A tribute to their service and sacrifice A Special Supplement to
The Free Press
Remembrance Day services
We will remember them.
B2
THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 10, 2016
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Remembrance Day Services Friday, November 11, 2016
Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 36, Fernie 10:40 am 10:55 am 11:00 am 11:45 am
Parade marches to Cenotaph Cenotaph Service 2 Minute Wave of Silence begins Parade forms up and marches back to Legion An Ecumenical service will follow in the Legion Hall
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #81, Sparwood 10:00 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 10:55 a.m.
Church Service, Senior Drop In Centre at 101 Pine Avenue Parade formation after service Cenotaph Ceremony, march back to the Senior Drop In Centre, hot chocolate for the participating youth. A hot meal at Michel-Natal Branch 81, 117 Centennial Square
Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 279, Elkford 10:00 am 10:45 am 11:00 am 11:30 am
Alliance Church Service Procession to Cenotaph at District of Elkford Office (816 Michel Road) Cenotaph Ceremony Refreshments at the Elkford Community Conference Centre
Red and white poppies
W
earing a red poppy for Remembrance Day on November 11 has been a tradition in this country for 90 years now. The white poppy, dating from 1933, has recently resurfaced, however. It is a way to remember the civilian victims of war. The two complement each other: the red for those who died for their country, the white for the hope of peace. Did you know that behind these poppy campaigns, both past and present, are some very committed women? The adoption of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance has international origins. The first person to use it in this way was Mrs. Moina Michael, a staff member of the American Overseas YMCA, during the last year of the First World War. In April 1920 she led a stirring campaign to have the poppy recognized as the official symbol of remembrance by the American Legion. At the same time, Mrs. Anna Guérin, from France, became an ardent defender of the poppy as the symbol that would help all citizens remember those who died in the war. The efforts of these two ladies were not in vain. The first “poppy day” was held on November 11, 1921, in France as well as in Commonwealth countries. Ninety years later, the poppy is still a reminder to us all. But we mustn’t forget that on November 11, 1933, the Women’s Cooperative Guild in the United Kingdom launched the white poppy campaign, symbolizing the will to work towards creating a world without violence, to resolve conflicts peacefully, and to remember civilian victims of war.
On Remembrance Day… We recognize the many sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform both today and throughout our nation’s history. We honour their courage and dedication, and we thank them for their contribution to our country.
Thank You, Veterans.
113 Red Cedar Drive, Sparwood 250-425-6489 * 792 2nd Avenue, Fernie 250-423-4607
Aaron Kozler
THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 10, 2016 B3
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Aaron joined the military in 2008. He completed one tour in Afghanistan in 2010. He is the son of Scott Kozler of Sparwood B.C. and Cheryl Oczkowski of Coleman AB.
Corporal Andy Hawkins
Master Corporal Jeff Rygaard
Service: 8 years Tour: Afghanistan, 1 tour, 8 months
Jeff Rygaard is a local Sparwood boy.
Jeff has been to Quebec, Vancouver, England, Ontario, Ottawa, and has done a tour in Afghanistan.
Harold Travis S.S.M. & Bar: C.D. & Bar: Harold Travis served from November 19, 1949 until July 11, 1972, plus seven years in the reserves. He started as an armourer, commissioned from ranks in 1952 and studied as a Navigator; he ceased training (released) and re-enlisted in 1955 as a flight engineer.
Bernie N. Kabel Bernie Kabel was born June 21, 1934 in McCreary, Manitoba. He enlisted November 1953 and Retired after 25 years on December 4, 1978 from PPCLI, Shilo Manitoba.
SMS Equipment
Remembers‌
Elkford: 250-865-4651
smsequip.com
Open regular hours on Remembrance Day Open: Sunday - Saturday • 8am - 10pm
Highway 3, Fernie 250-423-7387
B4
THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 10, 2016
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Remembering Fernie’s Fallen Airmen
Flight Sergeant Aloysius William “Bill” Klauer from Fernie was an Air Gunner, son of Adam and Sarah Klauer of Fernie, killed at the age of 29 on May 4, 1943. He was serving with #22 Operational Training Unit, preparing for combat service, flying in a Wellington bomber which stalled and crashed while making a turn. The entire crew of six perished in the crash. FSgt Klauer left behind his wife, Catherine, and is buried in the Stratford-on-Avon Cemetery in Warwickshire, England, where 97 of 179 Second World War graves are of Canadian airmen. FSgt Klauer is named on Mount Klauer north of Fernie and on Mount Klauer Street in the city.
