IN THIS ISSUE The last doughboy granted special burial rights. 20080419.pdfattack, a fiery plane crash or some exotic killer disease. And there are some sobering passages, too, for

Volume - 2 Edition 15 Week Ending April 19, 2008

IN THIS ISSUE· The last doughboy granted special burial rights.· Book Review: Where White Horses Gallop· Terrorism: We wildly overestimate the risk of being a victim, says Dan Gardner ...

· Branch 50's "Legion IDOL" Starts Well· RCMP kept tabs on Canadian vets of Spanish Civil War· Legion Stabbing· Archive: Veteran Fights For Honour, Religion, · Branch 50's ROCKERS WIN B Division title at KWSL Playoff.· WWII Veteran Golf Legend Dies· Former British POW tells little-known side of Korean War · Windsor Memorial Vandalized· Legion official honoured· Auxiliary marks 50 years; Legion Branch 564 women remain active· Worse Than the Draft· U.S. Estimate: 120 Veteran Suicides Per Week· Vet wrote on Forgotten War· Troops’ care packages located· 'The war was imminent'; Jules Paivio's socialist ideals led him to fight in Spain

· A Serb in Chalk River· Relatives of slain Canadian soldiers pay emotional visit to Afghanistan· The Post editorial board on Rick Hillier: A soldier's soldier· Bancroft Legion branch looks to council for help· Mitchell Legion urgenty needs executive help to keep doors open· Sky’s the limit for Esquimalt Legion· One soldier's story· Warehousing seniors is no solution· Few remain from the War to End All Wars· Nov. 11 poem wins provincial recognition for PAMS student· Nurse to deploy to Afghanistan; KGH employee to treat wounded soldiers, civilians

· Nearly a fifth of Veterans report mental disorders· Luftwaffe pilot-turned-Canadian who performed an act of amazing grace, dies.

· Former Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52 President Dies.· Canada's last First World War vet receives commendation· Government of Canada Encourages Canadians to Remember· Government of Canada Commemorates the 55th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice

· Korean War memorial on Vancouver Island 'last big gathering,

The last doughboy granted special burial rights.

Arlington National Cemetery , United States federal burial ground in

northeastern Virginia, administered by the Department of the Army. The site, on the Potomac River across from Washington, D.C. , occupies 248 hectares (612 acres) and contains the remains of more than

240,000 veterans, their dependents, and political leaders. Most of those buried in

Arlington National Cemetery served in the U.S. armed forces, and many were killed during battle. Among the monuments on

the grounds are the Tomb of the Unknowns (also called the Tomb of the

Unknown Soldier), the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater, and Arlington House, the former mansion of Confederate general Robert E. Lee and his wife, Mary Anna

Randolph Lee.Credit: www.usconstitution.com

AMERICA'S sole surviving veteran of World War I can spend eternity among his brothers in arms after all, the U.S. Army has decided in a welcome bending of military rules.

Frank Woodruff Buckles, 107, is one of only two survivors of the Great War residing in the United States (the other, John Babcock, lives in Spokane, Wash., but is Canadian and served in the Canadian Army).

In all, only about a dozen WW I veterans are still alive worldwide out of the more than 4.7 million Americans and more than 60 million European men and women who served. Mr.

Page 1The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)

Buckles had to "increase" his age when he enlisted in April, 1917, and he served as a driver and warehouse clerk in France and Germany. He did not see combat.

As a veteran of the "war to end all wars," he was already eligible for cremation and placement in a columbarium at Arlington but, according to the Associated Press, he did not meet the criteria for burial in the ground there.

It was not until last year that his daughter discovered that the veteran wanted to be buried in the national cemetery. Friends of the family spent months calling ande-mailing the Pentagon, the White House, and anyone else in government they could think of, seeking an exception to the rules that would allow the former doughboy - the last doughboy - to rest among his fallen comrades.

Last month, their pleas were answered, and Mr. Buckles, who lives in Charles Town, W. Va., received an official certificate signed by Lt. Gen. David H. Huntoon, Jr., director of the Army Staff, and encased in a leather-bound book entitling him to a place alongside generals (including John "Black Jack" Pershing, commander of U.S. forces in World War I), Medal of Honor winners, Supreme Court justices, astronauts, and others.

Mr. Buckles, who was in the Philippines when World War II broke out on Dec. 7, 1941, and spent 39 months in a Japanese POW camp in Manila, met last month with President Bush and took part in a Pentagon ceremony honoring veterans of the Great War.

And it is certainly our hope that he is around to attend many more such events. He is, after all America's only remaining direct, living link to that conflict.

But it is good to know that when his time comes, he will have an honored place among America's heroes.

Sunday, April 13, 2008The Toledo TimesSection: Veterans

Book Review: Where White Horses Gallop

Where White Horses Gallop by Beatrice MacNeil (Key Porter, $32.95)

It’s long been against my way of doing things to read reviews of works that I’m asked to write about, because I want to be utterly fair to the author and his or her work. This is especially important if the author is one I’ve not reviewed before, or haven’t read before or recently. With Beatrice MacNeil, I had enjoyed her earlier work, The Moonlight Skater, a collection of nine short stories and a play called The Dream. But I read these years ago, and wasn’t prepared for the way I would be pulled so completely into the entrancing web she weaves in her novel Where White Horses Gallop.

Even without reading reviews to colour my perspective, there was a hint of what was to come in the words of Alistair MacLeod on the book’s cover, where he says that MacNeil "has a brilliant insight into the souls of the wounded." Being an admirer of MacLeod, I was intrigued by his praise; by the time I’d finished the novel’s prologue, I was smitten with yet another fine Nova Scotian writer, and devoured the rest of the novel in two evenings.

Beatrice MacNeil’s late husband Michael B. MacDonald served with the Cape Breton Highlanders, and was decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery for his part, with his comrades, in the liberation of Holland. As she writes in her acknowledgements, she wrote this

novel in part for Michael but also for all Canadian men and women who have served in the theatre of war.

Readers are drawn into a time that was simpler and yet more terrifying than these chaotic days, the days leading up to and following the Second World War.

The first Great War had scarred the remote community of Beinn Barra, with fathers and brothers and uncles lost or who had returned home forever changed. Four young men, friends since childhood — Benny Doucet, who can make a fiddle sing to the angels; Hector MacDonald, fisherman with his veteran father; Calum MacPherson, detouring from medical school to serve his country; and Alex MacGregor, whose father was lost at sea — now face the prospect of going to war themselves.

Hector, Benny and Calum voluntarily go forth to battle, while Alex faces a host of different battles at home; all are casualties in their own distinct ways, and their families likewise.

Only Hamish, the disabled son of Ona and Joachim MacPherson, and brother to Calum, dances through the story unscarred, his joy a beacon of hope. Oblivious to the horrors of war or the damaged friends who do make it home from the war, he is content to find delight in feathers and stones, sticks and the promise of a horse that Calum had said he’d bring to him when he came back from war. Joachim instead carves a horse from wood for Hamish, and in that carving he restores something of his own wounded soul and his love for his wife.

MacNeil is a writer who knows well the nuances and politics of tightly knit communities, and as the blurb by MacLeod acknowledges, she knows the souls of the wounded, who take many forms. The elderly parish priest doesn’t attend the village dances and frowns down from his house towards the Saturday night revellers, who stand "in a cluster of liquid damnation"; yet he takes a wee drop himself to ease the ache in his bones, "then a larger one to ward off eternal damnation."

The elderly widows who attend every dance bring refreshments for the crowd and sip rum poured from a

Page 2 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)

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teapot in dainty teacups. Young women cast flirtatious glances at the young men, but many hearts are broken or loves left unrequited, while older loves first lose themselves in grief, then ultimately heal one another.

Intrigued by her narrative skill, I asked MacNeil whether or not she writes poetry because her words dance across the pages of her novel.

It turns out that she doesn’t write poetry, but she says as she worked at the novel she read parts of it to her husband when he was ill, although she didn’t complete writing it until after he died. Coming from Cape Breton with such a strong oral tradition of both storytelling and music has also influenced her, because MacNeil’s writing is lilting with music and begs to be read aloud. Her sentences aren’t flowery, but they capture vignettes and moods perfectly.

A kitchen is "dark with mourners" while the smiles of brothers Hamish and Calum are alike, "setting off a quiet rumpus in their eyes." Alex’s mother warns him of the Mounties, who are "probably crawling around the shingles like spiders", and the mourning Joachim "had turned on himself and invited in a shadow."

MacNeil spins a web that draws the reader utterly in to her spell, and it’s best to have a cup of tea — with or without a wee drop — and a box of tissues as you read this novel.

Jodi Delong is a freelance writer who lives in Halifax.

Sunday, April 13, 2008JODI DELONG, The Chronicle Herald

Section: Miscellaneous

Terrorism: We wildly overestimate the risk of being a victim, says Dan Gardner ...

'There's no question that substantial spending' to prevent terrorism is justified,

writes Dan Gardner, but adds that much of the huge outlay would be better spent in

other areas where risks to people are demonstrably higher.

Credit: Rod Macivor, The Ottawa Citizen

Common sense isn't so common anymore.

It has been suffocated by irrational fear, which in turn has been enthusiastically stoked white-hot by the profiteering fear industry, which has been aided and abetted by opportunistic politicians, gullible, lazy media and other leaders of public opinion who should know better.

That's a rough sketch of Dan Gardner's book Risk, an overdue rational

antidote to those of us who fear becoming a victim of the next terrorist attack, a fiery plane crash or some exotic killer disease.

And there are some sobering passages, too, for the new generation of "helicopter parents" who hover over their children, watching and organizing their every move, lest a pedophile or some other predator is lurking.

We're afraid, very afraid, says Ottawa Citizen columnist Gardner, but our fear is invariably completely misplaced or way out of proportion.

On the subject of terrorism, Gardner cites a U.S. study that compared travel and fatality patterns for the five years before the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington to those between 2001-02.

It found that 1,595 road deaths were attributable to people shifting to

travelling by car because of fear of flying in that immediate post-9/11 period -- six times the number aboard the three doomed airplanes and a little more than half of the total 9/11 death toll.

Politicians and media, says Gardner, have distorted and inflated the terrorist threat to score political favour and pander to audiences.

On the subject of children and abduction by strangers, Gardner quotes statistics from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The statistics from all three countries tell pretty much the same story. Over two years from 2000-2001, the RCMP database reported that the stranger abductions in Canada -- the definition included neighbours and friends of parents -- numbered five. There was just one abduction by an actual stranger.

"There are roughly 2.9-million children aged 14 or younger in Canada," writes Gardner, a father of two. "Thus the annual risk to one of those children is 1 in 5.8 million."

Similar ratios apply in the United States where the risk of stranger abduction is 1 in 655,555.

The chance of a U.S. child drowning in a swimming pool, he notes, is 1 in 245,614, or two-and-a-half times greater than stranger abduction. In 2003, 2,408 U.S. children 14 and younger died in car crashes, making the probability of a child dying in a traffic accident 1 in 29,070. So a child is 26 times more likely to die in a car accident than be abducted by a stranger.

The point, says Gardner, is that few people consider the risk of driving with a child and even fewer are fearful of it. And it certainly isn't the material of the hysterical fear-mongering news coverage that invariably greets cases of child abduction.

Why human beings allow common sense to give way to irrational fear is not totally understood. But Gardner began his research with a crash course in Cognitive Psychology 101, a branch of psychology that focuses on how people understand, diagnose and solve problems and how behaviour is


WEBNEWS Volume - 2 Edition 15Week Ending April 19, 2008

affected by external appeals to the thought process. Marketers, advertising executives, political operatives and perhaps even terrorist masterminds, have a grasp of it.

It is, argues Gardner, a constant struggle between Mind and Gut.

Terrorism generates disproportionate fear, he says.

"Terrorism is vivid, violent, unjust and potentially catastrophic," he writes. "It presses all Gut's buttons. ... But people are not slaves of their unconscious minds. They also have conscious minds that can overrule or at least modify their feelings. If, after the Sept. 11 attacks, President George Bush had loudly and repeatedly insisted that flying is safer than driving, even factoring in the risk of terrorism, and underscored the point by getting on a commercial jet himself, it wouldn't have convinced everyone to ignore their jitters and return to the airports. But it would have got the media talking about risk and statistics, and a significant proportion of those who had switched from flying to driving would have realized it was foolish to do so and switched back. Lives would have been saved."

Our current climate of fear is also expensive in direct and indirect ways, Gardner argues. Counter-terrorism (homeland security) spending in the U.S. last year was $58.3 billion, not including the astronomical cost of wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.

"If Iraq were included under the rubric of 'fighting terrorism' -- as the White House has always insisted it should be -- total counter-terrorist spending would soar."

Security screening at airports, border crossings and ports is also costly -- according to one study, cumulative half-hour delays at airports alone cost the U.S. economy $15 billion a year.

It's money that could be better spent, Gardner argues, where risk is demonstrably higher -- on eradicating economy-crippling malaria in developing countries or providing health insurance to the millions of Americans who have none.

"Unfortunately," Gardner writes, "terrorism spending has never been

subjected to a cost-benefit analysis. The risk of terrorism is certainly real and while the risk of catastrophic terrorism is much lower than it is commonly portrayed, it too is real. So there's no question that substantial spending would be justified under a cost-benefit analysis. But it's much harder to believe that the scale of current spending would stand up."

But such things as airport screenings will meet a limit, Gardner predicted in an interview last week.

"Here's my prediction," he said. "There will be a plot where terrorists will attempt to smuggle explosives in assholes and vaginas. What are they (security) going to do then?"

Risk, which Gardner researched and wrote over seven months ("I would have liked five years," he said) has received glowing reviews in Britain. It will be published in the United States with the amended title The Science of Fear and with Gardner's full name Daniel on the cover. (It's plain "Dan" elsewhere)

"I'm not quite sure why," he laughed. "I guess Daniel sounds more authoritative."

He isn't sure whether the book's admonishments will have any effect, but he does have hopes.

"I hope people begin examining their own decisions," he said. "Stop and think. That's what we all need to do."

What Was Said

Tibor Fischer, writing in the Sunday Telegraph:

Gardner deftly points out that since 9/11 al-Qaeda hasn't so much as broken wind in the U.S. He identifies the real terror of 9/11 as not so much the hijacking and crashing of passenger planes into offices, but the brutal message: we will do anything we can, pay any price, to kill as many of you as possible. This, according to Gardner, is not as terrifying as it first seems. His reasoning is well thought out. Israel, Gardner argues, has been the No. 1 target of left-wing and Muslim fanatics for decades, Muslim fanatics who have "enjoyed the sponsorship of Middle Eastern states -- and yet Israel has never suffered an attack by terrorists armed with

weapons of mass destruction. This is a pretty strong indication that getting and using such weapons isn't quite as easy as some would have us think."

Rafael Behr, writing in the London Observer:

Gardner is forensic in his dissection of bogus claims in advertising and politics, just as he is lucid about the science explaining why they work. His chapters on the risk of being a victim of crime or terrorism provoke a peculiar mix of comfort and despair. It is heartening that the danger is slight; it's unsettling how skewed our political system and consumer culture are towards convincing us of the opposite.

© The Ottawa Citizen 2008

Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear

By Dan Gardner

McClelland & Stewart, $34.99

Sunday, April 13, 2008Chris Cobb, The Ottawa Citizen


Branch 50's "Legion IDOL" Starts Well

Last thursday night Branch 50 was filled almost to capacity with song.

By all accounts the launch of Legion Idol was a measurable success. Over seventy people showed up to watch the first week of the twelve week singing contest in which competitors will serenade us with their vocal charms in an effort to be chosen to compete in the finals which will be held on weeks eleven and twelve.

On thurday, over twenty entrant's paid their twenty dollar entry fee and five lucky contestants were chosen by the host Randy Kuhn of the Music Scene, to qualify for the finals. Those chosen were, Sarah, Chris, Tracey, Trisha, and Peter.

During the final two weeks the competitors will be whittled down to a final three winners by a jury, as yet to be named. The first, sencond and third place singers will receive $300, $200,



and $100 respectively along with custom pins, created and graciously donated by Jar Jewlers of Kitchener.

Entrants who were not chosen last week may try again this week at 7:30pm along with any new contestants who want to "have a go".

