Remembrance Day

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COUNTRY'S HEROES

Students place handmade crosses to honour those who served

MINA KERR LAZENBY mkerrlazenby@nsnews com/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Anyone under the assumption that adolescents are an uninformed bunch lacking respect and compassion would have done well to visit West Vancouver’s Capilano View Cemetery on Thursday morning.

Among the gravestones and beneath the raindrops there was a coterie of pon cho wearing teenagers, not vandalizing or imbibing, but placing small, white crosses atop the graves of veterans Joined by their principal, the dozen strong group were West Vancouver Secondary students, there to honour the sacrifice made by Canadian war veterans It is the fifth year the school has worked alongside the West Vancouver branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, to assemble more than

1,000 small wooden crosses and plant them in graves in advance of the cemetery’s Remembrance Day service

“It feels good to be doing something like this, and to do it with a community of people that also understands and respects the sacrifices that were made during the war,” said Miya Earland, a 17 year old student volunteering her efforts for the second year in a row.

For Earland, dates printed above epitaphs brought on fresh perspective: Many of those who fought in the war had been teenagers just like herself She said it made her realize just how lucky her generation is, to never have to fight or face such adversity

“This whole thing brings a mixture of feelings really It is sad, because you read the gravestones and see how young some of these people were, but it’s heartwarming as well, to know that you are making their fami lies happy during a really hard time ”

The planting of the crosses piqued the interest of mourners and bystanders close by One elderly onlooker delayed laying flowers on his departed wife’s grave to give a heartfelt thanks to the students. He told them he had served himself, and was a refugee who had moved to Canada to flee war. Their small act of kindness meant the world to men like him, he said. In the end, the multi genera tional group, bonded by the micro moment of

connection, laid the bouquet together

Similar scenes will likely occur on Friday, when Remembrance Day services are hosted throughout the region A local event organised by West Vancouver’s Branch #60 of the Royal Canadian Legion will see air force cadets and legion members parade through Marine Drive, before proceeding

to the cenotaph at Memorial Park, where a ceremony is held

Dal McCrindle, chaplain and service officer of the legion branch, organizes the service each year and has witnessed many students past and present pay their respects He said the service is a stark reminder of just

Miya, Ariel and Maria of West Vancouver Secondary planted white crosses at veterans’ graves for Remembrance Day WEST VANCOUVER SECONDARY SCHOOL

It feels good to be doing something like this, and to do it with a community of people that also understands and respects the sacrifices that were made during the war.

17YEAR OLD STUDENT MIYA EARLAND

Personalized plaques will be placed on graves of veterans

how many young men from West Vancouver served, and were able to return home to enjoy the peaceful world that they had helped protect.

Young people taking the time and effort to add the crosses “shows family and friends of veterans that the community has not forgotten the service given by their relatives,” he said

McCrindle, like countless other veterans and legion members, will be attending school observances in the week leading up to the service and Remembrance Day itself. There is much going on, with assemblies, talks, announcements and collection sup port for the Legion at schools through out North and West Vancouver

but that doesn’t mean that that is impossi ble,” she said.

“Learning about that, and learning the history of wars that have occurred before, is the best way to prevent it from happening here at home ”

While Andrusco Daon admits some of her contemporaries would “turn their noses up” at the prospect of visiting a cemetery in the rain to plant crosses for strangers who have long gone, she offers assurances that, for the most part, teenagers are interested and empathetic and eager to learn

Since McCrindle has been chaplain he has seen the attendance at the Memorial Arch increase every year In that crowd, he said, he has seen more and more young people attend

On Wednesday, Grade 4 and 5 students from Lynnmour Elementary will be placing hand made personalized plaques on veter ans’ graves in the North Vancouver Cemetery The young pupils embarked on a cemetery field trip last year, said class teacher Paul Best, and felt compelled to create markers after noticing the large number of unmarked or dishevelled stones

aware of the concept of war, but most were unsure of the finer details before, he said Now all are eager for further education

wish was more talked about earlier on in high school, not just in the later years,” she said

TEACHER PAUL BEST

For some students the connection to war is through family members, making both education and empathy easier to access One of Best’s students joins her dad in attending Remembrance Day services annually, in homage to her great grandfather who died in the Second World War Earland’s great grandma had been a nurse during the Second World War She suffered a shattered right ear and jawbone following a bomb attack, and those injuries that remained for the rest of her life would serve as a reminder to the West Vancouver student of the physical and emotional toll of war.