By John Chalmers
O
n the war memorial in front of the Court House in Fernie are the names of all the young men from Fernie who gave their lives in service to Canada during three wars. Named are 93 who fell in the First World War, 20 who lost their lives in the Second World War, and one who fell in the Korean War. During the First World War, Canada had no air force of its own, but over 900 Canadians served with the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) of the United Kingdom. On April 1, 1918 the RNAS combined with the Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force. Following the war, the Canadian Air Force was formed in 1920, and on April 1, 1924, it became the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
Another Fernie son, Pilot Officer James Robert McLean, was a navigator killed while serving with #111 Operational Training Unit at Nassau, Bahamas, on April 21, 1943 at the age of 21. He and his pilot lost their lives when their B-25 Mitchell bomber crashed in the Bahamas. P/O McLean has no known grave. He is named on the Ottawa Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario. Mount McLean, and Mt. McLean Street in Fernie bear his name.
Although all those 114 young men who made Fernie their home lost their lives in three wars, as the Historian for Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame, I wondered how many of the 20 men named for the Second World War served in the RCAF. My research began in a book of 892 pages called They Grew Not Old. It was published by the Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum at Brandon, Manitoba. Along with 128 more pages in two later supplements, all RCAF personnel are listed who fell during the Second World War. The internet and other sources helped provide information about six of the 20 named who served with the RCAF.
Flight Sergeant Alexander Swiderski, also a Fernie native, was a Wireless Operator Air Gunner killed in action at the age of 20 on June 12, 1942. He and all crew were lost when their Wellington bomber of Royal Air Force No. 9 Squadron failed to return after night operations. FSgt Swiderski has no known grave, but is named on the Runnymede War Memorial in Surrey, England, the Ottawa Memorial and on Mount Swiderski, north of Fernie.
Those six served in air crew and would have taken their training at various air stations of the British Commonwealth Air Dean Jerome “Butch” Washburn was the Fernie’s war memorial is topped with the statue of a soldier in remembrance of all 114 Training Plan at locations in Canada. Not all son of Lenox and Teresa Washburn of men from Fernie who lost their lives in three wars. Photo Free Press files six were killed in battle. Three lost their lives Fernie. A pilot, he held the rank of Flying in accidents. Four are buried with military Officer and flew with RCAF 438 Squadron England. He died at the age of 30 and left behind a wife and headstones marking their graves. Two have when he was killed on December 24, 1944 at the age of 21. three young children in Fernie. Mount Frayn near Fernie no known graves, but are remembered in other ways. The F/O Washburn was diving and firing at an enemy vehicle young men are named on the Fernie war memorial, on bears his name. from under 1,000 feet when his Typhoon fighter-bomber the internet, in some cases on the names of mountains in James Howell, son of Charles and Sarah Howell of aircraft was hit by flak. It went into a spin and crashed near British Columbia and on street names in Fernie. They are Vancouver BC, was killed in action on February 20, 1944, Schmidtheim, Germany. F/O Washburn is buried in the War also remembered on military monuments in Canada and at age 23 while serving with RCAF 431 Squadron on a Cemetery, Hotton, Luxembourg, Belgium. Washburn Street England, and at cemeteries in England and Europe. Halifax bomber operation to Leipzig, Germany. A pilot in Fernie bears his name, as does Mount Washburn, north Richard Paul Frayn (misspelled as Frayne on the Fernie with the rank of Pilot Officer, he is buried in the Berlin of Fernie. monument) was born in Gettysburg, South Dakota. A pilot War Cemetery at Charlottenburg, Germany. His squadron In Fernie, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, the statue with the rank of Flying Officer, he was killed in a night first flew Wellington, then Halifax and Lancaster bombers. of a soldier atop the city’s war memorial honours the 114 cross-country flying exercise on January 8, 1943 when the Reformed as a fighter squadron in 1954, it is known today sons of Fernie who are named on the monument. They crew’s Airspeed Oxford aircraft crashed in England. Two as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, now based in Moose served on the sea, on the land and in the air -- remembered other crew, not Canadians, were also killed in the crash. F/O Jaw and better known as Canada’s famous aerobatic team, in perpetuity. We must not forget. Frayn is buried in the Cirencester Cemetery, Gloustershire, the Snowbirds.
City Hall 501-3rd Ave., Box 190 Fernie, BC V0B 1M0 www.fernie.ca
A Day to Remember The City of Fernie honours our veterans and thanks those who have served and continue to serve.