Sunday, April 13, 2008Webmaster

Section: Entertainement

RCMP kept tabs on Canadian vets of Spanish Civil War

Map tracing the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939. Map shows the immediate success achieved by General Franciso Franco's

invasion from Spanish Morocco, which was co-ordinated with a military uprising in the

North. Franco and a group of generals launched their attack after a coalition of Socialists and Catalonian and Basque Separatists had gained control of the

Spanish Republican government

Credit: http://www2.bc.edu/~heineman/maps/SpCW.html

Canadians who volunteered in the Spanish Civil War were watched by the RCMP for decades, even after they entered the final years of their lives.

The prolonged surveillance is revealed in a new book by Michael Petrou, a journalist with Maclean's magazine and a former Citizen reporter.

The war -- fought on the eve of the Second World War, from 1936 to 1939 -- killed hundreds of thousands, including more than 400 Canadians.

It began in July 1936, when parts of the military attempted a coup against Spain's left-leaning Popular Front government, which had been elected only five months earlier.

The rebels were backed by the military might of Italy's Fascist government

and the Nazis of Germany.

Civil War: 'First Canadians to fight Hitler'

The Spanish government, meanwhile, was assisted by Soviet forces and the all-volunteer International Brigades, which included the Canadians.

In the end, the rebels won, a victory that led to the more than three-decade dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco.

Mr. Petrou spent four years researching the history of the Canadian veterans while completing his doctorate at Oxford University. He has compiled his research in Renegades: Canadians in the Spanish Civil War. Through archival documents and anecdotal evidence, Mr. Petrou has identified 1,681 Canadians who went to Spain between 1936 and 1939.

His research shows the RCMP viewed the veterans as suspected communists and "potential subversives," and put together "extensive files" on their activities.

In some cases, they were barred from signing up to fight Canada's enemies in the Second World War -- a considerable irony, in light of the fact they had been fighting the same Fascist and Nazi forces in Spain.

"These were the first Canadians to fight Hitler. That's undisputable," Mr. Petrou said in an interview.

For years, the RCMP kept an open file on the former soldiers, often keeping track of their activities by reading their group newsletters.

At least one report was added to the file as recently as 1984 -- nearly five decades after the veterans first went to war.

"I think it would be very fair to say the RCMP had a grudge against veterans of the Spanish Civil War," Mr. Petrou said.

Technically, each man who went overseas was in breach of the Foreign Enlistment Act -- legislation passed in 1937 that prohibited Canadians from signing up for foreign conflicts.

And according to the evidence presented in Mr. Petrou's book, the RCMP wanted to bring the Canadian veterans, and their recruiters, to court

from early on in the war -- if they returned to Canada alive.

As RCMP commissioner James MacBrien noted in a letter to the force's Liaison and Intelligence Service on Aug. 28, 1937: "We are getting rid of a lot of undesirables who may never return, but laws should be enforced if possible."

While as many as four-fifths of the veterans were immigrants to Canada, virtually none had Spanish roots.

The vast majority went to war as anti-fascists -- not as thrillseekers.

"It was a lot of effort to get to Spain from Canada," said Mr. Petrou. "It wasn't the kind of thing you could do on a whim."

Mr. Petrou was able to track down eight surviving Canadian veterans while researching his book; three of them have since died.

While there is a monument and memorial wall built in their honour in Green Island Park in New Edinburgh, these men are not recognized as veterans and they do not qualify for war veterans allowance.

But as they have told Mr. Petrou, they played a big part in writing the pages of history.

"A lot of the veterans will tell you that the Spanish Civil War was the dress rehearsal for the Second World War," he said. "They see it as part of the major clash of ideologies of the 20th century."

© The Ottawa Citizen 2008Monday, April 14, 2008

Geoff Nixon, The Ottawa CitizenSection: Veterans

Legion Stabbing

WINNIPEG:Man stabbed trying to help.

A 33-year-old man was taken to hospital in critical condition after he was stabbed while helping staff at a Royal Canadian Legion remove a troublemaker.



Winnipeg police said the incident occurred about 11:20 p.m. Friday, when staff at the General Sir Sam Steele Legion at 376 Salter St., were removing a man who had been "causing problems."

The victim was later upgraded to stable condition.

The suspect fled the scene but was caught by police a short time later in a back lane in the 300-block of College Avenue. the suspect has been charged with aggravated assault and has been detained in police custody.

Monday, April 14, 2008Sun Media

Section: RCL

Archive: Veteran Fights For Honour, Religion,

Five World War II turbaned Veterans including me were refused admittance to the Lounge of Newton Legion Branch, Surrey on Remembrance Day in 1993 - even though they were invited guests. The door was barred to them unless they agreed to remove their turbans - something that observant Sikhs would never do. Moreover, advance clearance for dress to be worn was obtained from Parade Commander Newton Legion. Because of the ill-treatment meted out to the Veterans, some white Ministers, MLAs and Councillors scheduled to make speeches inside the Lounge refused to enter in protest and walked away.

Public insult, embarrassment and humiliation of invited World War Veterans being extremely serious, the issue was picked up by local, national and International media, spreading it all over the World. Most importantly, it also was discussed in the Canadian Parliament, British Columbia Legislature and Surrey City Council and unanimously passed supporting the Veterans fully and condemning the Newton Legion President’s undesirable action.

I, being fully involved in the episode, spearheaded it. I wrote personal letters to the Queen, Governor General and many other dignitaries, giving full details of the incident and my views on it. The Queen very kindly sent my letter to the National Headquarters of the Royal Canadian Legion for action, who immediately amended the Legion Bylaws, allowing turbaned Veterans in all 1720 Legion Branches across Canada. Later, when I met the Queen at Victoria on August 20,1994, she asked me about the progress of the Legion’s turban issue. I thanked her for her intervention and said that the issue was resolved by immediate amending the unscrupulous bylaw. She was though pleased but remarked “ But they should not have treated you in the manner they did in the first place“. With intensive pressure from the Royal Canadian Legion, all three levels of Govts and the public at large, Frank Underwood, Newton Legion President apologized unconditionally to the five Veterans on C. T.V. on December 1, 1993.

On seeing the news of my handling the case, in Indian media, the International Reporter Reeta Sharma of Chandigarh English Tribune came to my house in Surrey, Canada. She interviewed me on the incident for over two hours and sent her Story to her newspaper for publication. Her story published in Chandigarh English Tribune on July 29, 1994.

Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal (Retd) World War II Veteran is the Founder President Indian Ex-Servicemen Society British Columbia. He can be reached at Phone; 604-581-9383 or E.mail: [email protected].

Monday, April 14, 2008Lt Col Pritam Singh Jauhal (Retd) World War II

VeteranSection: Veterans

Branch 50's ROCKERS WIN B Division title at KWSL Playoff.

Branch 50's own ROCKERS, led by Comrade Ron Dickson, won the B DIVISION title at the KWSL playoff day Saturday Apr 12th at Br 412.

The ROCKERS were the only team in the division to win 5 out of 8 games.

Way to go, Ron and crew!

Full results and photos at link below.Monday, April 14, 2008

Jim Meyer, K-W Shuffleboard LeagueSection: Sports

WWII Veteran Golf Legend Dies

Rudy Horvath, one of Canada's big names in golf history, pictured at the Essex Golf

and Country Club.

Credit: The Windsor Star file photo

Rudy Horvath was a Second World War veteran, but was much better known as a talented Windsor golfer who once competed on the PGA tour with Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead.

He was 85.

Horvath was recently diagnosed with leukemia. He suffered a fall at his east Windsor home last Friday and succombed to his injuries later that day.



"We golfed regularly every Sunday last year," said Dennis Meyer, his son-in-law. "He still had a great swing."

Horvath was a lifetime member of Essex Golf & Country Club and the Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach, Fla.

In 2002, he was the honourary starter for the $1.6-million Senior PGA's AT&T Canada Open held at Essex.

Standing on the first tee, he announced the names and accomplishments of old friends and rivals.

Between 1952 and 1954, Horvath played against some of the biggest names in the game, including Palmer, Snead and Ben Hogan.

He recounted how he was often paired with the pricklish Snead.

"Other guys didn't want to play with him," Horvath said in an 2002 interview with The Star.

"He was tough, but I didn't mind."

Horvath shot a career-best 61 at the 1954 Texas Open, a tour record by a foreign player that stood for 46 years.

"It was amazing the way he still hit the ball," Meyer said. "He loved to play and he loved to teach. He helped my game a lot."

Meyer described his father-in-law as a humble man who only delved into his professional golf career when prompted. Often, Meyer said, he would learn more about Horvath's accomplisments from others, or by reading his biography in the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.

Horvath had a long career in the insurance business and he was a Second World War veteran. He is survived by his wife Alma and two children. Arrangements are entrusted to Windsor Chapel, with a funeral service today at 11 a.m.

© The Windsor Star 2008

Tuesday, April 15, 2008Mary Caton, Windsor Star

Section: Veterans

Former British POW tells little-known side of Korean War

George Newhouse, Age 85.Credit: Yonhap News

SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- "When we were captured, they (the North Koreans) had very little food to give us," said a British veteran who was taken prisoner in the 1950-53 Korean War and spent 32 months at a prison camp near the Yalu River.

More than five decades after he was released from the prison camp, George Newhouse, now 85 years old, vividly remembers being handed communist books and newspapers, with which the North Koreans tried to indoctrinate him and other Western prisoners of war (POWs).

"But after six months they got fed up with us refusing to do it, so they brought what they called a lenient policy," he said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency.

Newhouse was taken prisoner on April 23, 1951, when his British Army medical platoon was fighting a battle near the Imjin River in what is now South Korea's northernmost city of Paju, just south of the inter-Korean border.

Recalling his release from the camp, Newhouse said, "Discussions for exchanging POWs had been going on for about two years and they finally got through and they sent a few first, the wounded and the sick, and then the main body of us left in November 1953."The British veteran said that he had already fought in World War II in Burma and had retired from active service by the time the Korean War broke out, so he didn't feel very well

about being deployed to Korea.

However, he said it feels "great" to be back.

"It's fantastic what they have done since the war. We've been abroad quite a few times and this is one of the best countries I've been into," he said.

Newhouse and his wife Dorothy are here on a program hosted by Seoul's Patriots and Veterans Affairs Agency and the Korea Veterans' Association as a token of appreciation for those who fought in the Korean War.

Still, his first "official" trip back to Korea comes as tension between the divided Koreas is heading toward its highest level since the war's end, amid North Korea's continued nuclear ambitions.

"I think what they should do is talk before they pick up any guns. There should be no other war," he said. "Nobody could gain anything out of a nuclear war. There will only be world destruction if there is a nuclear war, so all that should be forgotten."Newhouse is one of 153 Korean War veterans from Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand visiting the country this week. The group will also go to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, where 885 British soldiers are buried and honored along with some 1,500 others who fell during the three-year Korean War.

The Newhouses just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, but they say they are far from letting Korea out of their lives -- or South Korea letting them out. Their 25-year-old granddaughter, Jennifer Frost, just began a two-year program at Seoul's Yonsei University on a scholarship hosted by the Korea Veterans' Association and the country's largest conglomerate, Samsung.

"I was happy because she was coming to a place where I had some relationship," said George, also remembering to thank the people here who are "looking after the graves" of his fallen colleagues.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008Byun Duk-kun, Yonhap News, Seoul South

KoreaSection: Veterans



Windsor Memorial Vandalized

MONUMENT DAMAGE: Vandals recently damaged a plaque at the Windsor Erie

District Masonic War Memorial at Malden Park. Geoff Perry, local Masons district deputy grand master, contemplates the

vandalism on Sunday.

Credit: Scott Webster, Windsor Star

WINDSOR: Local Masons are saddened but vow to restore a damaged memorial to members who made the ultimate sacrifice for Canada in the the First and Second World Wars.

The large memorial on the side of a hill at Malden Park has been the target of vandalism twice in the past year. The most recent damage will be the costliest.

A large granite slab -- about 60 centimetres wide by 30 centimetres high and engraved with a passage from Ecclesiastes and the Masonic emblem -- has been pried from the plinth to which it was strongly cemented. It is left broken in two, about three metres away.

"It's disheartening because Canadians liberated the Netherlands and there the Dutch children actually tend to the graves of Canadian soldiers," said Windsor District Deputy Grand Master Geoff Perry.

"Here in Canada we smash it and destroy it."

The memorial, located near the main path of the park near the pavilion, was erected seven years ago at a cost of

$45,000.

Perry went on April 5 to get a first-hand look at the state of the monument in preparation for a memorial service there on May 4.

"You can actually see on the stone where someone used a pry bar to break it," Perry said.

"This is the second time it's been damaged in the past year. I have no idea who did it, but it's not little kids. It's very heavy."

There are several Mason memorials similar to it across the country, all intentionally made large enough to be visible from the air.

"It's the largest one of its kind in Canada," Perry said.

It is actually known as the Windsor and Erie District monument, as lodges from the north shore of Lake Erie also contributed to its creation.

MASON SYMBOL

The memorial includes a stone outline of the Mason symbol laid out on the ground and is about 70 metres wide and 100 metres high.

In the middle is a walled stone sanctuary and another large granite slab engraved with the names of 15 local Masons killed in the First World War and another 11 who were killed in the Second World War.

The Masons are still waiting for estimates on the cost of repairs to fix the monument.

"It's not going to be cheap," Perry said.

Last year, the monument was the target of a graffiti artist who sprayed the word "Saints" on it.

The monument also appears to have been the venue for a paintball fight. It is covered in red paint splotches and plastic paintball canisters were found nearby.

PUSHED BACK

Because of the damage and other issues which Perry has with the city's lack of maintenance at the site, he has pushed back the memorial service until June 22.

Perry said the city has cut down five trees that were part of the original

monument's design. They have not been replaced.

He also points out that none of the trees around the memorial are well maintained.

"The city is not upholding the agreement," Perry said.

Perry said he would like the city to provide materials to spruce up the monument and the Masons will provide volunteers to do the work.

He would also like the city to provide lighting for the memorial to deter vandals. If it was illuminated, police could see it at night from the roadway or parking lot.

The site is littered with broken beer bottles and two benches there have sustained significant damage from knives.

© The Windsor Star 2008Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Chris Thompson, Windsor StarSection: Miscellaneous

Legion official honoured

From left, Betty Danks, daughter of Kathleen (Kit) MacNeill, Royal Canadian

Legion Moncton Branch #6 president David Longaphie, and Moncton-Riverview-

Dieppe MP Brian Murphy applaud as a plaque is unveiled during a ceremony honouring MacNeill at the Moncton Veterans Health Centre Saturday.

Credit: VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCR

MONCTON: Betty Ann Danks remembers "the look" her mother had and how she used it to get results from her and her siblings when they were growing up in Dalhousie.

At a moving ceremony to honour long-time Royal Canadian Legion official and veterans advocate Kathleen (Kit) MacNeill Saturday afternoon at the Moncton Veterans' Heath Centre, Danks remembered her mother with



reverence.

"She was a wonderful mother and not overly strict, but when we disobeyed we got the look and we knew he had better do what we were told," Danks said in a brief interview after the ceremony.

"We knew the look and we knew what she meant by it."

Former Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Claudette Bradshaw told the large crowd, which filled the spacious lounge at the veterans' health centre, she had also been on the receiving end of MacNeill's "look."

Bradshaw was the MP when MacNeill led a committee that sought funding for the construction of the modern facility, which opened in 2002 and replaced the antiquated veterans unit at the Dr. Georges-L-Dumont Hospital.

MacNeill, who became the first president of the Legion's Branch 6 in Moncton, was persistent in her quest for government funding for the veterans' unit, which is now filled to capacity with 40 patients and has a staff of 62, including 17 nurses.

"You knew that when Kit gave you the look you had better come through and it was largely because of her efforts and the efforts of (former branch president) Henry LeBlanc, that the unit came here," Bradshaw told the crowd.

"She made it clear that she wanted the unit here and she wanted the staff from the Dumont to work here. Once she gave us the look, you knew she was going to get her way."

Current MP Brian Murphy also praised MacNeill, saying the construction of the unit was the result of her "love for the legion and for veterans."

Danks, who travelled to attend the ceremony from Dalhousie, said her mother's devotion to veterans was always evident in their home.

"It gave my mother great happiness to help others, especially veterans," Danks said.

Neil MacNeill, a son who lives in Moncton, also spoke about his mother's passion for the cause of veterans.

A few months before she died, Kit called her son one day at work to tell

him she wasn't feeling well. He said he would come to her home immediately and take her to the hospital so she could see a doctor.

"Not now," she replied, "Some of the boys from the (veterans) unit are coming over for lunch. I want to see them and I can't let them down."