So how do we go about explaining the significance of war education to those who remain in the dark? Fellow classmate and cross planter Ariel Andrusco Daon suggests her generation look to the ongoing conflict in other countries, including the war ravaging Ukraine and the deadly protests in Iran “There are all of these things happening and all these wars going on around the world, and we’re lucky that they are not happening here,

The evidence against the notion is abundant, but those who still believe that adolescents are an uniformed bunch lacking respect and compassion would do well to visit Remembrance Day services this Friday Among the white crosses and the crowds paying their respects will likely be a number of teenagers and young adults Chat with them, their ears are open and they’re ready to learn

Mina Kerr Lazenby is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative

Students had researched the cemetery’s online interactive plot map to find who the graves belonged to, had verified the names online and checked the Canadian Government Library and Archives Canada website for any personnel records In some cases, Best said, the only information they could find was the person’s name and the date they were interned

“Remembrance Day is now much more important to my students because they have done something to make these veterans be remembered,” he said His students were

But for teenagers who have no famil ial ties, war can seem a foreign concept When there is schoolwork and climate change as well as body image to stress over, Remembrance Day activities and war educa tion can feel like tilting at windmills

“For most people our age, war seems like something far away,” said 16 year old West Vancouver Secondary student Maria Clara Rocha, whose attendance on Thursday had been her first introduction to the school’s event.

“There aren’t many people that have fur ther awareness of it, and it’s something that I

Plaques made by students at Lynnmour Elementary. PAUL BEST

Remembrance Day is now much more important to my students because they have done something to make these veterans be remembered.

White crosses with red poppies dot the grass at Capilano View Cemetery in West Vancouver. MINA KERR LAZENBY / NSN

OUR COUNTRY’S HEROES

Lawrence Ovid (Smitty) Allard

Juanita Almazan US Armed Forces

1916 1994 Born in Sardis, BC Served 1939 45 Canadian Army Descendant of Ovid Allard of Hudsons Bay Co Loved his “maple leaf forever” Was/is loved with much affection by his niece Naydeen.

Felix Almazan Jr. Entered the US Navy at the age 17. He was stationed in San Diego before serving in Japan.

Oliver Ange WWII Veteran Canadian Army Infantry

Edward Ange WW II Vet. Motorcycle Dispatcher. Killed in Action.

Thomas N. Almojuela Now serving with the US Embassy in Monte Visio, Uruguay A ’66 grad of the US Military Academy Senior Army Aviator is 22 year veteran Awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and other citations

Jonathan Wilkinson Member of Parliament, North Vancouver

REMEMBRANCE DAYEVENTS ON THE NORTH SHORE 2022

Victoria Park

10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

731 Lonsdale Ave.

North Vancouver

The ceremony will take place at the cenotaph in Victoria Park, followed by the traditional veterans’ parade This year ’ s ceremony will include remembrance of the military service members who lost their lives in the raid of Dieppe, as 2022 marks the 80th anniversary of that tragic day.

Lynn Valley Legion

Starts at 10:30 a.m.

1630 Lynn Valley Road

North Vancouver

As in the past three years, the Lynn Valley Legion will be holding a small, intimate Remembrance Day ceremony and wreath laying at their branch. The Legion welcomes all members

of the public to join them in the morning and throughout the day. There will be several entertainment offerings in the afternoon, including a harpist, a jazz band and the JP Fell Pipe band. A Steamworks food truck will be on site from 4 p m. to 8 p m. The Lynn Valley Legion is family friendly until 8 p m. The legion encourages all neighbours to come by and visit

West Vancouver

Starts at 10:45 a.m. 1950 Marine Dr. Members of the public are invited to attend the Remembrance Day parade and ceremony in West Vancouver The parade will start on Marine Drive at 18th Street and proceed to the cenotaph at Memorial Park, located between 19th Street and 20th Street, where the ceremony will be held