We Will Remember Them Hosmer Volunteer Fire Department
REMEMBRANCE DAY
THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 10, 2016 B5
Remembrance Day in The Elk Valley Elkford
Fernie
Sparwood
In Remembrance
Leroux Clinic
741B 2nd Ave, Fernie, BC (250) 423-4661 www.salvationarmy.ca
We t s e L et g r o F
Honouring our Veterans
250-425-0853 Open Mon.-Fri. 10-4 pm and Sat. 10-2 pm
ELK VALLEY THRIFT SHOP SOCIETY
Thrifting at its finest!
B6
REMEMBRANCE DAY
THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 10, 2016
I Remember by Ken C. Carlson, Capt. Retd.
A
s I look at the veterans on Remembrance Day I think of all my friends who have passed away And I remember.
I think of the lessons in school, on World War One And how much misery and damage was done And I remember. World War Two introduced new ways to be scared Bombs rained down and no city was spared. As I remember.
North Africa, Italy, Sicily, Turkey, Egypt and Greece In the 1940s these countries knew no peace. And I remember. All countries in Europe were involved in the fray And millions of Jews had their lives taken away As I remember.
An atomic bomb’s destruction caused the war to cease But failed to bring any long lasting peace. That I remember. War in Korea was not soon enough resolved And many other countries became involved. This I remember.
Viet Nam was then engulfed in a communist revolution Which engaged other countries with no solution That I remember.
Peacekeeping missions followed by Iraq Brought wartime memories hauntingly back These I remember.
All these wars were fought to bring peace and goodwill And none of them managed to fill the bill As I remember. I look around at the dwindling numbers of vets And realize that although youth forgets I still remember. Wars come and go, but there are no winners Good men die along with the sinners And I remember. Peace is so pleasant, but war is hell A lesson I hope we have all learned well Because I remember.
Please avoid starting another war at any cost Think of the past, how many lives were lost And please Remember!
When you attend on Remembrance Day next year Look for me among the vets, and if I’m not here I ask you, please remember.
For Your SACRIFICE For Our FREEDOM
REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE
THANK YOU!
Fernie, BC
10:40 am 10:55 am 11:00 am 11:45 am
Parade marches to Cenotaph Cenotaph Service 2 Minute Wave of Silence begins Parade forms up and marches back to Legion
An Ecumenical service will follow in the Legion Hall
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we shall remember them. Lest we forgot.
Phone: 250-423-7944 891 4th Ave, Fernie BC
Email: cmfs@shaw.ca www.cherishedmemoriesfs.com
Cherished Memories
Funeral Services Ltd. & Cherished Memories Crematorium Ltd.
THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 10, 2016 B7
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Sharing A Lasting Legacy Submitted
P
eople often can’t help but smile when they see six-year-old Kamryn Bond lay a wreath with her friend, Shannon Krasowski, 40, at their local Remembrance Day ceremony. Although an unlikely pair, they are both amputees and are part of a legacy that goes back nearly 100 years. Kamryn is a member, and Shannon a graduate, of The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program. It was war amputee veterans who created The War Amps in 1918, its Key Tag Service in 1946, and later, the CHAMP Program. Since 1975, thousands of child amputees across Canada have received financial assistance for their artificial limbs through CHAMP, and attended regional seminars where they Kamryn and Shannon laying a wreath on learn about growing up as an amputee. behalf of The War Amps. Photo submitted When Kamryn was 11 months old, both of her legs, right hand, and several fingers on her left hand, were amputated due to a respiratory illness. Shannon’s left leg was amputated when she was 13 years old due to bone cancer. They met three years ago at their local Remembrance Day ceremony. That year, Kamryn watched Shannon lay a wreath on behalf of The War Amps Operation Legacy, but ever since, it has been a tradition they share. While growing up as a Champ, Shannon met many war amputee veterans and heard their firsthand accounts of the devastation of war. “They passed this legacy to us younger amputees and now it’s our turn to share their stories, so that we never forget their sacrifices,” she says. Although Kamryn is still quite young, her mom, Dale, says it is important for her daughter to lay a wreath on Remembrance Day. “It builds the foundation for her to understand how much our war veterans gave up for our freedom.” Dale adds, “We will always be appreciative of the work of the war amputee veterans and the message they have left for young amputees like Kamryn to carry into the future. It is for this reason that she lays a wreath every year in their honour, and will do so for many years to come.”
Remembrance Day Services Friday, November 11
Come out and honour our veterans Sparwood, BC
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #81 10:00 a.m. Church Service, Seniors drop-in centre at 101 Pine Avenue 10:45 a.m. Parade formation after service 10:55 a.m. Cenotaph Ceremony, march back to the seniors drop-in centre, hot chocolate for the participating youth. A hot meal at Michel-Natal Branch 81, 117 Centennial Square.