MacNeill, who served with the Canadian Women's Army Corps during the Second World War, often told her family that if her health deteriorated she would like to be moved to the veterans' health centre. However, she died in January, 2007 and never got to reside in the unit. She was 83.

Before the crowd, Neil looked to heaven, took a deep breath and declared: "Mom, you made it. You're home now."

Another daughter, Cathy Belanger, also attended, but her brother Robert could not make it.

The three siblings unveiled a plaque in Kit MacNeill's honour, which will be on display at the veterans' centre. It features a picture of her and words that highlight her dedication to the unit and the Beausejour Health Authority, which administers the centre.

The family donated a reclining chair and stool to the centre and electric razors to all patients.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008dwayne tingley, times & transcript staff

Section: RCL

Auxiliary marks 50 years; Legion Branch 564 women remain active

Noreen Davidson (left) and Kay Reid, past-presidents of the Royal Canadian Legion

Branch 564 Ladies Auxiliary, were joined at the auxiliary's 50th anniversary dinner/

dance Saturday by Richard Brunelle, the branch's president.

Credit: Harold Carmichael/the sudbury star

SUDBURY: Ask Kay Reid and Noreen Davidson if Canada should continue to station troops in Afghanistan and the two women don't even flinch with their answers.

"I can remember as a student when my brother was in the Second World War," said Davidson on Saturday. "I saw the parents of the soldiers ask them to come back. But it doesn't work that way. You have to do what they tell you to do."

"You have to take care of your country," added Reid, who pointed out 81 Canadians have died to date in the Middle East country.

Both 73, the two women own the distinction of having served as president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 564 (Lockerby) Ladies' Auxiliary.

On Saturday, the Ladies Auxiliary marked its 50th anniversary with a huge dinner/dance at the branch on Long Lake Road. Both are associate members of Branch 564, which has about 270 total members. Of those, about 15 are veterans.

Reid has been involved with the Ladies Auxiliary for 38 years. For Davidson, it has been 30 years.

Richard Brunelle, the president of Branch 564, echoed the two women's sentiments on Afghanistan.

"If the United Nations thinks we should be there, we should be there," he said. "I think the United Nations, if you want



to be a member of that organization, you should do as they request."

A retired Falconbridge employee, Brunelle has been a member of the branch for about 12 years and president the past four. He, along with brothers Paul and Randy, are all associate members, their father having been a veteran and branch member.

"He reiterated to us the legion was a good organization," said Richard.

The Ladies Auxiliary got its start back in 1958 in a "clubhouse" in a building on Rumball Drive where the Rumball Terrace housing complex now stands.

Then, it was off to a new location in the Plaza 69 complex. In 1970, the branch and Ladies Auxiliary both moved to the current site on Long Lake Road.

Today, the Ladies' Auxiliary has about 60 members.

Davidson said it's simply amazing the Ladies Auxiliary has hit the half-century mark.

"When you think they started in a little clubhouse at Rumball Terrace with nothing, then moved into Plaza 69, they were working in very wicked conditions," she said.

Jeanne Brunelle, Richard's mother, served as the Ladies Auxiliary president from 1996-98.

"Many legions don't have a Ladies Auxiliary," Richard said.

"It's just something that has happened (here). For us to have our branch and ladies auxiliary both make to it to 50 (the branch reached that milestone last year) is great."

A total of 23 women have served as ladies auxiliary president, some serving two or more terms of office.

A big reason for Branch 564 forming along with some other smaller branches across the Sudbury area, explained Richard, was because the city's main branch - No. 76 - in Minnow Lake could not handle all of the veterans at that site.

Today, the branch has an annual budget of about $100,000, with about 10 per cent of that going to cancer causes and another 20 per cent going

to various non-profit organizations. The branch provides for several student bursaries.

Richard said while the branch's membership is down from years ago, it is holding its own.

"Our numbers are down, but we are seeing an improvement because we are getting new members every month coming into our branch," he said.

"We are getting transfers, people who are interested in the legion. We ae getting associates - relatives of veterans."

That same scenario is also happening with the Ladies Auxiliary.

"We seem to get new members every year," Reid said. "Some of our members are passing away, but we are also getting new members."

Both Davidson and Reid have no plans to drop out of the ladies auxiliary.

"I enjoy doing things," Davidson said. "We have seniors dances. It's very rewarding to see it. Sometimes on a Wednesday afternoon, we get 150 people out there for a dance."

Reid, whose husband was a soldier for five years, said she finds her volunteer work at the legion branch rewarding.

"I enjoy being here," she said. "You get to be a family here. Everybody knows everybody. We work together well."

The one-floor branch can accommodate 150 people in the dining area and another 100 in the bar area.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008Harold Carmichael, The Sudbury Star

Section: RCL

Worse Than the Draft

Tom Chartier played lead guitar in legendary Los Angeles punk band The

Rotters for 26 years until their final appearance in January of 2004. He has

lived in Tokyo and Los Angeles. Currently he resides somewhere in the Caribbean.

Well come on all you big strong men.Uncle Sam needs your help again.Got himself in a terrible jam.Way down yonder in Vietnam!~ Country Joe MacDonald

Wait one darn tootin minute here! Shouldn’t that last line be: "Way down yonder in… uh… Iraq?" No, that doesn’t work. Got it. "Way down yonder in Afghanistan!" At least it rhymes.

It may not be A Long Way To Tipperary but Country Joe’s classic "war" song still brings a tear to the eye. And it’s just as applicable today as it was during the glory days of the Vietnam War. Don’t you all love it when history repeats itself?

In Vietnam days charming little notices showed up in the mail informing the youthful Free Fodder when and where to report. Yessiree Colonel Klink, I’m talking about the draft, mandatory conscription into the armed services so the Youth of America could have the opportunity to die for… die for… just give me a minute… It was something noble and heroic. Oh yeah! Freedom and Democracy!

I’m not sure how getting your head blown off in South East Asia was supposed to defend der Fatherland… uh… I mean "Homeland" from the International Communist Conspiracy, but it was. I was just a twerp in high school wondering how this SoCal desert rat would weather the cold of Canada if I couldn’t convince my draft board that I was unfit for duty in my stylish Wizard of Oz Dorothy outfit while puffing on an asthma inhaler.

No longer are such shenanigans



required.

Thanks to progressive enlightenment, yanking kids off the street and shoving an M-16 in their hands is no longer considered politically correct. Phew… what a relief! However, Uncle Scam does not want any child to be left behind. The opportunity for the current breed of whippersnappers to get their intestines splattered all over their Humvees for Freedom still exists.

As we all know the draft has been replaced with the much more insidious con game of the all-volunteer military. Madison Avenue packaged snake oil has moved in to seduce the young, loud and snotty into being all that they can be… uh… depending on what’s left of them after their multiple deployments to the Cradle of Civilization. See the world as you help to destroy it!

Big decisions face the potential high school grad. Like the timeless question: "What the hell do I do now?"

Hm… there is trouble in River City for America’s youth teetering on the edge of adulthood. Let’s see… can’t hang out in the pool hall anymore. Burger World isn’t hiring these days. Nobody’s putting a Dodge in their garage anymore. College? Good idea. That can stave off maturity for years… until the money runs out. Oh but wait! Ma and Pa are having one tough time making the payments on their sub-prime loan. And that C- grade average combined with those low test-scores… well… let’s just say Harvard and Yale aren’t climbing over each other to sign up little Scooter. Maybe there is a better way to better one’s self.

Luck be a lady tonight! Look who has your kid’s home phone number and address! Why it’s G.I. Joe! What a nice regular guy too. He’s cool. Teens can talk to him. He might even pop into the cafeteria for a chat during lunch period. Wow… this guy cares! Impressive, but… just how did the local military recruiter get this information?

His school gave it to him.

Like I said… Uncle Scam wants no child left behind. Education has nothing to do with it. You see, if you’ll fire up the old PC and check it out you just might find this cute clause in the

NCLB Act: SEC. 9528. ARMED FORCES RECRUITER ACCESS TO STUDENTS AND STUDENT RECRUITING INFORMATION.

To save you all the trouble, basically it says the administrators of your kid’s school must give the military headhunters (don’t call them cannibals!) your kid’s name, address and phone number.

Oh, the wise parent can opt out by signing a form. Unfortunately, most school districts pass out a generic form that also automatically includes opting out of colleges and potential employers… like uh… America’s biggest sub-prime employer, The Federal Government… or Burger World.

The schools don’t really want to ruffle the feathers of the Federal Father Monster. That’s where the funding comes from. However, the informed parent can protect their young by writing a letter to the school administrators specifying that personal info may not be given to military recruiters but may, and should be given to colleges… or Burger World.

Well, things don’t look good for the youth stepping out of the Airstream Trailer for the first time do they? Maybe courses in Mandarin Chinese should be required curriculum in high school. Prom King Biff just might want to stow away on a freighter bound for Shanghai and get an illegal job as the gardener for a Chinese banker.

But I digress.

Does it seem like a good idea to have military recruiters poking their noses into our children’s futures? Despite the fact that eighteen-year-olds know everything (just ask one), aren’t they usually gullible and naïve boobs? Hey, I’m not ashamed to admit I was. How about you?

Teens are sitting ducks for the seductive powers of the military canib… uh… headhunters. Those bloodsuckers will promise opportunities too good to be true. And usually if it’s too good to be true, it ain’t true. They’ll promise money for college, skills for civilian life, even US citizenship, and the opportunity of a lifetime, however short that may be. What great fun. Just ask the US

Army’s virtual Sergeant Star. It’s just like a video game with even better graphics!

And graphics is what they’ll get.

Do the military headhunters tell them just how real the graphics are? Hell no! Staff Sergeant Norris sure as hell ain’t gonna pull out some colored glossies of head wounds from a fifty-caliber machine gun or bloated corpses rotting in the noonday sun. They might spoil the festive lunchtime mood.

Do you suppose the friendly military recruiter is going to mention anything about the roughly 120 suicides per week of veterans? Naw. Could some veterans be having… dare I say it… troubles? Well, I wouldn’t worry about that. It cuts down on taxpayer burden.

Anyone still in the service unlucky at getting out the hard way can bank on a second chance. Uncle Scam’s more than happy to send them back to the Iraqi Front, however many times it takes to get the job done.

Here are some other goodies that might not get promised. How about physical therapy to learn to walk again? Or therapy to learn how to write with the remaining hand? Is there funding for that spiffy new titanium hook? Will there be years of therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injuries? Gonna need it. Those IEDs pack such a wallop the shock waves alone are enough to scramble the brains for keeps. Best not to talk about these things when trying to sucker a seventeen-year-old kid into signing up before graduation.

What opportunities actually remain in civilian life for these shells of our youth after they’re discharged? Does anyone seriously believe life will be all hunky dory for the returning young veteran? Now that they’ve been used up and spit out, is Uncle Scam actually interested in lending a helping claw?

For every hour the Military recruiters prey on our young, the potential teenage enlistee should spend fifteen minutes with an actual combat veteran. Those fifteen minutes might save their lives. But does Uncle Sam really want to save lives?



Webmasters Note: Click on the link below to see the original posting of this article. It contains many links to related corroborating web pages.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008Tom Chartier


U.S. Estimate: 120 Veteran Suicides Per Week

Stock Photo

Late last year, a CBS News investigation found that in 2005 "there were at least 6,256 suicides among those who served in the armed forces. That's 120 each and every week, in just one year."

Last week, CBS News reported on data it had just obtained from the government on veterans who were recently treated by the Veterans Administration. In this limited sample, "two age groups stood out between 2000 and 2007. First, ages 20-24 -- those likely to have served during the Iraq-Afghan wars. Suicide attempts rose from 11 to 47. And for vets ages 55 to 59, suicide attempts jumped from 19 to 117." JOYCE and KEVIN LUCEYJoyce and Kevin Lucey are the parents of Jeffrey Lucey, who committed suicide after being in Iraq for five months in 2004. Joyce Lucey said today: "My son was betrayed first by a government who sent him to war and then by the Veterans Administration for not giving him the treatment he needed. He and others died from this war but their names will never be on a memorial wall.

"The letters we received from him were brief and sanitized. But to his girlfriend of six years, he said in April of 2003 he felt he had done immoral things and that he wanted to erase the

last month of his life. 'There are things I wouldn't want to tell you or my parents, because I don't want you to be worried. Even if I did tell you, you'd probably think I was just exaggerating. I would never want to fight in a war again. I've seen and done enough horrible things to last me a lifetime.'"

Kevin Lucey said today: "Jeffrey had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but PTSD is not so much a mental dysfunction as a normal response to an abnormal situation. Jeffrey refused to go to the VA due to the stigma associated with it. We finally got him to the VA, but after he committed suicide, the VA wouldn't give us all his medical records, claiming a Freedom of Information Act exemption. We finally managed to get the records -- Jeffrey had told them how he was thinking of committing suicide and they put him down as a moderate risk."

Joyce and Kevin Lucey testified at the recent Winter Soldier conference.Audio of their testimony is available online, as isvideo of various testimony. CLOY RICHARDSCpl. Cloy Richards served two tours in Iraq as a Marine, including a siege of Fallujah. He returned home suicidal and fought with the VA for almost two years trying to obtain help for his traumatic brain injury and PTSD. Ultimately, his mother had to go to Congress to obtain the help he needed.

Richards contributed several poems to Warrior Writers: Re-Making Sense, a collection of creative writing and art by members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. One of his poems, "Survivor's Guilt," is available online. More InformationMIKE BOWMANBowman testified before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in December. He said: "As my family was preparing for our 2005 Thanksgiving meal, our son Timothy was lying on the floor of my shop office, slowly bleeding to death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His war was now over, his demons were gone. Tim was laid to rest in a combination military, firefighter funeral that was a tribute to the man he was.

"Tim was the life of a party, happy-go-lucky young man that joined the National Guard in 2003 to earn money for college and get a little structure in his life. On March 19 of 2005 when Specialist Timothy Noble Bowman got off the bus with the other National Guard soldiers of Foxtrot 202 that were returning from Iraq he was a different man. He had a glaze in his eyes and a 1,000-yard stare, always looking for an insurgent. ...

"[My son] was not counted in any VA statistics of any kind. He had not made it into the VA system because of the stigma of reporting mental problems, he was National Guard, and he was not on a drill weekend when he took his life. The only statistical study that he was counted in was the CBS study. And there are many more just like him. We call them KBA's, killed because of action. The unknown fallen." More InformationYANIA PADILLASister of Walter Padilla, Yania said today: "My brother committed suicide on April 1, 2007. He was about to become engaged, they'd bought rings, they had gone house-hunting the day before. He'd been discharged with PTSD in February of 2005. He'd gone to the VA, but they just gave him some pills. He was withdrawn and introspective." See "Vet's war continued at home."

Tuesday, April 15, 2008Institute for Public Accuracy

Section: Veterans



Vet wrote on Forgotten War

TOM SOMERS Credit: Hamilton Spectator File Photo

Book honours Canadians who served in Korea - TOM SOMERS 1926-2008

Tom Somers was a fighter.

He fought the Nazis in the Second World War. He battled the communists in the Korean War.

And over the past year, he took on cancer with every breath he could manage, pulling himself from his bed to take part in a bayside veterans' ceremony at HMCS Haida last November.

Somers died March 28 at 82.

He will best be remembered for his efforts to preserve the memory of Canadians who served in the Korean War.

Somers co-wrote a book -- published in English and Korean -- called Canadians Our Heroes, that has been distributed to high schools, libraries and veterans.

He was past president of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada, Unit 26, Hamilton Region.

Of all the military campaigns that Canadians have taken part in, Korea is known as the Forgotten War. Yet nearly 27,000 served, with more than 300 from Hamilton. A total of 516 died,

10 of them from this city.

Hoojung Jones, who co-wrote Canadians Our Heroes, said she was amazed at how little Canadians knew about the Korean War after she moved to this country from Korea in 1987.

One day, she took a tour of the Hamilton Military Museum to find there was no reference to Canadian involvement in the Korean War.

She set out to spread the word through her involvement with the Hamilton Folk Arts Heritage Council and other local organizations and eventually hooked up with Somers.

"Not only was Tom a hero in terms of being a veteran, but he was personal mentor. I've never known anyone who had so much courage."

Wesley Beetham, president of the Korea Veterans Association's Hamilton chapter, believes the book has done much to spread the story of Canadian veterans in Korea.

"As far as I am concerned, the book was his greatest effort. They both worked night and day to get that book out."