Pilot Officer

J Alex Chisamore Sept 1943 3 Feb 1945 (KIA) Mid Upper Gunner RCAF 426 Thunderbird Sqn, UK

Albert Carnelley Brook Flight Lieutenant Albert Carnelley Brook, Distinguished Flying Cross Served RCAF as Navigator based in England World War II Died, Winnipeg January 26, 2010, age 93

Sgt. William (Bill) Cathcart

Born Winnipeg 1900; died in North Vancouver 1973 Served as a Bugle Boy 1915 1917 and with Regina Rifles Regiment 1939 1945 (England & Europe) Enlisted with 7 brothers and 1 sister (aka the Fighting Cathcarts)

Tom Robert George Cole III

Born in 1936, NV, BC Joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in January 1954 Retired in 1975 Tom was stationed in Sea Island, Downsview, ON, Germany and Cold Lake Al Now resides in French Kwen, ON

Thomas Cole Served in France, Belgium & Holland Taken prisoner in ‘44, 10 miles from Ni jmegan. Eventually delivered to Poland where he remained a POW until liber ated by the Russian army Received 4 medals and was discharged in 1945

Spr. – Cpl. MHR (Bob) Chisamore May 1943 7 Apr 1945 (KIA) 2 DD RCE R Winn Rifles UK, France, Holland

Volunteered

WW1 Royal Army RASC/England

L/Cpl John Vernon Darney

WW2 Canadian Army/RCCS Died: 1977

Forever missed, forever loved Rest In Peace, Dear Dad

Pte. John Vernon Darney

Pascal Cortez Joined the Canadian Army at age 27 in 1942 and was discharged in 1945

James Daniels WW I Vet Joined the Army when he was only 15 years old and was not honest about his age.

Fred Downer WWII WW II

Buzz Downer WWII Buzz Downer WW II

Reginald Dominick

at age 21 in 1941 He served with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps in England, France and Holland Reginald was killed in the line of duty in Holland in 1945

Lesley Midzain

Peter Bonny

Killed

Killed

Art Eggros US Army

John Driscoll aka James John, a soldier with the Australian Imperial Force was killed in action on May 3, 1917, at the Battle of Bullecourt, Pas de Calais, France John served as a soldier at Gallipoli in 1915 before sailing to France via Egypt John was the cousin of the late Patricia McMahon of North Vancouver

Harry Pascoe Duplissie 1885 1917

in action in WWI and buried in France He said, unless he offered his services to his country he could not occupy the same place in his community With Love and Respect, Norm Duplissie

Harry Pascal Duplissie 1885 1917

in action in WWI and buried in France He said, unless he offered his services to his country he could not occupy the same place in his community With Love and Respect, Norm Duplissie

Henry Downer WWII WW II.

Cpl Maurice Duruisseau

Served in World War II with Royal Canadian Engineers 9th Field Squadron Killed in action in Germany on April 20, 1945

John Downer WWII WW II.

Beverly Guerin WW II VetBeverly Guerin WW II Vet

Roy Jones Joined the RCAF in WW2, later serving in the tank corps Born & lived in North Vancouver; he left us July 21, 2003

Peter Garcia Canadian Army

Cpl. George Heyes

Served with the Canadian Army during World War One Wounded during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in Pas de Calais, France, April 1917 Member of the Seaforth Highlanders

Harvey Gonzales Joined US Army at age 18 in 1940 Served with the 101st Airborne Divi sion in England, France, Italy and Bel gium Harvey started out as a Medic, then retrained as a Paratrooper in England He participated in the Battle of the Bulge Discharged in 1947

Edward “Jock” James Joined the Canadian Army at age 18 in 1944 He took basic training in Saskatchewan, then switched over to the Medical Corps Jock was discharged in 1946

Domingo Gonzales WW II Vet Canadian Army 1st Battalion

Larry Jack Volunteered in ’39, age 29 Served with the Westminster Regiment in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, North Africa & Italy Received 6 medals Served with the 5th Canadian Division, under the 8th British Army

