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Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Local man and family participating in “In Our Father’s Footsteps” pilgrimage By Ron Giofu An Amherstburg man and two of his children are retracing his father’s footsteps during World War II. Edward Parsons served with the 2nd Canadian Corps in the 6th Light AntiAircraft Division and helped guard the Nijmegen bridge during the liberation of Holland. In the 75th anniversary of that anniversary, his son Brent, granddaughter Sarah of Leamington and grandson Jeremy of Hamilton will be part of the “In Our Father’s Footsteps” trip that is planned for April 29-May 11. The trip is described by the official website www.inourfathersfootsteps. com as “a not-for-profit, Caminoinspired pilgrimage for the Canadian descendants of WWII veterans of the Liberation of The Netherlands.” They will be walking 20 kilometres a day for three straight days with a free day also allowing the Parsons family to do their own exploring, which will include visiting cemeteries and museums. “I’ve been out walking every day to build up my stamina,” said Brent. “The Dutch are really thankful to Canadians.
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We’ll be celebrating with the Dutch and it should be an amazing experience.” The Parsons family will be among the 200 or so people from across Canada going on the trip. Brent said Jeremy presented the option when the family was in Amherstburg for Christmas. “It will be a great bonding time for us,” said Brent. “I’m excited. It really honours my dad and helps me understand what he went through and where he was.” Brent said he was in Holland ten years ago but this will be the first time there for Jeremy and Sarah. He said his dad, who died in 2002, didn’t talk much about his war experiences but recalled a story of the power of their gun once knocking him out of a tree after it had been fired. Brent said the gun Edward was stationed with was similar to the one currently outside of Royal Canadian Legion Br. 157. “He was very quiet about it,” said Brent, of his father’s war experiences. His mother Monica, a.k.a. “Pam,” was a war bride who Edward met while on leave in England. They married and returned to Canada, settling in Smiths Falls, Ontario though some members of the family found their way south. Some
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RTT PHOTO BY RON GIOFU
Brent Parsons holds pictures of his father Edward when he fought in World War II, with one of the photos also including his mother Monica. Parsons, as well as son Jeremy and daughter Sarah, will be going to the Netherlands as part of the “In Our Father’s Footsteps” project. Canadians helped liberate that nation during World War II. of his children have really embraced history, including being reenactors at Fort Malden National Historic Site. His 95-year-old mother still lives in
Richmond Terrace Long-Term Care Home in Amherstburg. “I’m so glad my children have gotten involved in history,” he said.
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