It's a story that needed to be told before it was too late. Korean War vets are aging. Most are in their 70s or 80s. Beetham notes that membership at the Korea Veterans Association in Hamilton has declined to 39 from a high point of 135 several years ago.

For his part, Somers used to say that Korea was the more horrible of the two wars in which he fought.

"It was like stepping back in time. It was trench warfare. We never moved ... we lived in bunkers, holes in the ground and fought from the trenches," he once told a Spectator reporter.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008Mark McNeil, The Hamilton Spectator

Section: Veterans

Troops’ care packages located

BC: Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan received many of the goods collected during a 2007 campaign here around mid-February.

The Canadian Forces’ Jim Peverley confirmed toilet paper, pocket books, crosswords, Kleenex and magazines amassed during a grassroots Support Our Troops effort that launched in White Rock more than a year ago were among items distributed to soldiers earlier this year.

Unfortunately, the soldiers did not receive the items in care packages that were painstakingly organized by White Rock’s Clifford Grant and supported by donations across the country. And, they may never know the effort put into sending them these few comforts of home.

“It’ll be distributed as necessary,” Peverley said Friday. “It’ll be pretty hard to tell it from supplies, though.”

The Peace Arch News reported earlier this month Grant was frustrated because he couldn’t get confirmation a shipment of 3,500 care packages which left B.C. last fall had reached the soldiers it was intended for. He knew only that it had reached Montreal – because he had fundraised the $3,000 it cost to get it there.

Peverley, with CF’s Director General Personnel and Family Support Services, said many things worked against the shipment getting to Afghanistan in its entirety.

A key issue was a number of items were either past their expiry date – including power bars – or not sealed, such as lip balm.

Peverley said toothpaste that accompanied single-use toothbrushes



couldn’t be accepted because it was made in China. An alert last year warned against using toothpaste made in China because it may contain a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze.

Other issues that hampered the shipment, Peverley said, included:

• there was nothing to say where it had come from;

• the packages were not addressed to specific soldiers;

• the packages were individually sealed; and

• the boxes were half-full, making them inefficient to ship.

The lack of details raised concerns about the packages’ contents and their source.

“If somebody wanted to maliciously target Canadian soldiers, this would be the way to do it,” he said. “We cannot accept any care packages addressed to ‘any Canadian soldier’... so we know that there’s some confidence in the source of it.”

Peverley said he brought a few of the boxes back to his office in Ottawa to use as examples of what not to do.

While Grant said at the outset he had the support of the CF for the Support Our Troops effort, Peverley said staff know to discourage such donations.

“I don’t know who he was talking to,” Peverley said. “If they had approached us about making that donation, we would have declined it.”

Grant said Monday that he dealt with a lady named Candace, who he understood was in charge of the department that deals with donations. In addition, he had the support of Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale MP Russ Hiebert, who was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defense at the time, and who recognized and commended the effort in Parliament on Feb. 21, 2007.

Grant said he learned the day before the care packages were packed last June that “nothing was approved (and) nobody knows anything” about the effort – despite assurances since October 2006 that everything was a go.

Grant said he was then told by officials to pretend everything was OK at the packing event in Annacis Island until media left, and then break the news later that it was off.

“I was told just go ahead and pack a few care boxes for the media, and (then) tell everybody it was cancelled,” he said. “I said, ‘I refuse to lie.’”

Grant said he made a “corporate decision” to have everything packed, refusing to disappoint the dozens of volunteers who showed up to help. He said he got word the following Monday that if he could get the shipment to Montreal by mid-September, the Canadian Forces would take over from there.

Grant added nothing went into the packages “that was not known about in Ottawa,” and that everything was packed and sealed as he was told it should be.

“I did absolutely nothing without somebody in Ottawa knowing about it.”

Grant believes the powers that be had no faith the effort would bear fruit: “So when the time came that I had all this stuff done, they did not know what to do with me, so they just ignored me.”

Grant added that if the effort wasn’t wanted, somebody should have said something “so I could make other arrangements.”

“There’s no way on God’s green earth I would ever do anything to jeopardize this.

“I knew last June I was not going to win. But I could not be the one who said scrap it,” Grant said. “I made a commitment and people believed in me.”

But Hiebert said this week Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay had “provided his complete support” for the campaign.

Hiebert asked the minister’s office Monday to clarify exactly what happened, and said he is confident the troops received the goods.

“The bottom line here is the donors can be satisfied that the stuff they sent made it to the soldiers, and if there was any delay it was for a good reason,” Hiebert said.

Peverley said it is not that such gestures aren’t appreciated.

“It’s nice to get something... to be recognized by Canadians for what you’re doing over there,” Peverley said. “The really important stuff to get is from your family.”

Peverley said people wishing to support the troops are encouraged to visit www.cfpsa.com. He noted the site discourages donations shipped into a theatre of operations (details Grant insists were not on the website when he began his campaign).

More appropriate are donations to Operation Santa Claus, a program that ensures deployed soldiers receive a package at Christmas. There are also a number of funds set up to support soldiers and their families to which funds may be directed. Peverley said an additional option is a program by the Royal Canadian Legion that purchases Tim Horton’s gift certificates for soldiers.

Peverley said Grant has been sent a letter explaining issues with the care packages. As of Monday, Grant hadn’t received the letter.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008Tracy Holmes - Peace Arch News

Section: Afghanistan



'The war was imminent'; Jules Paivio's socialist ideals led him to fight in Spain

Because of high casualty rates, recruits like Paivio were rushed into battle after only a couple of weeks training.; At 91,

Jules Paivio is one of a dwindling number of survivors of the Spanish Civil War in the

1930s. He was one of about 30 people from Sudbury who fought in the conflict.

Credit: gino donato/the sudbury star gino donato/the sudbury star

It was a desire to help - combined with strong political values - that spurred Jules Paivio to decide to fight in an often-overlooked war more than 70 years ago.

"I wanted to do something worthwhile," said Paivio. "Here were people under attack and really, it was something I felt was worthwhile."

Paivio, who will be 91 this month, is a rare living veteran of the Spanish Civil War, which took place from 1936-1939.

The Finlandia Village resident is featured in a book by Maclean's journalist Michael Petrou, which will be released later this week.

Paivio moved to Sudbury with his family in 1928 from the Thunder Bay area. He spent time during the Great Depression trying to get by with government assistance.

Paivio eventually gained employment at a local grocery store, but after

seeing newsreels of Spanish people suffering at the theatre, Paivio decided he needed to do something.

"Somehow we knew or understood ... that the war was imminent," he said.

"I was conscious. I read a lot already and I had a socialist writer for a father."

Paivio knew two men who had already left for Spain, so in December 1936 at age 19, he headed to war. After some initial difficulties, he found an aid office in Toronto that was recruiting soldiers. Paivio joined a group of like-minded socialists from Vancouver and left for Spain.

After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Paivio and company, with the help of a local rumrunner, entered Spain through France, travelling over the Pyrenees mountain range that separates the two countries.

They then travelled by train to Barcelona.

Paivio recounts not being well-prepared for battle.

"We had very little training," he said.

"We had about two weeks of training and then we had to go to the front."

A Canadian battalion wasn't formed yet, so Paivio fought with an American battalion.

"We were rushing into the front because they had suffered a lot of casualties and they needed reinforcements," said Paivio.

Not only were the forces rushed into battle, but they were poorly equipped with improper the footwear and Ross rifles, made infamous in World War One because of their tendency to jam.

At first, the battles were fought in trenches.

Like many veterans, Paivio said you had to learn lessons quickly.

"There was a big rock I can always remember in the trenches and if you walked over it with your head up, the sniper would aim for it, and he got one guy," he said. "So you knew to keep your head away from that."

Later in 1937, a new strategy was put in place that focused on going over the top of the trenches, causing the

soldiers to receive heavy fire.

"One New York lad got the bullet through his testicles and I went back to help him," he said. "I had to rush back into the attack, so that was the first taste of real battle."

In another incident, Paivio and his company were attacked while marching down a dry riverbed. Attackers came so close to Paivio and his fellow soldiers, they were forced to use their bayonets.

"That's where you realized ... are you really capable of bayoneting a human being?"

A difficult feat for a man not accustomed to violence.

"I had hated shooting a deer," he said. "I only shot partridge and rabbit."

Paivio attended officers' training and transferred from the American battalion to the Canadian battalion. He was assigned to the machine gun company.

One day in the middle of the war, while setting up machine gun crews, disaster struck.

"I thought they were friendly troops, so I wasn't too careful when they came toward us. They had helmets and so forth, so I thought, jeez, they're well-equipped, they must be the crack division. It wasn't - these were two Italians."

He ordered his troops to fire at them, but the Canadians didn't succeed in hitting the Italians.

"They jumped in behind me and took me back (to their headquarters) and they beat me with their rifle butts and so on," he said. "But the Italians weren't that bloodthirsty."

They took Paivio to a scouting crew that had been captured shortly before and led them all to a farmhouse that was being used as the Italian's makeshift divisional headquarters.

"Suddenly, we were called out and lined up and we didn't know what it was about, but we soon found out," he said.

There was a firing squad ready to kill Paivio the 15 others, as well as a medic on hand prepared to pronounce them dead.



"Strange feeling - I'm too young to die," said Paivio. "But with good comrades.

"You're ready with head up high. You're ready to put your fist up in our anti-fascist salute."

There was little whimpering in the group, said Paivio.

"Suddenly, a limousine with motorcycles ahead and behind, obviously a senior Italian officer, drove by on a country road," he said.

It went by and stopped and he called the officer of the firing squad over.

The officer said they were to be saved to exchange for Italian prisoners.

However, Paivio's hardship was far from finished. He was sent to a Spanish concentration camp and remained there for almost a year.

"You can imagine the conditions in Spain with the German Gestapo checking you all the time - but anyway, we survived."

Concentration camp survivors were among the last to return from the war.

It was a training ground for Germany for the Second World War, said Paivio.

Despite going through hell in the Spanish Civil War, Paivio was determined to fight in the Second World War.

"My health wasn't that good after Spain, so it took a while before I could join. It was 1942 before I could sign up and I fought in the Second World War for over three years.

"I'm proud to have fought in Spain. We did the right thing. It was a principled decision to go there."

On Thursday, Paivio will be in Ottawa to promote a book where his story takes an important role.

Recently declassified Soviet documents allowed Canadian Author and Maclean's journalist Michael Petrou to study the Spanish Civil War in greater depth. He interviewed Paivio and seven other Canadian civil war survivors for his recently released book: "Renegades: Canadians in the Spanish Civil War."

Petrou gives the history:

Spanish leader Francisco Franco lost the rebellion, which plunged the country into civil war. Some of the Spanish military stayed loyal and received help from the Soviet Union and international volunteers like the Canadians.

Of the 40,000 international volunteers, about 1,700 were from Canada.

"That's more per capita than any country but France," said Petrou.

Volunteers were mostly communists, but Petrou said most of them weren't informed.

"The Canadians weren't particularly dedicated or dogmatic communists," he said. "They all volunteered during the Great Depression and a lot of these guys were working in relief camps."

Their less-than-dogmatic attitude caused Spanish commanders to become frustrated with the Canuck volunteers.

"They were frustrated by these Canadians that didn't really know or care about communism beyond the superficial signing up to the party," said Petrou.

"When you're reading the reports from Spain about the Canadians, the commanders were very frustrated because they'd say things like, 'jeez the Canadians are all very brave soldiers or good at the front, but they don't know anything about politics.'"

Many volunteers were from northern areas of Canada. Sudbury had 30 residents sign up to fight.

Canadians who were involved in the war were breaking the law until July 1937. The RCMP put together a detailed case to prosecute the veterans for violating the foreign enlistment act.

"The Canadian government elected not to prosecute because they thought it would be a public relations disaster," said Petrou. "But the RCMP kept tabs on the volunteers for decades - literally they kept a file open ... until 1984."

The Soviet Union organized most of the volunteers through local communist parties. Hundreds of thousands of documents - including

battle reports, personnel files, and lists naming individual volunteers - were locked up in Moscow until the end of the Cold War and weren't declassified until the early 1990s.

"It wasn't until these archives were declassified that I was even able to find out exactly who these Canadians were because there were no good records kept," Petrou said.

Now that the records are available, Petrou was able to write the book.

Paivio stands by everything Petrou has written in the book, but questions the title.

"We are not renegades, but that sells books I guess," he said.

"I was dedicated to fighting against fascism. That's where I come from and I'm still the same."

Wednesday, April 16, 2008Andrew Low, The Sudbury Star

Section: Veterans

A Serb in Chalk River

Lying just past the gates of the Forest View cemetery is a curious grave marker. It reads: "Here lies a valiant fighter of General Mihajlovich's underground movement in Yugoslavia."

How does a Serbian guerrilla come to be buried in a humble cemetery in Chalk River? The story of the grave marker, laid by the Serbian National Shield Society of Canada, first came to light in 1960 when St. Andrews United Church renovated the historic cemetery. It had been in a state of neglect since its founding in 1870. The



Yugoslav freedom fighter who lies under the marker went by the name of Marko Kuburovic. He was born in 1917 in Ljic, Serbia.

To trace how Kuburovic came to be so far from his homeland, one goes back to his former commander, the late General Draza Mihailovic and Yugoslavia's entry into the Second World War. After Germany defeated Yugoslavia in April, 1941, Mihailovic, then a colonel and a veteran of the 1912-13 Balkans War, refused to surrender and escaped to the mountains to regroup with surviving Yugoslav army units. With only seven officers and 24 NCOs, he organized the Military-Chetnik detachments, which eventually became known as the Yugoslav Army of the Homeland.

King Peter's government in exile promoted Mihailovic to the rank of general and appointed him minister of war. Instead of inspiring an uprising, Mihailovic decided to mount a resistence based on sabotage, using the mountains as a base of operations. Controversially, Mihailovic took measures to re-establish Greater Serbia which led to ethnic cleansing of Bosnians, Croats and other civilians who may have collaborated with the Nazis, Fascists and Communists. He issued orders which historians believe led to the deaths of 150,000 people.

The occupying German forces sought to eliminate Mihailovic and the leader of the Communist- Partisans, Tito. At one point, Hitler announced a policy where 100 Serbians would be killed for every one German soldier killed by Chetniks.

Mihailovic was receiving outside aid from the British Special Operations Executive, which eventually pulled back as the civil battles between Mihailovic and Tito escalated. Churchill was disturbed by reports from his own son, Randolph (who was co-located with Tito's headquarters), who indicated the Partisans were scoring more victories against German forces than the Chetniks. Churchill also put stock in reports that the Chetniks were collaborating with the Germans, as they hated the Communists much more than the Nazis. At the Tehran Conference in 1943, the Allies threw in their lot with Tito.

With the close of the war, the Partisans prevailed and Mihailovic went into hiding in Eastern Bosnia. In March, 1946, he was captured and put on trial for high treason and war crimes. Found guilty, he was executed months later. However, a U.S. commission of inquiry exonerated him. In 1948, President Harry Truman awarded him the Legion of Merit. This was in part because Mihailovic's forces protected 500 downed American and allied pilots and aided them in escaping occupied Yugoslavia.

It was out of this that 29-year-old Marko Kuburovic immigrated to Canada. Little is known about him, except he found employment as a displaced person at the hydro-electric power project on the Des Joachims dam. A freak accident would claim his life.

On the evening of May 23, 1948, Kuburovic had accompanied six others in a vehicle heading from the project on the Ontario side to Allumette Island. The car, driven by Simon Cosgrove, failed to make a turn onto an interprovincial bridge at Rolphton. The light roadster slammed into the side railing and rolled onto its side. One of the passengers, Kenneth Mack, was impaled by the railing and died instantly. That others were injured, but would survive. Except for Kuburovic.

Investigating the scene, police had no idea that Kuburovic was a passenger in the calamity. It wasn't until days later when he had not shown up for work or the place he was living that police made the connection. Police found out later he had been standing on the car's running board and was most likely thrown over the side of the bridge and into the Ottawa River.

Dragging operations began in the fast flowing waters underneath the bridge. There is no news account stating how and when his body was recovered. However, the former freedom fighter's final resting place is today a small plot in Chalk River, an ocean from his native Serbia.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008Chase, Sean, The Daily Observer


Relatives of slain Canadian soldiers pay emotional visit to Afghanistan

Sharon and Jim Davis, the stepmother and father of Cpl. Paul Davis who died in a LAV

accident in Afghanistan in 2006, place flowers atop a cenotaph that

commemorates the 83 Canadians killed in the country since 2002, at Kandahar

Airfield on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/James

McCarten

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The loved ones of five fallen soldiers placed wreaths atop a marble cenotaph honouring Canada's war dead Wednesday to cap an emotional 24-hour visit to the region where their husbands, brothers and sons gave their lives in service of two countries.