Served

Born in Cartwright, MB, 30 May 1921; enlisted in the RAF in 1940 Twice decorated: Distinguished Flying Medal [RAF] Libya, Middle East; Air Force Cross [RCAF] Nova Scotia, Canada Married Agnes; had five children; lived in West Van for over 30 years; died in 2001

Served two years

Volunteered in ’42 age 22 with the Algonquin Regiment in England, Belgium, France and Germany Was stretcher bearer in Medical Corps when wounded & his buddies killed Later recalled a dream his friends were calling him to go with them

Willy Kelly Canadian Army

Roman Clark Joseph

Late Master Corporal 'Jo Jo' 'Roboy' 'Romes' August 25, 1968 October 11, 2018

Jack Kelly WW II Vet (Kelly Boys)

Private Arthur Gordon Jorgensen

Served in B C 's 29th Battalion Died August 11, 1916 in action Buried in Belgium Had immigrated from London, England prior to WWI Enlisted age 33 in Vancouver

Paddy Kelly Canadian Army

Nadine Joseph

After leaving St Paul’s Residential School she volunteered at age 18 in 1941 to serve with the Canadian Women’s Corps She trained in Vermillion, Alberta She was stationed in Victoria until 1945

Lieutenant Francis C. McMahon He served as a railway engineer with the 8th Battalion Canadian Railway Troops in 1917 in Belgium Lieutenant McMahon passed away in October 1964 at the age of 85

James P. Nahanee

Served in England, France, Belgium & Holland Medals awarded: Cdn Voluntary Service Medal, Civil ian Medal, Cdn Centennial Medal (’67), Outstanding Service Medal in organization work among the Native Indian Communities in BC

Sammy Lewis

in France, Germany, Italy and Holland He was active in the “D” Day Invasion and was awarded 5 medals Wounded in ’44 Pretended to be dead while Nazi’s ripped off his dog tags and went through his pockets Crawled back to Allied lines, his only ID was his Cdn uniform

Stanley John Kernaghan

Donald Moody

Edward Fred Marsden 1893-1984

with the Winnipeg Rifles’ “Little Devil Regiment” in France during WWI. Missing you still, grandpa.

Anchil “Ducky” Mack

Volunteered at age 40 on Dec 6, 1941 He was trained in small arms and demolitions, but served with the Canadian Forestry Corps in Glasgow. The C.F.C. produced railway ties

Edward Nahanee

PVT 1st Class, 334th Infantry

Volunteered ’42 at 20, served with the American 9th Army in Europe Received Bronze Star in ’44, Silver Star and the Purple Heart Fought in Battle of the Bulge, killed in action in Holland, February 28, 1945

Henry F. Lopez US Army Mid 1960’s, 4 Years of Service

John Rutherford Lakes

Born on Jan 14, 1924 and died on May 3, 2003 Joined the Canadian Army in 1943, serving in the South Alberta Regiment, Fourth Canadian Armoured Division, until wounded on April 2nd, 1945, losing his left leg Thank you for your sacrifice

Joseph Moody

Volunteered at age 27 in 1941 He served in Canada, The United Kingdom and Europe He was discharged in Vancouver in 1946

Royal Addison Marsden Served with the Canadian Army in France during WWI. Killed in action May 20, 1917

Carole Newman

Carole Newman

Enlisted at 17 Assigned to Germany with NATO Forces Transferred in ’67 to Edmonton, then to Cyprus in ’68 for 6 months Stationed in Calgary from ’68 ’74 Back to Cyprus in ’71

Enlisted at 17. Assigned to Germany with NATO Forces. Transferred in ’67 to Edmonton, then to Cyprus in ’68 for 6 months. Stationed in Calgary from ’68-’74. Back to Cyprus in ’71.

Trained on navy ships Disharged in ’74 Received the Cyprus Medal

Trained on navy ships. Discharged in ’74. Received the Cyprus Medal.

Joined Canadian Navy in January ’57

Basic training, CFB Cornwallis NS, then Esquimalt for medical training for nursing Worked at military hosp in Esquimalt, then transferred to HMS Stadacona military hosp , Halifax Served in the military for 2 years

Joined Canadian Navy in January ’57 Basic training, CFB Cornwallis NS, then Esquimalt for medical training for nursing Worked at military hosp in Esquimalt, then transferred to HMS Stadacona military hosp , Halifax Served in the military for 2 years

WWI Vet. 37th Battalion C.E.F

Born: 1866. Died: April 3, 1929.

