Page 49 - Biz X Magazine - June, 2014 Issue

THE WAY Missions & Result: Bravo Zulu* IT WAS By Andrea Grimes he war did something. At frst, the war the tide during WWII in their sector of the from the War Tunited Canadians with a collective Atlantic. P en s i o n er s goal. Families all across Canada survived When our young and gallant sailors of Canada as best they could. Te once idle factories returned home to Windsor, they shared (formerly the became busy 24 hours a day, as the number stories of bravery, and courage, of duty C a nad i a n of workers doubled in manufacturing and and honour. During the post war years, P en s i o n er s quadrupled in transportation equipment to life slowly began to return to one of a of the Great serve the war efort … over there! peacetime civilian existence. It was ofen a War). Te past It was the era of men being the sole family painful adjustment for our WWII Veterans records show provider and women getting creative and struggling to live with the memories of all the deed to the resourceful “at home” to make everything who paid the supreme sacrifce – whose lives property was from clothing to food last longer. were lost at sea! dated June 11, In 1939, gas was 10 cents a gallon, a loaf On February 17, 1962 a group of naval 1870. of bread at Lyttle’s Bakery on Ouellette veterans gathered at Chuck’s Grill (present As the years rolled on, the RCNA Avenue sold for eight cents and fresh ground site of the Willistead Restaurant); to organize enjoyed many productive fundraising and hamburger at Mr. Dickie’s butcher shop the Southwestern Ontario Naval Reunion. social events, but most importantly, the in Walkerville was four cents a pound. At Rear-Admiral Walter Hose (the father of the wealth of camaraderie is what sustained White’s Restaurant on Pitt Street, East, RCN) was the guest speaker. As the result the membership, although dwindling in collegiate students huddled in the booths of the remarkable success of the reunion numbers 45 years afer WWII. In 1997, the sipping sodas while listening so dreamingly on July 1, 1962 the organization formally RCNA relocated its headquarters to 1131 to Glen Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” on became the Essex-Kent Naval Veterans’ Crawford Avenue and remained there until the jukebox. Association. 2008 when the membership settled in at On May 17, 1939 King George VI and In the fall of 1962, the group received the RCL Branch 12 “Te Hut” at 2090 Brant Queen Elizabeth arrived in Canada, being membership into the Canadian Naval Street in Walkerville. the frst reigning monarchs to visit our Association, later to ofcially become With the approach of the Navy’s young nation. On November 30, 1939 the Te Royal Canadian Naval Association centennial year in 2010, the RCNA embarked international Windsor Detroit tunnel (Windsor Branch; HQRCNA.com). In 1995, on a major project to build a monument in opened with much fanfare and celebration. the Association became formally recognized honour of Rear-Admiral Walter Hose who From the outset of WWII, Germany was as the RCNA – Admiral Hose Branch. passed away at the age of 90 in Windsor in determined to starve the British people Since its inception, the mandate of the 1965. Tis campaign has been a successful into submission by destroying their sea Association is to foster social interaction and proud endeavour for the membership. communications and cutting them of from amongst the naval family, to provide On June 22, 2014 the “Admiral Hose overseas supplies. More and more Canadian humanitarian and benevolent support to Monument” will be unveiled to our seamen were crossing the Atlantic to engage those in need, to heighten awareness of the community at Heavenly Rest Cemetery in in battle. For many months, Navy escort history of the Navy, and to remain active in honour of all who served at sea and returned was the task with the worst hardships the life of the military community. home; in memory of all who served and were experienced in the war at sea. Navigation Over the years, the RCNA met at various called home. “. . . Tus evermore shall rise in the North Atlantic was hazardous in the sites; however, with the rise in membership, to Tee, glad hymns of praise from land extreme, and men died not only from enemy it became necessary to fnd a permanent to sea.” attack, but from exposure and accidents in headquarters. On August 4, 1968 the * “Bravo Zulu” is an international naval the fog and ferce winter gales. Nevertheless, Association purchased the building (for signal code sent to convey “Well Done” or “Job the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) had turned $22,000) at 378 University Avenue, west Well Done.” BIZ X MAGAZINE • JUNE 2014 49 BizX2014June52.indd 49 2014-05-27 9:44 PM