Eight relatives of Trooper Darryl Caswell, Cpl. Paul Davis, Warrant Officer Frank Mellish, Cpl. Brent Poland and Pte. Richard Green arrived Tuesday via military transport for a cathartic, first-hand look at what Canadians have been fighting for since 2002.

For Jim Davis, whose son Paul died in 2006, the whole experience was so moving that when the anthems were finished, he got up in front of a rigid formation of Canadian and Afghan troops and their senior military commanders to personally thank them for their work.

"Your bravery makes me extremely proud to be able to call myself a Canadian, and I thank you for that," Davis said.

Then, turning to their Afghan counterparts, he told the touching story of the Afghan family who attended his son's funeral in honour of Paul's commitment and his sacrifice.

"When I looked into their eyes and I



saw their hurt, that's when I began to realize the true meaning of why my son died in your country," Davis said, his voice steady and clear.

"I want you to know that when I hear your national anthem, I will stand as proudly as when I hear the Canadian national anthem."

Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche, the commander of Canadian forces in Afghanistan, thanked the relatives for their long and difficult journey and pledged that the sacrifice of the fallen soldiers would not be in vain.

"In spite of the sorrow, we draw strength from each other and carry on ... we stand together with you to remember your loved ones' courage, sense of purpose and sacrifice," Laroche said.

"They put forward the best of themselves for something they believed in. They were special individuals, the best that Canada could offer, and they continue to inspire us every day we work to help the people of this country in their struggle for a better life."

Col. Abdul Bashir, commander of 1st Brigade, 205 Corps of the Afghan National Army, also paid tribute to those Canadians who have given their lives in the name of his country.

"In the fight against al-Qaida and terrorism, the great country of Canada sacrificed a lot of their children, and today we are here to remember these heroes," Bashir said.

"Their names will be written in honour in the history of Afghanistan and Canada."

A minute of silence was followed by a bagpipe rendition of "Amazing Grace," a mournful dirge usually reserved for the solemn ramp ceremonies that accompany a slain soldier's return to Canada.

Then, one after the other, the family members were escorted to the cenotaph to place wreaths and flowers and to look at the gold-framed plaques commemorating their loved ones.

Barry Mellish, whose son Frank died in September 2006 in the bloody Battle of Panjwaii, said he was pleased to hear more children are in school, farmers are getting help with

irrigation and many schools and hospitals have been rebuilt with Canadian help.

For Mellish, visiting Afghanistan was a chance to see first-hand the ongoing effort for which his son paid with his life.

"I think it's just gaining the knowledge that the death was not without some kind of meaning, or was not careless, or useless," he said.

"I know my son died in battle, trying to gain some freedom for the Afghan people. Some of the freedoms we take for granted back in Canada ... and he gave his life trying to gain these freedoms over here. That gives me the satisfaction to know that he didn't die in vain."

Mellish was visibly delighted, however, with the cenotaph and the way the Canadian Forces are honouring their fallen troops.

"They are definitely not forgetting our boys and girls, and they've got a good thing here that will last a long time," he said of the cenotaph, which includes plaques naming each of the 83 Canadians killed in Afghanistan since 2002.

As he spoke, a soldier walking by turned to face the cenotaph and offered a brisk salute as he passed - a traditional gesture that's not an uncommon sight as Canadian troops come and go through the compound.

Mellish was moved to tears.

"That's just respect," he said, his voice breaking, "for his fellow man."

Wednesday, April 16, 2008The Canadian PressSection: Afghanistan

The Post editorial board on Rick Hillier: A soldier's soldier

Canada's Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier arrives at the Provincial

Reconstruction Team base in Kandahar, Afghanistan, during a visit on Wednesday.

Credit: (CP)

It's common to praise an outgoing military commander as a "soldier's soldier." In the case of General Rick Hillier, who yesterday informed Prime Minister Stephen Harper that he intends to retire as head of Canada's Armed Forces on July 1, the compliment also happens to be true. Many of Gen. Hillier's predecessors have been, in truth, politician's soldiers or bureaucrats in uniform, but not Richard J. Hillier, the 52-year-old Newfoundlander who has been Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) since February, 2005. Unwilling to acquiesce politely to the dismantling of Canada's military, Gen. Hillier has restored morale among our soldiers, sailors and airmen; successfully pushed for a re-equipping of our Armed Forces; and restored national pride in our military. His achievements in three short years as CDS, have been nothing short of remarkable.

A native of the tiny, north-central Newfoundland fishing and lumbering community of Campbellton, Gen. Hillier has been fortunate that much of his tenure has coincided with that of a government equally committed to rebuilding our military after more than a decade of neglect. The General and the Conservatives have been a good fit for one another, to be sure.

But Gen. Hillier's frank efforts to re-establish Canada's military effectiveness began a year before Mr. Harper and his party came to power. During his swearing-in ceremony as CDS with then-prime minister Paul



Martin and defence minister Bill Graham looking on, Gen. Hillier chastised the government for its unwillingness to fund the military properly. While acknowledging that it was likely impossible to find the money for everything our Armed Forces were being asked to do, he added: "Remember them in your budgets."

In large part thanks to his constant efforts, first the Liberals and then the Conservatives have agreed to a military buildup unprecedented in the past half-century. We have new large transport aircraft to lift our soldiers and their equipment quickly into international hot-spots; new patrol vehicles that better protect our soldiers from landmines; armoured logistical trucks; precision artillery guns; and computerized war rooms comparable to anything possessed by our allies, which allow commanders in theatre and at National Defence headquarters in Ottawa real-time intelligence on most operations. On the way are mine-detection vehicles and better helicopters and tanks.

Under the supervision of Gen. Hillier, the $5-billion gap in equipment once identified by the auditor-general has been -- or will have been -- made up in just four years. Most experts predicted it would take at least a decade.

That's one reason why the General is a soldier's soldier: He saw the physical and emotional hazards poor equipment created for our troops, and he corrected the problem.

He also put our soldiers' safety at the top of his priority list. Last week, he told the House of Commons foreign affairs committee that in 2006, when Canada took over protection of Afghanistan's Kandahar province from the Americans, it was obvious NATO was suffering from a "troop gap." It needed two battalions to do the full job it had taken on, but had only one -- the Canadian battalion. So, he ordered a scale-back of our mission to ensure our patrols were not dangerously overstretched and even more susceptible to ambush and other roadside attacks.

Finally, the General also gave our troops -- and Canadians, in general -- even more reason to be proud of our

military and our national role in the world. Echoing words he heard from one of his junior officers, Gen. Hillier told the National Post's Don Martin that his vision for our military is: "We're not trying to be one of the big boys, we are one of the big boys and we have to start acting like it."

Yesterday in the Commons, Mr. Harper called Gen. Hillier a “great Canadian.” He is that at the very least. Canada is a better country for his persistence, wisdom and public service. He has earned his retirement, even though we wish he were not going.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008Marni Soupcoff , The National Post


Bancroft Legion branch looks to council for help

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 181, like Legion branches everywhere, is having an issue with declining membership. They

have asked Bancroft Town Council for financial help.

Credit: Craig Sebert

BANCROFT:Has the end come for the local Legion Branch?

A delegation to council’s regular April session says it could be, if they don’t get some help.

On April 8, Jim Crawford, president of the Bancroft Royal Canadian Legion Branch 181, Wayne Balson, executive officer, Dennis Chura and Ed Nolan approached Bancroft Council to ask if they could defray the municipal portion of their property tax until 2009, defray costs for licensing fees they pay to the town and whatever other support council could give. They also mentioned that this financial strain is nothing new to them, but has plagued them for many years.

“We have come here today to ask for your support in the survival of the

Legion,” said Crawford.

“We are in a week-to-week capability of paying our bills. I know we will survive, but our future today is bleak.”

To cover heating, lighting, wages for their seven full and part-time employees and rent, Crawford says the cost amounts to about $400,000 annually. With a steady decline of members over the past few decades, keeping bill collectors at bay has proven increasingly challenging.

“It costs a lot of money to run this place. Now we have to charge fees where we didn’t have to before. We can barely make a donation from our bingo and Nevada accounts because we need to take the allowed percentage out of each account just to keep our doors open.”

By not being able to support community initiatives, Balson asked council the rhetorical question of where the community would be without them.

From page 1

A substantial portion of the difficulty comes in declining membership that was a large source of revenue for the Legion.

“The money we made from the bar kept the place going years ago.”

Balson says the Legion had about 750 members when he joined in 1989. Today, that number sits at just about 500.

When the Legion first opened, membership was only given to veterans. As the years went by and the veterans started to pass on, family members of those veterans were allowed to join. Now that veterans are few and far between, and their family members are beginning to pass on, membership is now open to the public. Yet even with that, the amount of members has still been on the steady decline over the past few decades. Coupled with the no-smoking ban that came into affect two years ago, Balson says they lost another 50 members.

He also says that people of the younger generation never come out, believing that the Legion isn’t really the place for them.



“Young people think they are not welcome here, but they are.”

And finally, the Legion lost their entire Ladies Auxiliary unit last June.

“They were just getting too old and had no younger members to help them with all the work,” said Crawford.

“They had two elections, but no one wanted the position of president, so they had to hand in their charter and shut down.”

He says that if at least 10 new ladies showed up willing to commit themselves, they might investigate the possibility of reopening the auxiliary.

In the near 80 years they have been open, the Legion has put back in excess of one million dollars to the community through donations, the bulk of which went to schools, the old and new manor, churches, the hospital, ambulance services, the dialysis clinic, police programs, the Sea Cadets, the library, fire department and many more, Crawford says the Legion has always been there for people.

When Balson was chairman of the Bingo event back in the 80s, he recalls sitting on sometimes as much as $80,000 at any one time in funds they couldn’t keep for themselves, but had to give away. Now, they struggle to make a donation of even $500.

By eliminating licensing fees, Crawford says that would help a lot.

“There is a certain percentage we have to pay, depending on what it is we are raffling. Our Bingo license alone costs us about $4,000 each year.”

Overall, Bancroft council was sympathetic towards the Legion.

“We appreciate their problems, they are not unique to other Legions across the nation,” said Mayor Lloyd Churchill.

“They have a hard battle on their hands to continue their existence.”

In fact, about 150 other Legions Canada-wide have either closed their doors or are in the process of closing.

Churchill says he doesn’t want to see this Legion become part of the statistic.

“Hopefully they can wrestle through this. We have to realize that Legions have done great services to their towns.”

Churchill has been a member of the Legion for the past 20 years, and says he has always supported them and attended many of their civic functions.

Unfortunately, Churchill says it is beyond their ability to defray their taxes, but is looking into making some other form of compensation available.

“We feel they are a very worthwhile organization, and we will certainly explore the possibilities.”

Crawford says they left council with a feeling of hope, believing that the mayor and councilors were indeed on their side.

To become a member, Crawford says it’s as easy as being 19 or older, filling out an application, getting two members to sponsor you, and paying $45 annually.

The Legion isn’t the only organization having trouble. The Army Navy Air Force Unit 378 in Maynooth also has their share of woes.

“We have had to reduce our hours,” said Bill Green, president of the ANAF. “We used to stay open seven-days-a-week, but now we had to cut that and the amount of hours for both of our full-time staff members.”

Currently, the ANAF is asking their town to help them with their taxes, but are still waiting for a response.

For now, Green says they can still operate, but on a smaller scale. But if things don’t get better, they may have to close the ANAF for the winter next year.

Their membership rests between 180 and 200 people. Green says one of their major problems is a refusal to change.

“Once, we wanted to put in a new jukebox, but many of our older members didn’t want that.”

Green says they are now sending friendly reminders to members for due payments. Unfortunately, Green says he feels that whatever money they make just ends up being sent to cover costs.

For the ANAF, the process is roughly the same, but the cost of membership is $35 for the first year, and $30 for every year after that.

“We would be more than glad to see more people coming out,” said Green.

For the most part, the ANAF offers much of what the Bancroft Royal Canadian Legion offers, but Green says all members are able to rent the hall for a discount price.

Once a member, Crawford says you are given the ability to vote on Legion issues, can join the darts league, play pool and become an important part of the community at large. Right now, a pool league is in the making, and Crawford says he hopes to have a brand new pool table coming soon.

The Legion also hosts various other public events throughout the week, including Funday Sundays, occurring every third Sunday of each month. The event features darts, cards, brunch, and pool for only $5. The next Funday Sunday happens on April 20.

For more information about events, call the Legion at 613-332-3250.

As a result of promoting themselves more, Crawford says they have been able to bring in new members, and are continuing to grow, but still need help.

Thursday, April 17, 2008Craig Sebert, Bancroft This Week

Section: RCL

Mitchell Legion urgenty needs executive help to keep doors open

The Royal Canadian Legion, br. 128, Mitchell, will hold a very important meeting next Wednesday, April 23 that could determine the future of the organization here, an organization that has existed since 1928.

Legion President Ted Mabb said for the past few years, and this year included, the branch has had difficulties filling their executive committee. He said if they cannot fill the 18-member executive this year,



the branch may be forced to close.

“At our last couple of meetings we have had six people out and we’re running short of volunteers. The social life around the Legion, the banquets and catering, is going not too bad, but we’re running an organization,” Mabb explained.

“But I don’t think it’s different than a lot of organizations around. We’re having trouble finding people that want to be president, vice-president and so on,” he said. “Everyone wants to enjoy the services the Legion has to offer, but no one wants to get involved in helping to run it.

“That being said, this could be the same for most organizations. I don’t know what it is - whether it’s society today that no one wants to get involved but everyone wants to be entertained and provided for but not put the work back into the other end to make sure that it continues,” he continued.

Mabb said the Mitchell Legion currently has 350 members. The executive committee consists of 18 members from the president to poppy and youth education chairman. He said they’ve managed to fill all the positions with names on paper the past few years, but not all members are active.

“The way it works is I have a first, second and third vice-president and when my term is done they’re all supposed to move up one seat. We’ve people that will take a position but not want to be president,” said Mabb, who has been president for 11 to 12 years, non-consecutively.

He said according to the bylaws of the Royal Canadian Legion, if a branch cannot fill their executive committee, the Legion can no longer operate.

“There are commitments we have made to the Royal Canadian Legion in Ontario and Canada where we have to attend conventions and meetings that no one wants to give up a Sunday afternoon to go to,” he added.

The executive is the administration of the branch to make sure it’s financially viable, that it has a good social life around it and that being a member is worthwhile.

“That spreads to the projects that come down to us from our provincial command like the youth education program, the poppy campaign, and a public relations officer that handles our press,” he said.

“The Legion works for the care of the veterans and some can argue the Legion is dying because most of the veterans of the Second World War and the Korean effort are well into their 80s now,” Mabb added. “But we have Afghanistan now and we’re creating newer veterans all time. Whether we call it a peace-keeping mission or not, Afghanistan is really a theatre of war and we have to ensure the Legion goes on.

“We will make every effort that we can possibly make to ensure that the Legion continues.”

Mabb was to hold nominations and elections at a meeting last Thursday, April10, but only 11 people came to the meeting.

“There will be several other meetings to encourage people to come out, but if worse came to worse, then it wouldn’t take long at all (to close it). Our Ladies Auxiliary went through the same thing, and that was a three-month process,” he said.

“This has been a battle that has been ongoing and I guess I’m getting a little frustrated and tired of it.”

For Mabb, there’s a lot of personal history to the Mitchell Legion. His grandfather was a president and his father was a great Legion member.“I think it would break my heart if we closed. I get a little emotional about this,” he said.

“I have dedicated my whole life. I have never been a member of another service club, I’ve always worked with the Legion. There are some great, great Legion members that have passed on that I’m really glad are not here to see this,” he said.

“There was one member at the meeting last night (April 10) that I know it’s breaking his heart too because we’re dropping the torch. Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote, ‘To you from failing hands we throw (the torch)/ Be yours to hold it high.’ Well, we’ve dropped it.

“Maybe it’s different for me because I’m a baby boomer and I came right after the war, maybe it’s a little closer for me. For the younger generation, maybe the Legion isn’t the place they want to be,” he said.But Mabb said it is not all gloom and doom.

