By Pepper Parr
May 9, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
It was described as a Role Call – a standard armed forces event when they check to ensure everyone is accounted for.
Saturday morning at Civic square there was a different Role Call – it was for the men and women who served in a war that ended seventy years ago.
Cadets salute as the Colour Party marches into the Civic square for the beginning of the Roll call
The event took place in Burlington while the Mayor and city Councillor Blair Lancaster were in Apeldoorn, one of our twin cities, representing the citizens of Burlington and most particular the veterans of that war who are still alive
There was a healthy contingent of Burlington Dutch citizens in Apeldoorn as well; we have a very strong Dutch community that had played a large part in making Burlington the city it is today.
The event at Civic Square was for those who wanted to remember members of their family that served.
It was an incredibly moving event; some of the speakers didn’t make it through their remarks. Other told Burlingtonians stories we had no heard before.
Citizens line the Civic Square to both witness and participate in the Roll Call of those who served.
Councillor Rick Craven, in very moving comments told of a relative who lied about his age and joined up at the age of 15.
In his remarks Craven talked of standing on the beach at Dieppe and wondering how those men managed to race across what was then a stony beach and remain alive while German gunners in the bluffs above them were raking the grounds with machine gun fire.
There was hardly an army regiment, or an air force wing that didn’t get mentioned or a naval squadron that wasn’t mentioned.
Individuals walked to the podium holding pictures of their relative and talked about the way they served. Some, too many, spoke of people who did not return.
Mention was made of the Murmansk run through the frigid Atlantic and into northern Russia with badly needed supplies.
More than 100 Burlingtonians stood quietly waiting for their turn to remember their relatives during the incredibly moving Roll call that took place in Civic Square.
The Desert Rats – nick name for the British 8th Army, were heard of as well as the the VanDooz – Royal 22nd Regiment out of Montreal.
Mention was made of a man who was killed at the Somme and awarded the Victoria Cross; a Davey who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for missions in the 405th and the 408th squadrons.
Another spoke of a unit that raced the Russians into Berlin during the closing months of the war; another who was killed in France on Black Friday.
The Queen’s Own Rifles, the Princess Pats, and the Black Watch – there were so many of them – too many.
We sent tens of thousands of our young people away, many to not return.
Five veterans who served in the Second World War stand during the prayer that was read at the closing of the Role Call
Today more than 100 people in Burlington got to stand before their fellow citizens and speak proudly of the sacrifices while five veterans sat and listened quietly while their minds floated back to those times.
In his remarks Craven talked of standing on the beach at Dieppe and wondering how those men managed to race across what was then a stony beach and remain alive while German gunners in the bluffs above them were raking the grounds with machine guns.
The organizers of the Roll call had no idea how many people were going to show up. We got five time the number that RSVP’d said one Legion member.
The individuals walked quietly to the podium, there was no applause, they just held their picture before them and spoke for a few moments and then left as quietly as they came – proud that they had had that moment.
As third vice president of the legion it made me proud to attend this function. It brought tears to the old and young. To those who were remembered in the roll call I give thanks that due to them we are free Thanks to all who attended