuals have sought to find new means of demonstrating their belief and support during this significant and special time each year in the annual calendar.
I have witnessed some truly creative examples of how individuals and organizations are working to ensure new means and ways of promoting acts of remembrance are established, not just for today, but also for future generations.
Let me give you some examples.
In 2013 a group of individuals in Vlaardingen, Holland erected a permanent memorial in memory of the crew of Wellington bomber Z1321, which crashed near to their town on March 25, 1942. On board was a local airman from Innisfail, Flight Sgt. Andrew Lennox. For more than 70 years there was no permanent memorial to the six men that died in that aircraft – until four years ago.
In 2014, a Veterans headstone marker was placed on land just east of Innisfail in memory of Lance Cpl. Edgar Medley who died in 1918 as a result from his war wounds. After nearly 100 years, a permanent memorial was dedicated to his memory. Funded by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission, this was achieved through many hours of devoted work by locals David Hoar, Don Chalack and Johnnie Bachusky.
In 2015, former Penhold mayor Dennis Cooper and local resident Stewart Ford completed the renovation of an important historical artifact known today as the Penhold Curtain. In addition, a stunning new war memorial was erected in Penhold to honour not only those who served in past conflicts but in particular those who served or trained in CFB Penhold.
In 2016, Allan Cameron successfully expanded his Flags of Remembrance tribute to more than seven locations across Canada – a huge undertaking from its humble origins at Sylvan Lake. To those who are unaware of the nature of this tribute it consists of 128 full-size Canada flags erected and flown on the roadside – each poignantly representing 1,000 Canadian servicemen who have given their lives on active duty.
And in 2017 we learn that the Town of Innisfail is pursuing a change of ownership of the Cenotaph land to safeguard the future of this important monument. This of course follows on from a jointly funded project with Branch 104 that led to a full restoration of the Innisfail Cenotaph just over two years ago.
And earlier this year the Vimy Foundation opened a new Visitors Education Centre on the site of the Vimy Memorial in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.
The Vimy Foundation is a relatively new Canadian charity. It was formed in 2006. The foundation's mandate is to preserve and promote Canada's First World War legacy, as symbolized by the magnificent memorial at Vimy.
This organization currently conducts educational and awareness programs for youth both in Canada and overseas but in the past has successfully lobbied for government to hold a public commemoration in 2011 for the last surviving Great War soldier. It has also lobbied for government buildings around the country to lower their flags on Vimy Day and for the Vimy Memorial to be included in the design of the current $20 bill.
Members of the local Innisfail community assisted in their fundraising cause by raising nearly $1,000 during the commemorative event held in Branch 104 on April 9.
It is important that we all recognize the collective responsibility we have, to continue to promote acts of remembrance. These new initiatives ensure that remembrance remains embedded in our own personal calendars each year, but more importantly such acts ensure that future generations will always remember those that gave in the past.
As we approach Remembrance Day please remember to wear a poppy.
This small symbolic red flower, worn on the lapel of Canadians pulls together the strength of a nation, the pride of a country and in doing so we all continue to maintain a simple but personal act of remembrance each and every year.
Arno Glover is a member of Innisfail Branch 104, Royal Canadian Legion.