“Around the Legion it is very positive, our Friday lunches are well supported, our events are well supported, but it is to the point where we have to come up with something to keep the doors open and pay the bills,” he said.

“With society today, we can’t just make money off running a canteen, we have to try and do everything we possibly can because it costs a lot to have the bricks and mortar sitting on St. Andrew Street. It seems to be a constant battle and we focus so much on finances that sometimes I think we forget the actual purposes of the Royal Canadian Legion.

“We are a community service group. We try to provide the hall for free for those that we can. Most of our focus is on trying to help the community,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate we have to come to this - to send out an ultimatum - to try and get the people’s attention and I’m sure everything will work out fine,” Mabb said. “It’s just a matter of getting everyone together and refocus on where we are, what we’re doing and where we’re going from here.”

The meeting will be held next Wednesday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion, branch 128.

Thursday, April 17, 2008Hilary Long, The Mitchell Advocate

Section: RCL



Sky’s the limit for Esquimalt Legion

Doug Grant, manager of Royal Canadian Legion. branch 172, says few people know

about the Legion, even though the organization hands out tens of thousands of dollars every year to charity and needy

individuals. Credit: Heather Wirachowsky News Intern

ESQUIMALT: It could be the best-kept secret in the Capital Region: what Royal Canadian Legion branch 172 does for Esquimalt.

Each year, under the watchful eye of secretary-manager Doug Grant and the board of directors, the Legion doles out tens of thousands of dollars to sports groups, needy families and its members. Schools, students and even the Esquimalt Fire Department have all benefited from its benevolence.

Yet surprisingly few people realize what goes on behind those Admirals Road doors.

“We’re the world’s worst promoters,” said Grant, who celebrates his 65th birthday with branch 172 this year.

“But we have to be. We don’t necessarily want to brag about helping someone out. It could be embarrassing for them.”

Embarrassing? But you couldn’t argue with the motives behind the giving. Whether it’s buying a set of Jaws of Life for the fire department or band uniforms, more often than not, the Legion has been there for those who ask for help.

“One of the things we believe in is helping people out, whether they are a member of the Legion or not,” said Grant.

But now it appears branch 172 could use some help of its own. In the 1990s, membership peaked at well over 2,000. Now it has sagged to

around 1,400, something of a concern for Grant.

“We are able to give because of membership and participation through meat draws, social events and the like. But with fewer people, that makes it harder.”

Grant recalls a banner year, where more than $80,000 was doled out to various groups or associations. The amount given now is slightly less, through no lack of generosity of the membership or the supporting community.

But Grant is concerned branch 172 will suffer a “number crunch” like many other groups in Canada, due to declining membership.

“If people only knew what we offered,” said Grant. “People only think of a Legion as a place to smoke and drink. It’s not like that any more. We have pool tables, dart boards, bingos. We have the biggest TV screen in Victoria.”

Grant is hoping that once people realize they don’t need a direct, or even indirect, connection to the military, practically anyone can join. Veterans obviously can move into the fraternity, but so too can police, fire and emergency services personnel.

Grant said anyone in the general public can join. After two years of membership, they will have voting privileges.

“It’s more than just a social club – it’s an institution that serves not only veterans, but seniors, working families and young people as well.”

How firmly does Grant believe in the Legion? Very strongly, considering branch 172 is setting to demolish its current home to build a new 20-storey building, that will not only house the new home for his branch, but commercial space, along with affordable accommodation for those on a fixed income.

Esquimalt Mayor Chris Clement endorses the idea.

He said while the project must still go through the official vetting process, he thinks it’s a worthwhile project.

“(The Legion) is not just a property owner,” said Clement, “it’s an integral

part of the community.”

The $60-million project, backed by the Legion, would have upwards of 200 units in it, along with the commercial space.

Grant said the Legion would temporarily move into the Archie Browning Sports Centre during construction.

He believes this project will not only serve the community, but also help give people a better idea of what the Legion is all about.

Thursday, April 17, 2008Vicnews.comSection: RCL

One soldier's story

Credit: DND

As a young girl, Amanda Darlington knew she wanted to serve her country; it was just a matter of when.When she was 13 her camouflage bedroom motif left little doubt about where her passion was.

Corporal Darlington is a shining example of a woman in the Canadian Forces who is serving her country, and is intent on being part of the international mission to secure democracy for Afghanistan. The Bracebridge-born soldier is serving a seven-month mission with the transport company as a mobile support equipment operator for the Canadian Forces Army in Afghanistan.

In the first few weeks of her mission, step-dad Lorne and mother Nancy Sculthorp of Gravenhurst, who keep regular contact with their daughter through e-mail and telephone calls, learned death was nearly as close as the next phone call.

When Trooper Michael Yuki Hayakaze lost his life last month after a roadside improvised explosive device went off under the light armoured vehicle he was driving, it literally and figuratively



shook Darlington. Just two vehicles behind the explosion, inside her 16-tonne truck, Darlington could feel the entire vehicle shake, Lorne explained.

Darlington called from Afghanistan a day after the incident, clearly shaken, needing some reassuring words.

“It’s just a little closer than I thought. We’re not in Wainwright (Edmonton) anymore,” she told him over the phone.

Wainwright is where she trained, and it was pretty clear, training was over.

“Amanda’s not a girly-girl. She doesn’t cry a lot, but when I heard her on the phone she was pretty broken up,” he said.

Later that day, after spending a full day at work, he sat down at his computer and sent an e-mail to tell her what she needed to read.

“You’re doing right. You’re strong. You may be scared shitless,” which was what she had said on the phone. “You may be, but tomorrow is another day,” he wrote.

The first time they learned about her mission to Afghanistan, it came with some apprehension.

“We feel, although we were apprehensive about her going, nobody wants to see their child go in harm’s way, we know she is doing her job. She’s doing what she was asked by her country. Whether it is right or wrong that’s not for me to say, but she was given a job to do,” he said.

When Darlington first arrived in Afghanistan she expected to go to Kandahar Air Field, but after arriving in the country on Feb. 13, plans changed. It’s unknown exactly where she is, and besides driving in convoys, what she is doing.

Telephone calls are vague to ensure the safety of the soldiers, as ordered by the military.

Since Darlington realized her dream by joining the Canadian Forces, after graduating high school, she has not pictured herself anywhere else.

“The thought of serving my country, working outdoors and the adventure was what got me interested and the dream just never went away,” said Darlington, in an e-mail. “I think that

the army cadets were a big part of my decision to (join). As far as choosing the army compared to navy or the air force, well, I am not too sure. The army seemed more hard core at the time.”

At the Sculthorp residence in Gravenhurst it’s easy to see evidence of their daughter all over the house; from walls of photos, the yellow ribbon cut-outs in the front lawn to the national flag and Canadian military flags waving in the breeze.

A proud Canadian, wearing his Canadian Army insignia ring, her step-dad knows the military well. As a former full-time soldier with the Canadian Air Force for four years in the 1970s who re-enlisted as a reservist, and in the mid-1990s as an instructor, he knows how the military operates, and can get information when nothing seems to be coming out from Afghanistan.

Mother Nancy beams when she talks about her daughter, but puts on a brave face when she is reminded of the recent passing of Trooper Hayakaze.

“Everybody keeps saying to me that you must be scared. You must be so worried about her and I’m not. I just keep thinking the positive things,” she said. “She calls once in a while to say she’s OK and so I keep focusing on the positive. Nothing is going to happen to her. She is going to be safe. Her buddies there will have her back and she’s going to come home just fine.”

Ever since her early teens, Darlington has been working toward achieving her dream, joining the local army cadets and going on exchanges to Germany and Florida.

Darlington’s resolve and determination were shown clearly when she walked the 35-kilometre distance from their home in Uffington, at the time, to Bracebridge Public School with a 35-lb. rucksack. It was her preparation for an exchange trip where she was required to hike some 15 kilometres.

Despite teenage years spent working toward the sole aim of getting into the Canadian Forces, the early years were spent as a young girl with hair in ringlets, wearing dresses and playing

with dolls.

The switch occurred when she heard a guest speaker at her school expound upon the military when she was 11.

“She came home one day and said I want to join army cadets,” her mother said.

When she joined the Bracebridge cadets, Lorne also joined, which led to her step-dad eventually re-enlisting.

“She got the whole family involved,” said Nancy.

Her mom also joined the cadets (in a civilian capacity) to be with her daughter and husband. It gave her an insight into the military world, even pushing her beyond her comfort zone.

Brotherhood may imply only the male gender, but Darlington she believes in her band of brothers to protect her, as she would for them. It’s this kind of camaraderie in the military that she loves, her parents said.

Nothing is forever, but for Darlington, the military is something she has dedicated her life to and with the 25-year contract she signed last year, this commitment will last until she retires.

It is plain to see they think of their daughter all the time, both wearing the clothes their daughter has given them. Sculthorp turns his back, showing me his Canadian Army jacket while her mother shows me her red and black scrub, complete with a mosaic of red ribbons.

Despite the media’s seemingly periodic announcement of soldiers dying, the couple is positive and takes comfort in the knowledge they will hear about any tragedy before the news goes public with it.

Lorne regularly checks the computer for online news and anticipates the announcement of a casualty, but when there isn’t one, he often sighs with a sense of relief.

“What she said to us is if you hear it on the news, don’t worry because it is not me,” he said. “Because if it is me, you’ll have a phone call long before.”

Unfortunately we only hear about the ones killed, but there are hundreds who are injured and maimed all the time, he said. It’s still hard to hear



when any soldier has died though.

“It’s not her, but it is still somebody, a Canadian doing the job,” he said.

Thursday, April 17, 2008Darren Lum, Bracebridge Examiner


Warehousing seniors is no solution

Providing appropriate care for seniors is one of the most pressing issues in New

Brunswick’s health care system.Credit: Telegraph-Journal File

NEW BRUNSWICK: In his recent feature "Sad Days, Long Nights," reporter Reid Southwick has chronicled the plight of an esteemed Second World War veteran, Alex Doucet, and his daughter, Veronica Ratchford. Both are experiencing the perennial and burgeoning quandary that exists within the New Brunswick health care system: fewer and fewer acute care beds being available for those requiring them; having to endure endless days and sleepless nights in stretchers or cots, often lined up along crowded, hectic and unwelcoming hospital corridors.

Increasingly, we read these oft repeated and anguished accounts of those suffering the inadequacies of our health care system and predictably, we endure the same protests levelled against the prevailing provincial government.

Each such story over the past 25 years or so describes the same mournful theme: that is, elderly and vulnerable adults overcrowding our hospitals, "taking up beds" to await mostly unwanted placement: essentially, considered as burdens. Also predictably, we hear repeated promises from our politicians for more nursing home beds.

These so-called plans and schemes for our futures are not only of narrow

vision and uninspiring, but also well beyond our means.

On what grounds are the elderly within our health care system judged so negatively, as such burdens? As a first step, we should explore our hospital censuses from the past few decades and note the unwavering and accelerating increase in the average age and length of stay of our hospital populations. Most of us are aware of the explicit and repeated predictions regarding the rapidly changing demographics in Canada: the elderly represent the fastest growing segment of our population and continue to do so. This group also constitutes the leading consumers of health care dollars when compared to younger age groups.

Secondly, the elderly suffer the highest proportion of therapeutic failures within the system, resulting in death or for some, what is worse - protracted stays in acute care, waiting unwillingly for transfer to a nursing home bed: the last resort.

It must be recognized that prescription drugs represent one of the greatest threats to the elderly in Canada today. Contemporary medical literature suggests that at least 60 per cent of problems the elderly face are related to their medications. For example, at least 15 per cent of all hospital admissions involving the elderly are directly related to the adverse effects of their drug treatment.

It is well known that as we age or develop chronic medical conditions, our organ systems become much less efficient at handling drugs. This is due mainly to aging changes in body mass and composition. In addition - for any prescribed medication - there is with aging an increasing rate in the development of a severe side effect to that drug. We may also experience a severe drug-drug reaction if we are taking other drugs when a new drug is prescribed. Often a severe side-effect is diagnosed as a "new illness" and yet another drug is prescribed. This not uncommon state of affairs is known as the "illness-medication spiral."

Such prevailing drug reactions in the elderly cause prolonged hospital stays, further disability, inappropriate

placement to long-term care, and death.

Confounding these realities is the tendency to accumulate increasing numbers of chronic medical conditions with age. With new complaints, we expect to be prescribed a new drug when we visit our doctor. To all of this, add the well-documented evidence that the most commonplace medical intervention in the physician's office is the prescribing of a medication.

Finally, in spite of an expansive body of knowledge regarding the natural aging process and how disease presents differently in the elderly, that expertise is not widely applied within the "medical" model of the health care system. In addition, little or no time is allotted by Canadian medical schools to the study of geriatric medicine.

A basic tenet of geriatric medicine follows that in elderly and vulnerable adults, the dividing line between our physical, mental and social spheres of being are not clear: in fact, are much less distinct than in younger people. In other words, it is unusual to see an elderly person with a physical illness without it affecting his or her mental and social well-being. Additionally, symptoms and signs of physical or mental illness in the elderly differ dramatically from the same illness in younger people.

For example, an elderly person who develops a serious depression or a common (in the elderly) side effect of a sedative or hypnotic drug (nerve or sleeping pill) will often present only with mental confusion. This situation is most frequently and mistakenly diagnosed as dementia - for example, Alzheimer's disease - and results in hospitalization. The actual cause of the symptoms are neither suspected nor tested for. All agree the patient cannot return home and thus must await placement. It is therefore not surprising, given the absence of knowledge and the endemic nihilism, that our hospitals have become overcrowded with such cases.

Underscoring this tragic state of affairs is the failure to understand that elderly people have an enormous capacity to recover and rehabilitate. It is also not appreciated that most seniors possess a fierce sense of independence, and



most would not willingly or happily volunteer for nursing home placement.

In a recent interview, Health Minister Michael Murphy discussed the announcement by Mary Schryer, the minister for social development, of 177 new nursing home beds in the province over the next three years.

He went on to elaborate an interim plan: "As we move the medically-discharged out of our hospitals into nursing homes and special care homes, the idea is make sure they're not filled up by new seniors. This is going to be more about people looking after themselves at home."

Mr. Murphy went on to state, "There's a sense of loss of independence, and we can assist those in need at home in a much more economical and dignified fashion than some of the things we've done already".

Although there are fewer and fewer acute care beds available at the present time, the Health Minister plans to have these unavailable for seniors such as Mr. Doucet in the future as well.

However, he does plan for more nursing home beds over the next three years, 177 in fact. Thus, frail seniors at risk living at home have little alternative: the present programs for home care are not insured (unlike Medicare), are difficult to access, and are paltry at best.

In fact, the Premier's Health Quality Council, under Premier Bernard Lord's tenure, recommended that long-term care - that is, both home care and nursing home care - become insured programs. This would allow for optimal home-care delivery assessed and provided for by comprehensive multidisciplinary teams. Then and only then could we rationalize the number of nursing home beds that are necessary. Only this approach would finally unburden the crisis that acute care services are currently experiencing. To do otherwise - to announce more beds without a comprehensive analysis - is, in my opinion, reckless, irresponsible, and purely political.

There is no question, however, about the benefits of nursing homes in the system. They are absolutely

necessary for those whose nursing requirements are beyond the scope of any home-care service. Seniors and dependent adults who are competent to choose such care - and those who are not competent - should have ready access to such professional facilities.

If tradition prevails, we will continue to accuse the politicians of the day for these shortcomings and the crisis situation in acute care. However, many of us are convinced that it is the intransigencies and the traditional view of health and medicine held by senior government bureaucrats who are chiefly responsible.

With regards to comprehensive insured home-care service, for example, the prevailing attitude amongst senior bureaucrats in the Department of Health is focused on the fear that seniors in the community would run amuck, taking advantage of services available - that such a program would be too costly.

Not so. Seniors deserve comprehensive services to keep them in their homes; no more, but certainly, nothing less.

Over the past few decades, many of us representing various professional disciplines have recognized the interdependent physical, mental and social needs of the frail elderly. Coming face to face with the inefficiencies and inadequacies of government programs, we have lobbied government to co-ordinate multi-disciplinary home care initiatives for the frail elderly and disabled. We believed that community-focused multidisciplinary teams comprised of trained nurses, social workers, occupational, physical and speech therapists, nutritionists and geriatricians could work together and successfully keep people at risk in their own homes. We were also convinced from studies in other countries that this approach was much less expensive than simply "warehousing" seniors in ever-expanding nursing homes.

