HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-11-18, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Remembrance Day celebrated by most but painful for others
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
War veteran, Frank Phillips was
in the company of hundreds at Sea-
forth's cenotaph for the Remem-
brance Day ceremony. This year
was the first time the 92 -year-old
needed a walker to make his
appearance.
It was a picture perfect crowd
with several locals lined up in a
square formation with the pres-
ence of police, all in tribute to the
fallen soldiers. The special day
kicked off at 11 a.m., a specific
timed moment also recognized as
Armistice Day. It signifies the 1 lth
hour, of the 11th day, of the l lth
month when gunfire was finally
hushed after more than a four-year
bloody conflict among the allied
troops and Germany. At the cross-
ing junction of Victoria Street and
Gouinlock Street everyone hud-
dled around the massive cement
statue of a soldier holding a cross.
Beside the shrine was a pair of 2967
Brussels Army Cadet Corps
equipped with drill purpose rifles
standing and performing what's
known as sentry duty, a position
also referred to as the ceremonial
guard which is the same responsi-
bility Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was in
charge of in 2014 when he was
gunned down at the National War
Memorial on Parliament Hill. In
Seaforth, the only thing that could
be heard was coughs or sniffles.
"May our hearts be quieted by
this hour and that silence may we
hear you calling to us, to form a
world filled with peace and justice,"
in prayer one of the Legion mem-
bers spoke to the crowd.
The music played and the large
group of people displayed respect
while wreaths were secured in the
bright green grass one by one.
Standing in the swarm of Canadians
was born and raised Huron East res-
ident Frank Phillips, 2015 was not a
customary year for him. Closing in
on 100 years old, as his body is
wired differently than what it once
was when he was a young man.
"My old legs gave out, when you
get to be 92, everything gives," Phil-
lips told the Expositor at Seaforth's
Royal Canadian Legion.
While many were enjoying them-
selves with pints of beer or cold
sodas at the Legion, Philips sat con-
tent and drank a small glass of
orange juice. Directly behind the
experienced officer are Monacan
soldiers, glass cases filled with army
medals and other infantry keepsakes
all which he said were his craftwork.
"Everything, all the displays eve-
rything you see on the walls (are)
my work," stated Phillips after the
parade.
Laughing about his age Phillips
said that he is "a perfect example that
only the good die young." Being part
of one the most prolific wars, for
Phillips loss of life was a common
occurrence in the army. Especially
because he was enlisted overseas in
the Canadian Air Force for World
War II, a conflict which saw many
young casualties. After the first year
of j oining the army he would relocate
from the army to the aviation service,
where he would serve for three years.
These times were tough, the Seaforth
native said. Phillips and other flying
corps were sent abroad during the
height of the war, a mission that
would later take the lives of three of
Phillips's closest friends and subse-
quently lead to the discharge of Phil-
lips, who was a warrant officer at the
time. Reminiscing to 1943, two years
Locals watch the annual Remembrance
Day Parade presentation in Seaforth.
Cadets, Huron East Fire Department and Legion members lined up at the
Remembrance Day Parade.
Two cadets from the 2967 Brussels
Army Cadet Corps., performing sentry
duty on November 11.
before the war ended, every Remem-
brance Day brings back disturbing
memories for Philips he added.
"I hate it, you don't like to
remember your buddies that got
killed," Phillips said with a soft tone
to his voice.
For the president of the Royal
Canadian Legion in Seaforth, Pat
DeJong, this poppy -wearing day
brings back happy memories of his
father, who was also a veteran of
the Second World War.
"It makes me think of him
deeply," DeJong said.
DeJong is embarking in his 24th
year of participating in the Remem-
brance Day celebrations. He said
he plans on doing this for a long
time to come.
"I think it will last for years,
longer than I'm going to live, the
local branches may not, but this
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A Legion member places a wreath in
the ground at Seaforth's cenotaph to
display honour to the fallen soldiers
of war during the Remembrance Day
ceremonies.
will keep happening," DeJong said.
As the times change from gener-
ation to generation so does the
numbers of veterans. Similar to
Phillips, DeJong believes the num-
ber one reason why there are not as
many war heroes involved is pri-
marily because of age.
"(There are) a lot less vets sitting
here, 99 per cent can't march any-
more," clarified DeJong.
Michael Ramsay of Seaforth
said in a recent interview no mat-
ter what the case is with Remem-
brance Day that he's a `lifer: As
the sergeant of arms for the
parade, Ramsay yelled to direct
the marching group of mostly
military, with a loud booming
voice. His tone could be heard
from Main Street.
"You got to have a strong voice
Royal Canadian Legion members at the
Remembrance Day Parade in Seaforth.
because people have to learn how to
take command and they're not going
to take command from somebody
who's not going to be loud or have
enough authority in their voice."
Speaking of being able to take
part in the parade he said, " words
cannot describe it, it's just
amazing."
"I had brotherhood of the Cana-
dian Armed Forces, and brother-
hood of fire and EMS, but also now,
I have brotherhood of the Legion,"
Ramsay said.
According to the Government of
Canada website veterans.gc.ca
roughly 68,000 Canucks perished
in the First World War from 1914-
1918. In World War II approxi-
mately 47,000 Canadians gave their
lives. As of March this year, there
are 75,900 remaining Canadian
veterans with an average age of 91.
HURON
C 01)NTY
Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail
Open Houses
Members of the public are invited to attend the Goderich to Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail Open Houses.
These informal, drop-in sessions will provide an opportunity for discussion of the development of
the rail trail with the G2G Rail Trail working committee, G2G Rail Trail Inc. members, neighbours,
and elected officials. The proposed G2G trail is located on the former CP Rail lands, now owned
by the Province of Ontario and Leased by the G2G Rail Trail Inc. and other trail groups.
Two Open Houses are planned:
Thursday, November 26, 2015
From: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Perth East Recreation Complex (Banquet Hall)
40 Temperance Street, Milverton
Saturday, November 28, 2015
From: 2:OOpm to 4:00 pm
Blyth & District Community Centre (upper hall)
377 Gypsy Lane, Blyth
Information regarding the G2G trail will be avai able following these open houses
at these public libraries: Blyth; Goderich; Milverton and Monkton.
Further Contact: planning@huroncounty.ca OR planning@perthcounty.ca