George Newman

George Newman

Volunteered at age 17 in 1914 He became a Machine Gunner Served in France & Germany for four years

Volunteered at age 17 in 1914. He became a Machine Gunner Served in France & Germany for four years.

Albert Newman

WWI Vet Albert Newman WW I Vet. 1899-1923

Robert Nahanee

Robert Nahanee

Charles Newman

Andy Natrall

Private 826846 B.C Bantams. Andy volunteered at age 18 in 1917. He trained as a sniper/gunner and his accuracy was 90 percent.

Fred Stokes

North Vancouver resident proudly served in the Second World War and was the last living member of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion in this area Long standing legion member of Branch #8 Bornewest and Branch #118 North Vancouver Died in February 2018 at age 93

Isabelle Garcia Phillips WWII Vet Canadian Army

Cpl. Willard Pat

Joined the US Marine Corp in 1989 Willard did his basic training at Camp Pendleton, CA He Served at 29 Palms, CA In 1991 he served 88 days in the 1st Gulf War and was discharged in March of 1993

Peter Rivers

Volunteered at age 33 in 1943 with the Royal Canadian Air Force He arrived in Liverpool on Jan 17, 1945, on the SS Mauritania. In the early morning hours he heard the bombing of V 2 rockets in the distance. Peter served in England for 20 months

Flight Sgt. Fred Rannard Sr. Enlisted in Lethbridge AB. Flew with the RCAF during World War II, over the Pacific, as a wireless air gunner Passed away September 9, 2015 at the age of 92

Robert Paull Joined the US Army in 1987 Undertook basic training at Fort Knox, Texas Served in Scheinsurt, Germany and Fort Hood, Texas, Saudi Arabia (six months during Desert Storm). Discharged in 1991.

Sgt Rochford Underhill

Served in the RAF as a Link Trainer during World War II, 1940 to 1946 Lived to the ripe old age of 95 What a life!

Jamie Thomas

Enlisted with US Marine Corps in 1986 Stationed in Camp Lejeune N Carolina, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Div where he was a TOW Gunner 3 months in Panama Medals Good Conduct & Rifle Expert Honourable discharge in September 1990

Lorne Thomas WWII Vet Canadian Army

Jessie (Millar) Swail

Jessie Millar served in the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (the “Wrens”) during WWII, serving at naval base HMCS Protector in Sydney, NS and at naval headquarters HMCS Ottawa in ON With gratitude for serving your country, the Swail family

William R. “Sam” Thomas Served with Sherbrooke Fusiliers, 27th Ar mored Div in France, Holland & Germany Received the Croix de Guerre w/ Crimson Star in ’47 “For exceptional service rendered during the war for the liberation of France”The medal was the highest military award for Gallantry in Action

The Fighting Cathcarts All eight brothers and one sister served active duty in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1939 1945

Left to right in picture: Bill, Dave, Red, Gene, Margaret, Ed, Bob, Tom, & Bert Cathcart

Thomas Williams

Volunteered in ’42, at 20 w/ the Royal Highland Regiment of Canada in England, France, Holland and Italy Wounded carrying a message across front lines Slept for 3 days, awoke with scars on hip where doctors re moved shrapnel Received 7 medals

SQDN LDR G Peter Vickers, DFC RCAF no 107 SQDN Reported missing Aug 13, 1944 on 3rd tour of operations Survived by sisters Babe Wild & Joan Elliott and their families

David F. Valencia US Army Corps 1980 1986

Private Norman Walker Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Killed in action in Valguarnera, Sicily 18 July 1943, Age 26 Laid to rest in Agira Canadian War Cemetery, Agira, Sicily R I P dear Uncle Norman

Private Albert Walker WW1 Canadian Expeditionary Force Canadian Railway Troops Served in France Died: 1972 Forever Missed, Forever Loved Rest In Peace, Dear Grandad

Matthew G. Valencia US Navy 1998 2004 USS Constellation