In the meantime, it is incumbent upon all of us as individuals to remain fit and healthy throughout our lifetimes. I will conclude with an ancient but apt collection of rules penned by Sean Egan: The Ten Commandments of

Health and Longevity, taken from "The Very Old of Rural Ireland:"

1. Eat a simple diet of home-grown foods.

2. Lead an active life.

3. Avoid smoking.

4. Drink alcohol in moderation.

5. Live the outdoor life.

6. Think positively each day.

7. Drink plenty of spring water.

8. Sleep eight to nine hours each day.

9. Do all things in moderation.

10. Avoid the doctor.

Warren Davidson, M.D. is a consultant in geriatric medicine.

Friday, April 18, 2008Warren Davidson M.D., Commentary Telegraph

JournalSection: Seniors

Few remain from the War to End All Wars

Credit: www.sheppardsoftware.com

Burlington - With so much attention being paid to our present military conflict in the Middles East, we must not forget that the War on Terror is just the next, or present, conflict that has put young American men and women in harm’s way. With so many names of so many young people who have given so much in the service of this country, it goes almost unnoticed when a 108-year-old man dies in Florida.

With Memorial Day approaching, the Burlington Office of Veterans Services continues to maintain the solemn list of names of local veterans who died since the last time we gathered on Memorial Day. This year we will also acknowledge the passing of several



men who did not live in Burlington, including 108-year-old Harry Landis.

What makes the passing of this 108-year-old veteran in Florida noteworthy, and historic, is that with his death there is now only one known living American-born veteran of World War I.

That one last World War I veteran, Frank Buckles, who turned 107 years old this past February, is now living history. He is now the only American-born veteran still alive to have served during the “War to End All Wars.”

In a recent VFW Magazine article Buckles was quoted as saying that at 16 years of age he had read all about the War in Europe and after trying to enlist in the Marines and Navy, enlisted in the US Army in August 1917. He served in France in the Gironde area, St. Andre de Cubzac, Basens, Bordeaux and St. Sulpice. He was discharged in 1919 as a corporal.

According to the US Library of Congress and its Veterans History Project, there is a full 148-minute interview with Mr. Buckles on a variety of subjects, including the fact that even today he lifts 2-pound weights and does stretching exercises and sit-ups, at 107.

In 1941 when World War II broke out, Mr. Buckles was working for an American shipping company in the Philippines and was captured by the Japanese. He spent three years in a Japanese POW camp.

J. Russel Coffey, the third last WWI veteran died in December 2007. On Feb. 7, 2008, Harry Landis, the second last veteran of that war, died at the age of 108 at a nursing home in Sun City, Fla.

Coffey enlisted in the Army in October 1918, about a month before the armistice was signed. Landis joined the Army in October 1918 and served at a military hospital where soldiers with the Spanish flu recuperated. His 99-year-old wife still lives at the nursing home.

France and Germany have also recently lost two veterans who are believed to be their last WWI veterans. Erich Kaestner is believed to have been Germany’s last WWI veteran. Kaestner died Jan. 1, 2008 at the age of 107.

France lost her last WWI veteran when Lazare Ponticelli died at 110 years of age. He was born in Italy but at age 9 got on a train to escape a tough childhood, and joined his older brothers in France. Mr. Ponticelli outlived 8.4 million Frenchmen who served in what they called “la Grande Guerre,” according to the Associated Press.

On March 6 of this year Frank Buckles met with President Bush and attended a Pentagon exhibit featuring photos of World War I veterans. Included in the photos is a Canadian-born veteran who served with the Canadian Army and is considered the last surviving Canadian veteran of World War I. John Babcock , at age 107, first attempted to join the military at age 15.

After the war, in the 1920s he came to the United States and joined the United States Army, rose to the rank of sergeant and became a United States citizen in 1946. According to Wikipedia, at age 65 Babcock became a pilot. He has maintained a healthy lifestyle taking daily walks with his second wife, and at 100 years of age, wrote an autobiography entitled, “Ten Decades of John Foster Babcock.” One of Babcock’s grandsons, Matt, has served in Iraq.

There are only about a dozen other World War I veterans who served in other countries during the Great War who are still alive. They are all more than 100 years old. They are truly the last of that generation who served during that war.

This Memorial Day, when the names of those men and women from Burlington who died this past year are read, the names of these other men, all more than 100 years old, will also be read.

Memorial Day this year will be celebrated on Monday, May 26. Hopefully you will be able to join us at the Chestnut Hill Cemetery at 10 a.m.

Bob Hogan is director of Burlington Veterans Services.

Friday, April 18, 2008Bob Hogan/Director of Veteran Services

Section: Veterans

Nov. 11 poem wins provincial recognition for PAMS student

Award for Remembrance poem: Perth-Andover Royal Canadian Legion Branch 36 President Charlene Paris and 2007-8 Poppy Chairman Graydon Ruff were on hand last week at Perth-Andover Middle School to hand out a prize for poetry to Grade 8 student Hilary Kennedy. Her

poem ‘Remembrance of Heroes’, written for the Legion’s poster/essay/poetry

contest, came in second place among all the entries across New Brunswick.

Last fall the Perth-Andover Royal Canadian Legion Branch 36 held its annual Remembrance Day poster, essay and poetry contest and in mid-December several Perth-Andover students received prizes for their posters, but it wasn't until last week that Hilary Kennedy of Perth-Andover received her prize for poetry.

Last December Perth-Andover Legion President John Gagnon handed out the poster prizes but last week at P-A Middle School, new President Charlene Paris and 2007-8 Poppy Chairman Graydon Ruff gave the $50 cash prize to Hilary Kennedy, a grade 8 PAMS student. Almost 100 students from Perth-Andover area schools had submitted entries to the Perth-Andover Royal Canadian Legion Branch 36 Remembrance Day contest and out of all those, judges had to choose three posters for the top three prizes and the best poems to send to Legion's Provincial Command in Saint John.

"We read the poems here at the Legion and we get the veterans' opinions; they picked the ones they liked the best. We sent them on to Provincial Command; they judge them down there," commented Charlene Paris.

John Gagnon, Past President of the Legion, and president at the time of the contest, was also impressed with the poem. "She won second place



provincially in her age group, grade eight. It was quite a recognition," he said of the grade 8 student who is also a prize-winning pianist and accomplished athlete.

Here is the winning poem:Remembrance of Heroes

Every year the time rolls aroundTo honor the soldier who fought on that groundTo remember the soldiers who went to fightFull of bravery, full of might

To remember the many families torn apartTo remember the wives with a broken heartTo remember the children with so many fearsOf losing someone they loved for so many years

To remember the knocks on a soldier's doorThat brought them the message to go to warThose years of terror we must not forgetThe time that soldiers will not regret

They fought for freedomThey fought for moreThey fought with courageThey fought a war

The crosses we see where poppies growRemind us of people, heroes we knowProudly in front of the cenotaph we standTo honour our soldiers who fought for this land.Hilary Kennedy.

Friday, April 18, 2008Robert LaFrance, The Victoria Star

Section: Veterans

Nurse to deploy to Afghanistan; KGH employee to treat wounded soldiers, civilians

Debra Denny, a nurse at KGH's intensive care unit and at Collins Bay Penitentiary, is

one of three civilian nurses to leave Canada to work at the Kandahar hospital

next month.Credit: Ian MacAlpine/The Whig-Standard

KINGSTON: After raising three children and working as a nurse for 15 years, Debra Denny has just accepted what will likely be her toughest assignment.

The civilian nurse is headed to Afghanistan to work at the Kandahar Air Base hospital for a two-month stint.

She leaves in early May.

Denny, who lives a 20-minute drive north of the city in Inverary, is taking a leave from her jobs at Kingston General Hospital's intensive care unit and as a nurse for the Correctional Service of Canada at Collins Bay Penitentiary, a maximum-security prison.

She's one of three civilian nurses to leave Canada to work at the Kandahar hospital next month.

Denny applied to work in Kandahar late last year after hearing about a shortage of nurses and other medical personnel at the military hospital last summer. It wasn't easy finding the

right person in the Canadian Forces to whom to apply, but she stuck with it over a period of a couple months, determined to go to Afghanistan to help provide care for injured Canadian soldiers and Afghanis.

"When I heard about it, I just felt that I really want to do this," she said. "I think it will be a life-changing experience, just to be part of and support our military, as well as the coalition [forces] that are there doing their thing. My children are grown so that has given me the freedom to be able to leave my family for this period of time."

Denny figures her experience as a critical care nurse in two different settings appealed to the military.

"I guess I had the skill set they were looking for so it worked out," she said.

Denny just completed a five-day training session at Kingston's Peace Support Training Centre, where all Canadian Forces soldiers are sent before they're deployed overseas.

In addition to that training, Denny has had to do some of her own personal preparation.

"Working at an ICU, you deal with critically ill people and traumas, but certainly we don't deal with blast and explosion injuries, which is going to be something I'm going to be dealing with there," she said.

"The training [the military] gave me didn't really prepare me for that. I've done some of my own research. From a nursing perspective, this is certainly out of the realm of anything I've ever dealt with here in Canada."

She's looking forward to her time in Kandahar and feels that she has also prepared herself psychologically for the stress she'll experience there.

"I'm sure I'm going to see and experience a lot of things that are going to be upsetting ... I've thought a lot about it," she said.

"I'm drawing on life experience and nursing experience to get me through. Ultimately, a patient is a patient and my job is to nurse that patient to the best of my ability, given the situation. I think I'm prepared for that. I know it's going to be a huge adjustment and a stressful one at that."



She's anticipating that it will be difficult to spend two months away from her family. The longest she's been away from them before is a weekend.

She has two sons and a daughter who range from 20 to 26 years of age.

Though they'll miss her, she said they support her going to Afghanistan.

"Initially, they were concerned about the safety aspect," she said. "I'm going to be relatively safe. I won't be leaving the base. I'll be flying in and out. Obviously, there's some risk, but I think once they felt a little more secure about my safety, they were all very supportive."

Friday, April 18, 2008Jennifer Pritchett Whig-Standard Staff Writer


Nearly a fifth of Veterans report mental disorders

U.S. soldiers patrolling in central Baghdad on Wednesday.

Credit: Erik de Castro/Reuters

U.S.A.: One in five service members who have returned from Iraq or Afghanistan report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression, but little more than half of them have sought mental health treatment, according to an independent study of United States troops.

The service members and veterans who reported these symptoms represented about 19 percent of the 1.6 million service members who have deployed to war in the last five years, a figure consistent with the most recent findings by military researchers. A 2007 survey of combat army soldiers who had been home for several months found that 17 percent of active-duty troops and 25 percent of reservists had screened positive for symptoms of stress disorder.

The study, released on Thursday by

the RAND Corporation, reported that about 19 percent of the troops said they might have experienced a traumatic brain injury, usually the result of powerful roadside bombs, yet a majority of those troops had never been evaluated for such an injury.

The 500-page study is the first exhaustive, private analysis of the psychological and cognitive injuries suffered by service members. The study sought to determine the prevalence of these injuries, gaps in treatment and the costs of treating, or failing to treat, the conditions.

RAND researchers conducted a telephone survey from last August to January 2008 with 1,965 service members, reservists and veterans who had deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in the last five years. Some respondents had deployed more than once. The researchers also gathered data from focus groups. The survey was conducted in 24 communities with high concentrations of service members, reservists and veterans.

The Defense Department said that it was heartened that the data reflected its own findings on the prevalence of mental injuries, and that the study helped highlight the hurdles the military faces in helping veterans.

"We're on a long journey, and we've come a long way, but we've got a long way to go," said Colonel Loree Sutton of the army, head of the new Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Lisa Jaycox, a senior behavioral scientist at RAND and a co-author of the new study, "Invisible Wounds of War," said the findings also served to underscore the barriers, some of them self-imposed, that troops face in getting help. War veterans say they are often reluctant to seek treatment, in part out of fear that their medical information will be used to derail their careers. Commanders typically have access to a service member's military medical records.

"There is a perception that the record can be used against them," Jaycox said. "That is hard to overcome given that the record is not confidential."

Only 53 percent of service members

and veterans who reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or depression sought treatment. Of those, about half got "minimally adequate treatment," according to the study.

"Clearly, that's a finding that concerns us," Sutton said during a meeting with reporters.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is considering removing a question about a service member's health care history from security clearance questionnaires, she said.

"We think that's going to be a big step forward to help our service members understand that seeking care, in fact, is a sign of strength," Sutton said.

A shortage of well-trained mental health workers in the military and the veterans' health care system compounds the challenge.

The RAND study also estimated the two-year cost of treating service members who return from war with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. It put the figure at $6.2 billion, an amount that includes medical care, lost productivity and losses from suicide.

The better the treatment, the more that the nation saves, the study concluded.

"This is a crisis, and we can't keep muddling around the edges," said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a nonpartisan advocacy group. "We can pay for mental health care now or pay for the jail cells and cemeteries and alcohol and drug treatment programs later. Not to mention the moral obligation we have to these veterans."

Friday, April 18, 2008Lizette Alvarez, INternational Herald Tribune

Section: Veterans



Luftwaffe pilot-turned-Canadian who performed an act of amazing grace, dies.

Me 109 in full war-colors aug. 1993 Oost Malle Belgium.

Credit: Marcel van Leeuwen

Ordered into the skies to shoot down a damaged Allied bomber during the Second World War, he could not bring himself to open fire. It would be 43 years before he learned its fate.

VANCOUVER -- Franz Stigler of Surrey, B.C., was a German fighter pilot who committed one of the few documented acts of chivalry during air combat in the Second World War. In 1943, faced with shooting down a badly damaged U.S. bomber whose crew was obviously badly wounded men, he just couldn't pull the trigger and instead escorted the aircraft to safety.

Within a decade, Mr. Stigler had immigrated to Canada, but for years, he wondered whether the Boeing B-17 had made it back to Britain.

Born in Bavaria when the First World War was at its height, he was meant to be a pilot. His father had served as an observer in the German air force, and after the war, he encouraged his son to take an interest in flying. By the time he was 12, Franz had soloed in a glider.

He studied aeronautical engineering and took flying lessons. After qualifying, he flew several different types of aircraft. In 1939, he joined the fledgling Luftwaffe, and by Sept. 1 he was at war. Despite having flown multiengine aircraft, Mr. Stigler chose to fly fighters. On most of his combat missions, he flew the legendary Messerschmitt BF-109F, which, according to fighter pilots on both sides, had characteristics that were superior to the equally legendary Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane. Like most fighter pilots, he flew with several different squadrons

and eventually commanded two, 8/11 and 12/IV Squadrons (or Jagdstaffels), which in turn were part of Jagdgeschwader 27, the equivalent of an Allied fighter wing.

In four years of operational flying, he served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Holland and Germany. He was shot down 17 times and bailed out of aircraft four times, but otherwise managed to land or crash-land. His score was 28 confirmed aircraft shot down or badly damaged and more than 30 "probables." He flew a total of 417 combat missions from 1940 to 1945 and earned the Iron Cross Second Class, the Iron Cross First Class and the German Cross in Gold.

Although there were many German pilots with much higher scores, some claiming well in excess of a 100, it is doubtful that they survived as many critical situations. Mr. Stigler was wounded four times, suffered burns and sustained lifelong scars on his legs and head, among them a very visible forehead mark made by a bullet that came though the windshield of his fighter. Fortunately, the windshield slowed the bullet's velocity and it failed to penetrate his skull.

While stationed in the Mediterranean, his squadron was detailed to escort Stuka dive bombers targeting a shipping convoy. Each Me-109 carried a 225-kilogram bomb slung underneath and, having reached the target, they were instructed to dive and release the bomb as they pulled out. The idea was to make the bomb "skip" on the water and hit the ship's side. Mr. Stigler released his bomb and it bounced so well that it became airborne and kept pace just off his port wing. He climbed away as fast as he could.

By late 1943, he was posted in Holland at a base from where the Luftwaffe could best attack Allied aircraft on both the outward and return legs of bombing missions. The British and Canadians flew the four-engined Avro Lancasters and Short Sterlings, while the mainstay of the U.S. Army Air Force was the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.

One of the Flying Fortresses was piloted by a 22-year-old lieutenant named Charlie Brown, from Western,

W.V. On Dec. 20, 1943, Mr. Brown took off from his base at Kimbolton, near Cambridge, as part of a raid on the Focke-Wulf fighter plant at Bremen in Germany. It was only his second combat mission, and his first as captain. His B-17, with its equally young crew, had the whimsical name of "Ye Olde Pub." The plane reached the target without incident, dropped its bomb load and turned for home, only to suffer a direct hit from an anti-aircraft gun. The Plexiglass nose was shattered and two of the four engines were damaged. Unable to maintain his position within the formation, Mr. Brown dropped astern.

