Page 49 - Biz X Magazine - October 2015 Edition
P. 49
THE WAY So They Will Not
IT WAS Be Forgotten
Story and Photo by Andrea Grimes
O n August 4,1914 Britain declared war dignity owed to them in recognition of
on Germany and as a young nation, their service.
In 1925, Brown and Forester formed a
Canada responded quickly to fill the ranks.
November 11, 1918. The bitter realities of volunteer group of concerned Veterans. They
the aftermath of war had the greatest impact gave freely of their time and money to buy Veterans’ Remembrance Honour Exhibit, November 2014.
on our Veterans. Although history tells us that caskets and burial plots and maintained the by a final salute to their comrade.
the suffering, hardship, and sacrifices of war gravesites of all Veterans. In 1933, Brown and In keeping with tradition, volunteer
defined our nation, Veterans who survived the Forester expanded and formed the Windsor members from all branches of the Canadian
horrors of WWI were experiencing a difficult Grave Committee. They invited all Veterans Armed Forces and various Legions proudly
time adjusting to civilian life. They struggled Services to send representatives to sit on carry the torch and continue to be dedicated
with the bitter realities that unemployment the committee, which provided collective to the mission to honour the esteemed efforts
had skyrocketed, housing was at a premium, resources to undertake a number of ever- that Major Joe Brown and Clarence Forester
health care was virtually unavailable to them expanding commitments. brought to Windsor 90 years ago!
and relief centres had closed their doors to The onset of WWII added new challenges This solemn act of remembrance honours a
thousands of servicemen – those who fought and requests for financial assistance. The life given in duty and service and respects the
to safeguard our freedom and liberties! committee approached cemetery owners and sacrifice made in the name of freedom – for
Sadly, society failed our Veterans. Many convinced them to donate hundreds of burial victories earned and battles lost. This tribute
died as a result of untreated wounds, plots. As a result of their intense efforts, the will forever stand as a symbol of our Veterans’
emotional trauma and neglect. More times Windsor Grave Committee was successful in commitment to preserving democracy.
than not, families were unable pay for a establishing a Veterans’ burial section in each Jules Gouin, (Legacy.JulesOnline.com)
funeral and their loved ones were laid to rest of Windsor’s cemeteries. is a song writer/soloist who performs at
in “Potters Field” – the final resting place for In 1963 the group was re-named Veterans’ funerals. According to Gouin,
the poor or for those who died alone! the Windsor Veterans Memorial“It has been my honour and privilege to
This was a common practice in Services Committee (W.V.M.S.C.; sing for our war veterans. To remember the
communities all across Canada, however, WindsorVeteransMemorial.com). During a tremendous unthinkable sacrifice these
as society was beginning to move into funeral service, the W.V.M.S.C. honours men and women have endured so that we
peacetime, two caring ex-servicemen, a Veteran with a signature memorial tribute may live in this free beautiful country – our
Major Joe Brown and Clarence Forester (the only volunteer group of its kind to do so). Canada, is the ultimate tribute that we can
(Commander of the Royal Canadian Legion An Honour Guard is present, “Taps” is played give at the time one of these great heroes
Ambassador Branch 143) were responsible and the “Lament” is piped while Veterans journeys home!”
for ensuring Veterans received a burial and Legionnaires form a procession and “At the going down of the sun … we will
service befitting every honour and every place their poppies inside the coffin followed remember them.”
Quilts of Valour – Canada is a non-profit organization comprised August 19, 1942) was presented with a quilt made by Pauline Gaudette ,
of volunteer quilters from across Canada who coordinate quilting a quilter from Windsor and member of the southwestern Chapter of
sessions and deliver quilts to members of our Canadian Armed Quilts of Valour – Canada. (Read more about them on their website:
Forces in their regions. Volunteers make “comfort” quilts out of QuiltsOfValour.ca)
their own pockets for our Veterans and our Canadian soldiers who The southwestern Ontario chapter of Quilts of Valour – Canada
are suffering from Operational Stress Injuries as a result of war. is looking to reach our WWII Veterans who served with The
On August 19, 2015 during the Dieppe Memorial Service Essex Scottish and The Kent Regiment. Contact can be made with
in Windsor’s Dieppe Gardens, Essex Scottish WWII Veteran, Regimental Major Greg Childs of The Essex and Kent Scottish by
Les Tetler (who was held P.O.W. following the Raid on Dieppe, emailing: [email protected].