To our Veterans We salute you.
1791 9 Ave, Fernie, BC V0B 1M5 Phone: (250) 423-4222
A day to remember... Thank you to those who sacrificed for our freedom.
www.fernieford.ca
In association with Legacy Auto Group
3
Locations to Serve You Better!
Fernie Ford 6165 Brenners Road, FERNIE 250-423-9211
Legacy Fleet Services 641 Sparwood Drive, SPARWOOD 778-518-5006
Fernie Ford 15 Bear Paw Crescent, ELKFORD 250-423-9211
B8
REMEMBRANCE DAY
THE FREE PRESS Thursday, November 10, 2016
Determination prevails for the courageous By John Kinnear
A
few years back, in Calgary, I found myself at a highland dancing competition my daughter was competing in. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to watch live highland dance let me just say it is a marvelous event. Girls of every age dressed in tartan and smart looking velvet vests dance the Highland fling, the Lilt and even the Irish jig. On stage at one point that day were a half dozen four to six-year-olds attempting to make it through a very complicated routine known as the sword dance. Part way through the routine a five-year-old accidentally kicked her sword out of place which automatically disqualified her. As a disappointed murmur ran through the crowd in the theatre, she stepped back from her swords, dropped her head and began to cry. Her disappointment held us
all in her grip for a few tense moments. Then an amazing thing happened. This determined little girl, who had practiced so hard, stiffened, raised her head, straightened her swords and proceeded to finish her routine, despite her disqualification. It made tears of pride well up in many eyes that day to see this youngster show such courage, conviction and grace. A few years later at a Remembrance Day ceremony as I stood at the iconic Fernie cenotaph trying to imagine what courage and conviction it took to have gone overseas to fight for freedom, another wonderful parallel event unfolded before me. A young piper-in-training marched to the front of the cenotaph at his appointed time in the ceremony, shouldered his pipes and began playing Amazing Grace. Part way through the
song, he faltered, hesitated and then dropped his head in disappointment, apologized and promptly marched away. The ceremony continued with the wreath laying, a chorus of God Save the Queen and eventually Bob Clegg, Legion Sergeant-atArms, barked at the official groups to march from the grounds. “Colour party left wheel.” As I watched the last of the crowd dissipate on this always crisp November day, from out of nowhere the piper reappeared. He marched to the front of the soldier’s monument, shouldered his pipes once again and with a determination that once again made tears well up in my eyes, played Amazing Grace accurately from start to finish. So there it was again. Those wonderful human qualities had surfaced in front of me on such an appropriate occasion. It is in all of us to do what
has to be done. To show the courage, conviction and grace to finish any important job we start, be it a dance, a
song or fighting for freedom. “John Kinnear was a columnist for the The Free Press from 1995 to 2005. He
informed us that this is the first piece he ever wrote for a newspaper.”
A flower, a poem, a campaign
R
emembrance Day on November 11 commemorates the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year 1918. This is when the Armistice was signed and is also the date marking the official end of the First World War. To commemorate this day, you are invited to participate in the annual Poppy Campaign, the Royal Canadian Legion’s main source of fundraising, which allows this organization to continue its work with veterans in need. Nowadays, Remembrance Day includes all wars that have occurred since the Great War. Indeed, there has not been a single day since 1918 that has not been marked by a war or armed conflict somewhere on this planet. So, to put an end to all wars, people across the country wear poppies in their lapels and decorate war memorials with wreaths and bunches of poppies on November 11. Why poppies? Because this red flower recalls the famous poem “In Flanders Fields”, written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae during the First World War. This is the most frequently read and quoted poem about war. It is the mention of poppies in the first and last verses that has turned this flower into an emblem of remembrance and a symbol of new growth in the devastation left by war. We must all remember the terrible toll wrought by the First World War: the death of 16.5 million people, including 9.7 million military personnel. The Second World War, the bloodiest conflict in our history, saw the deaths of 60 million one third of which were military personnel. Please visit www.veterans.gc.ca for more information about the Remembrance Day campaign.
Western FINANCIAL GROUP
Lest We Forget
Elkford Remembrance Day Service 10:00 am 10:45 am 11:00 am 11:30 am
Alliance Church Service Procession to Cenotaph at District of Elkford Office (816 Michel Road) Cenotaph Ceremony Refreshments at the Elkford Community Conference Centre
We will remember them