Eight German fighters appeared and pounced in an attack that damaged a third engine, destroyed most of the tail and knocked out the oxygen, hydraulic and electrical systems. The controls were only partly responsive, the rear gunner was dead and three other crew members were wounded. To make matters worse, Mr. Brown had been struck in the shoulder by flak.

Only half-conscious because of a lack of oxygen, he lost control and the plane inverted and spiralled down to within about 100 metres of the ground. Miraculously, he came to his senses and levelled out. He struggled to gain height and speed, but with only one engine at full power and one at half power, the aircraft was close to stalling. Three of his crew were unable to bail out, so his only options were to crash-land in enemy territory or try to make it back to England.

While struggling with the controls, he became aware of a lone Me-109 flying alongside. The B-17 had lumbered through the skies near a German airbase and the fighter had been sent up to finish it off. The German pilot circled around the B-17, came back to his original position and pointed towards the ground. Mr. Brown, still dazed, ignored the suggestion that he should attempt to land, and kept flying. The enemy pilot held position until the B-17 was over the North Sea and pointed in the direction of England. He waved, saluted and flew back toward to Holland.

Mr. Brown and his crew made it back to England and landed safely at Seething in Norfolk. The story of the encounter was immediately classified



as secret, as it would not have gone over well for the public to know of a chivalrous enemy when they were exhorted to hate all Germans.

The pilot was Franz Stigler. When he closed on the bomber, preparing to shoot it down, he was astonished.

"I was amazed that the aircraft could fly," he told The Associated Press in 1997. "The B-17 is the most respected airplane. I flew within 12 yards. It was a wreck. The tail gunner was lying in blood ... holes all over."

The pilot, he noticed was also wounded and "his crew was running all up and down tending the wounded."

Mr. Stigler held his fire. He could not bring himself to attack a plane carrying dead and severely wounded crew. "It would be like shooting at a man in parachute," he said years later.

Back at base, he reported that he had successfully shot down the B-17 and that it had crashed into the sea. To admit the truth would have risked court-martial and very likely execution. "I couldn't tell anyone about it at home that I had let them go or I would have been looking down the barrels of a firing squad," he said.

Earlier in the day, he had already downed two other B-17s, and a third would have assured him the coveted Knight's Cross medal.

In 1953, Mr. Stigler emigrated to Canada - first to Montreal and then to British Columbia. He found work as a mechanic with a logging company in the Queen Charlotte Islands and later settled in Surrey, where he became operations manager for the truck division of Hertz. He than ran his own trucking company for several years, assisted by his wife, Hija.

Through the years, he never forgot the damaged B-17. He often mentioned the plane to Hija, and speculated about what had happened to the crew. For all he knew, it might have crashed into the sea on its own.

For 43 years, the riddle went unanswered and then a letter appeared in a newsletter for German fighter pilots, past and present. Charlie Brown, the American pilot, had submitted it on a hunch.

Mr. Brown had survived the war and remained in the U.S. Air force and served various staff roles before retiring as a lieutenant colonel. By 1986, he had settled in Florida and sometimes he thought about the enemy pilot who had given his crew a chance at survival. It was not until he attended a convention of the U.S. Air Force Association that year that a chance remark by a friend prompted him to act. He wrote to the newsletter, seeking information and describing the extraordinary 1943 incident over the North Sea.

Two months went by and finally a letter with a Canadian stamp arrived. The writer said his name was Franz Stigler, and that he was the pilot who had waved the B-17 on to England.

In the summer of 1990, the two men finally met at a hotel in Seattle. It was the first opportunity they had to pin down a time and place. A friendship immediately resulted, and eventually they toured together to tell their story at reunions and at special museum events. Not surprisingly, they found themselves celebrities among veterans and became the subjects of many articles in newspapers. Peter Gzowski, host of CBC's Morningside, was the first to interview them on radio.

For his part, Mr. Brown also found an unexpected release. In the long years since the war, he had suffered a recurring nightmare in which he was in an aircraft spiralling down toward trees and buildings. The dreams ceased the day he met Franz Stigler.

Once enemies, the two men became as close as brothers and talked on the phone almost every week. "For some reason, we really hit it off," Mr. Brown said. FRANZ STIGLER

Franz Stigler was born Aug. 21, 1915, in Regensburg, Germany. He died March 22, 2008, in Surrey, B.C., of complications from surgery. He was 92. He is survived by wife Hija and daughter Jovita. Two earlier marriages ended in divorce. He is also survived by Charlie Brown of Perrine, Fla.

Friday, April 18, 2008Ray Eagle, Special to The Globe and Mail

Section: Veterans

Former Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52 President Dies.

“He was one hell of a nice guy, just a nice person to be around.” Murray Findlay,

public relations officer for Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52.

Credit: Examiner file photo

Former barber, Second World War Veteran Tony Basciano dies

To the community Anthony (Tony) Basciano was known as a long-time barber, Second World War veteran and former Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52 president. To his family he was a protector, provider, a storyteller with a sweet tooth and a hunk.

Mr. Basciano died Wednesday at 8:45 p.m. after 6 1/2 weeks at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. He was 86.

Pat Basciano, his wife of nearly 33 years, said her husband loved the legion, his barbershop his many friends and family.

Mr. Basciano was nearly 80 when he retired in 2000 after 53 years to his disappointment, she said.

“He always said ‘I’d still be working but my wife made me quit,’ and I said ‘maybe the fact that you were in intensive care and we thought you were going to die had something to do with it,’” she said.

His health had been a problem for nearly a decade, Pat said, with a stroke, heart problems and prostate



cancer.

Born in Italy, Mr. Basciano moved to Peterborough when he was 18 months old and remained here his whole life except for the war.

During the Second World War, Mr. Basciano spend six years overseas in Sicily, Italy and Holland.

His daughter, Nicole Cooke, said her dad described that time as some of the best years of his life.

“He would rarely talk about it, but whenever he talked about it almost every story was a good story,” she said. “He didn’t like to talk about the negative things he would tell us the funny things.”

Mr. Basciano lied about his age to enlist and was named a sergeant at 20, Cooke said.

When he returned to Peterborough he took a barbering course and his shop gained a strong reputation. Pat said new recruits would be sent to his shop for their brush cuts.

“It was really hard on him when he had to retire because of his health, he absolutely loved the job it was a real social outlet for him,” Cooke said. “It was a good business, he was a hard worker it certainly gave us kids a good life.”

Cooke has fond memories of spending days at the barbershop sweeping up hair and spinning around in the extra chair. Her oldest daughter was able to get her first haircut by grandpa.

“I still run into people that say ‘he gave me my first haircut,’” Cooke said.

Outside of work, Mr. Basciano loved the legion his family said, and he held position including president from 1973-74.

Murray Findlay, public relations officer for Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52 said he was also sergeant-at-arms and zone commander. Mr. Basciano was honoured as a life member of the legion and received the palm leaf, the legion’s highest honour.

“He was one hell of a nice guy, just a nice person to be around,” Findlay said.

Mr. Basciano was very involved in parades, which he always attended

with his family, Cooke said.

“When he had to give up the parade he was pretty upset he couldn’t march,” Pat said.

The couple met at the legion at a Remembrance Day dinner, Mr. Basciano asked Pat to dance, she said.

“He was a real hunk and I got him. I had to fight to get him and it was worth it,” she said.

At home Cooke said her dad was an “old-school Italian dad,” but above all else took care of everyone.

“He had to raise his four little brothers, his mother died when he was 12, so he’s always been a protector,” she said.

Mr. Basciano was quiet and wanted everyone to be happy, which Cooke said he carried on to his last days when he had trouble speaking.

“He became a real man of gestures, he would make funny little gestures to people and make goofy faces at people to make them laugh,” she said. “Even though he was the one that was dying he was still trying to make everybody laughed around him.”

Cooke said all four children and two stepchildren knew how proud dad was of them and he adored his grandchildren, spoiling them with ice cream.

“The moment grandkids walked in the house he would offer them a bowl of ice cream. It didn’t matter if they had just finished breakfast or if they were coming for dinner and were just about to eat,” she said.

Mr. Basciano loved sweets, Cooke said, he was famous for always having candy around the house and the family got him ice cream in the hospital when he had trouble eating.

“That’s what he loved, mom fed him two cups that first night,” she said.

A Roman Catholic, religion was also important, Cooke said her parents house was covered with religious statues and Mr. Basciano had last rites delivered several times.

Cooke’s brother, Warren Chambers, brought a blessed rosary from Rome to Mr. Basciano in the hospital and he

wore it up until he died.

“He didn’t even want the rosary sitting beside him he wanted it right around his neck. It never left him the whole time and he’s going to be buried with it,” she said.

Friday, April 18, 2008NICOLE RIVA/Examiner Community Writer

Section: Veterans

Canada's last First World War vet receives commendation

John Babcock was shipped over to England as a teen and ended up, in 1917, with the Boys Battalion, a reserve brigade. The war ended before he could get to the front lines. At a small family ceremony in Spokane, Washington, the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans

Affairs, presented a Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation to Mr. John

Babcock, Canada's last known First World War Veteran.

Credit: Reuters

SPOKANE, Wash. - John Babcock was only 15 years old when he signed up to fight for Canada in the First World War.

Now, more than 90 years later, the 107 year old says he's bemused by all the attention he receives as this country's last known surviving veteran of that war.

At a ceremony near his home in Spokane, Wash., Saturday, Babcock was presented with a special award by



Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thomson.

"I'm honoured," Babcock said, according to Kim Blanchette a Canadian official who attended the ceremony, "but I didn't do anything. I didn't fight. They sent me to the young soldiers battalion and we drilled for 8 hours a day."

Saturday marked the first time since the award's creation in 2001 that the minister has travelled outside of Canada to give the Minister's Commendation, which recognizes both commendable service to the community of veterans, and the sacrifice and achievements of veterans themselves.

Born on July 23, 1900, Babcock had to lie about his age to join the 146th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the war. He was shipped over to England as a teen and ended up, in 1917, with the Boys Battalion, a reserve brigade.

The war ended before he could get to the front lines though, and it was one of Babcock's great disappointments that he never made it into active battle.

In a 2006 interview with Veteran's Affairs, Babcock explained his reaction at the time: "I was chagrined, I wasn't a 'real' soldier."

He also said that he feels for today's soldiers.

"I understand what they go through in basic training and drilling. You are soon taught to obey orders."

After the war, Babcock moved to the United States and served in the American Army from 1921 to 1924.

Babcock attended the ceremony Saturday with his wife, Dorothy.

Saturday, April 19, 2008Canwest News Service

Section: Veterans

Government of Canada Encourages Canadians to Remember

Georgetown, ON - The Honourable

Michael Chong, Member of Parliament for Wellington-Halton Hills, on behalf of the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, today attended a remembrance event at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #120 (Georgetown, ON), where he confirmed Government of Canada funding of up to $2,500 for this event and other community remembrance activities.

"Commemorative events help make sure that future generations keep the torch of remembrance ablaze," said Minister Thompson. "This is one more way we can encourage Canadians of all ages to remember and honour the men and women who served our country so well."

The all-day event allowed Georgetown citizens to learn more about the work being done by the Legion for Veterans and the community. Mr. Chong also announced funding of up to $5,000 towards two candlelight tributes. Funding is provided through Veterans Affairs Canada's Community Engagement Partnership Fund.

On May 8, more than 1,200 school children will attend candlelight tributes at cenotaphs in the communities of Georgetown and Glen Williams. They will meet Veterans and place lit candles around the each cenotaph to honour service men and women who died while serving their country. The candles will burn overnight.

"Community events give all citizens the opportunity to interact with our Veterans as well as honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice," said the Honourable Michael Chong.

The Community Engagement Partnership Fund provides funding to non-profit groups, educational institutions and other organizations delivering remembrance activities and events. Administered through Veterans Affairs Canada's Canada Remembers program, contributions are made throughout the year and encompass both national and community-based projects.

To learn more about the Community Engagement Partnership Fund or to apply for funding, go to www.vac-acc.gc.ca or call 1-800-443-0394.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Veterans Affairs CanadaSection: Veterans

Government of Canada Commemorates the 55th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice

Vancouver - On behalf of the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Dr. James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni, participated in a commemorative ceremony to mark the 55th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, the 10th anniversary of the Kap'Yong Memorial Plaque dedication, and the twinning of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve with Hallyo Haesang Sea National Park in Korea.

"Today, we commemorate the legacy of those Canadians who served in the first major international crisis following the end of the Second World War. More than 26,000 Canadians served in the Korean War and 516 lost their lives in the name of peace and freedom," said Minister Thompson.

Veterans Affairs Canada partnered with The Royal Canadian Legion, Parks Canada and the Korea Veterans Association to honour the distinguished contributions of Canadians in the Battle of Kap'Yong during the Korean War. Many people joined Dr. Lunney at Radar Hill, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve to remember the great sacrifices and the achievements of the men and women who served.

"Our Government supports events that foster appreciation-especially in Canadian youth-for the accomplishments and sacrifices made by Canadian service men and women," said Dr. Lunney. "As Canadians, we share a proud military history and we are passionate about honouring Canada's Veterans and all who served."

For more information on Canada's involvement in the Korean War, visit www.vac-acc.gc.ca.

Saturday, April 19, 2008Page 32 The Royal Canadian Legion, Fred Gies Branch 50 (Ontario)


Veterans Affairs CanadaSection: Veterans

Korean War memorial on Vancouver Island 'last big gathering,

Major C Gordon Owen, a Korean War veteran salutes during the singing of

Canada's national anthem in downtown Tofino Friday April 18, 2008.

Credit: Keven Drews

TOFINO, B.C. — The tiny blue bars pinned above rows of gold and silver medals speak to the horrors this ever-shrinking group of Korean War veterans experienced 57 years ago this week.

Those blue bars - the rare U.S. Presidential Unit Citation - was awarded to the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry for stopping a Chinese offensive at Kap' Yong Hill in April 1951.

Dozens of Korean War veterans - including 10 who received that citation - and their families gathered Saturday in Vancouver Island's Pacific Rim National Park Reserve to remember the battle, the Korean Armistice and those who never returned.

"We've lost four members this year alone of the Kap' Yong veterans, so we're getting thin," said Edward R. Murphy of Victoria, a survivor of the battle.

John Bishop, another veteran, predicted Saturday's memorial atop Radar Hill could be the last time this group would come together.

"Today it's important because it's probably the last big gathering of Kap' Yong veterans because of our age," he said.

More veterans were expected at the

Kap' Yong Memorial Plaque, but heavy snow on Vancouver Island's east coast prevented a bus from making it to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, which was twinned with Korea's Hallyo Haesang Sea National Park 10 years ago.

Those who were able to attend gathered at the plaque overlooking Clayoquot Sound and the Pacific Ocean, where they remembered the battle, which was fought atop Hill 677 by the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry on April 25 and April 26, 1951.

Ten Canadians died and dozens were wounded, but the infantry, the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment and an American heavy tank battalion held the line, stopping the Chinese offensive in its tracks.

"We were just doing our duty," Bishop said, reminding the crowd that the action stopped Seoul from falling.

The three units were awarded presidential citations for their actions.

Two years and three months later, on July 27, 1953, the Korean armistice was signed.

Of the 26,971 Canadians who served, 516 were killed and 1,558 were wounded.

James Lunney, Conservative MP for Nanaimo-Alberni, told the veterans that Canadians are proud of them.

"Our freedom is not free. It never was. It will never be," he said. "Today we salute you. We remember. We thank you on behalf of a grateful nation."

Tong-Mo Suh, Korea's consul general, thanked the veterans, many of whom volunteered to fight at a young age.

"Your action changed the course of Korea's history," he said.

He told the veterans their sacrifice was not in vain because Korea now has the world's 13th-largest economy, participates in United Nations peacekeeping missions, and Ban Ki-moon now serves as secretary general for the UN.

"I express my sincere thanks for your service to my country. You are heroes to us. You will be in our hearts and minds forever."

Saturday, April 19, 2008Keven Drews, The Westcoaster

Section: Veterans



Documents

IN THIS ISSUE The last doughboy granted special burial rights. 20080419.pdfattack, a fiery plane crash or some exotic killer disease. And there are some sobering passages, too, for