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BIZ X MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2015
BizX2015OCT52.indd 49 2015-09-29 10:02 PM
IT WAS Be Forgotten
Story and Photo by Andrea Grimes
O n August 4,1914 Britain declared war dignity owed to them in recognition of
on Germany and as a young nation, their service.
In 1925, Brown and Forester formed a
Canada responded quickly to fill the ranks.
November 11, 1918. The bitter realities of volunteer group of concerned Veterans. They
the aftermath of war had the greatest impact gave freely of their time and money to buy Veterans’ Remembrance Honour Exhibit, November 2014.
on our Veterans. Although history tells us that caskets and burial plots and maintained the by a final salute to their comrade.
the suffering, hardship, and sacrifices of war gravesites of all Veterans. In 1933, Brown and In keeping with tradition, volunteer
defined our nation, Veterans who survived the Forester expanded and formed the Windsor members from all branches of the Canadian
horrors of WWI were experiencing a difficult Grave Committee. They invited all Veterans Armed Forces and various Legions proudly
time adjusting to civilian life. They struggled Services to send representatives to sit on carry the torch and continue to be dedicated
with the bitter realities that unemployment the committee, which provided collective to the mission to honour the esteemed efforts
had skyrocketed, housing was at a premium, resources to undertake a number of ever- that Major Joe Brown and Clarence Forester
health care was virtually unavailable to them expanding commitments. brought to Windsor 90 years ago!
and relief centres had closed their doors to The onset of WWII added new challenges This solemn act of remembrance honours a
thousands of servicemen – those who fought and requests for financial assistance. The life given in duty and service and respects the
to safeguard our freedom and liberties! committee approached cemetery owners and sacrifice made in the name of freedom – for
Sadly, society failed our Veterans. Many convinced them to donate hundreds of burial victories earned and battles lost. This tribute
died as a result of untreated wounds, plots. As a result of their intense efforts, the will forever stand as a symbol of our Veterans’
emotional trauma and neglect. More times Windsor Grave Committee was successful in commitment to preserving democracy.
than not, families were unable pay for a establishing a Veterans’ burial section in each Jules Gouin, (Legacy.JulesOnline.com)
funeral and their loved ones were laid to rest of Windsor’s cemeteries. is a song writer/soloist who performs at
in “Potters Field” – the final resting place for In 1963 the group was re-named Veterans’ funerals. According to Gouin,
the poor or for those who died alone! the Windsor Veterans Memorial“It has been my honour and privilege to
This was a common practice in Services Committee (W.V.M.S.C.; sing for our war veterans. To remember the
communities all across Canada, however, WindsorVeteransMemorial.com). During a tremendous unthinkable sacrifice these
as society was beginning to move into funeral service, the W.V.M.S.C. honours men and women have endured so that we
peacetime, two caring ex-servicemen, a Veteran with a signature memorial tribute may live in this free beautiful country – our
Major Joe Brown and Clarence Forester (the only volunteer group of its kind to do so). Canada, is the ultimate tribute that we can
(Commander of the Royal Canadian Legion An Honour Guard is present, “Taps” is played give at the time one of these great heroes
Ambassador Branch 143) were responsible and the “Lament” is piped while Veterans journeys home!”
for ensuring Veterans received a burial and Legionnaires form a procession and “At the going down of the sun … we will
service befitting every honour and every place their poppies inside the coffin followed remember them.”
Quilts of Valour – Canada is a non-profit organization comprised August 19, 1942) was presented with a quilt made by Pauline Gaudette ,
of volunteer quilters from across Canada who coordinate quilting a quilter from Windsor and member of the southwestern Chapter of
sessions and deliver quilts to members of our Canadian Armed Quilts of Valour – Canada. (Read more about them on their website:
Forces in their regions. Volunteers make “comfort” quilts out of QuiltsOfValour.ca)
their own pockets for our Veterans and our Canadian soldiers who The southwestern Ontario chapter of Quilts of Valour – Canada
are suffering from Operational Stress Injuries as a result of war. is looking to reach our WWII Veterans who served with The
On August 19, 2015 during the Dieppe Memorial Service Essex Scottish and The Kent Regiment. Contact can be made with
in Windsor’s Dieppe Gardens, Essex Scottish WWII Veteran, Regimental Major Greg Childs of The Essex and Kent Scottish by
Les Tetler (who was held P.O.W. following the Raid on Dieppe, emailing: [email protected].
49
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