HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-10-03, Page 3636
Times–Advocate
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Restoring the history of medals
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
ZURICH — "Medals should always look like the
person is coming back to wear them," says
Patrick Armstrong of Zurich, who runs Heritage
Medal Service which is dedicated to the proper
mounting, wearing and presentation of all
Commonwealth honours and their correct family
history.
Armstrong, age 32, grew up in Sarnia and was
twice a member of the Canadian Forces, joining
the 1st Canadian Hussar Reserve armoured unit
in 1992 for two years before joining again in
1997 with the Canadian Navy where he served
until 2002.
After his service, Armstrong joined the Ontario
Provincial Police and was posted to the Huron
County detachment.
When Armstrong tried to have his medals
court -mounted and found the cost would be $22
a medal, he thought there had to be a better way
and decided to start doing it himself.
He says he has been doing it for three and a
half years and recently had his company regis-
tered.
Armstrong said his business has all been word
of mouth and he started out with the help of the
Goderich Legion who let him use some of their
medals to practice with.
He has rigid rules for the work and won't
mount store-bought medals.
The process can be time consuming, says
Armstrong, who researches the medals, then
cleans, polishes and coats them before mounting
them.
The older the veterans get, says Armstrong, the
more they care. "I try to get them everything
they're entitled to."
In the past few years, with Canada's involve-
ment in Afghanistan, Armstrong says more fami-
lies have been bringing items that have been in
shoeboxes for years.
"When the men came back, they didn't talk."
says Armstrong. "The medals are starting points
for stories."
Armstrong notes that while they are just
medals to casual observers, to the veterans they
are proof of where they were and what they did.
Armstrong said those coming to him are split
50/50 between veterans and families and for the
veterans to hand their medals to him is difficult.
"It helps to know I was in the service...I'm quite
passionate. This is the only way to remember
them.
"Usually they're happy I know the medals. I
want to know their history...you're touching
something from 1918."
Armstrong said he is sometimes given medals
with no ribbons or the wrong ribbons and there
is a lot of misinformation on the Internet.
While there haven't
been any medals yet of
the 350 sets he has done
that he hasn't been able
to identify, he says an
Italian War Cross "took a
bit to track down."
For more information
on Armstrong, check
www. heritagemedal. ca
Weekend celebration—The Trivitt CommunityThanksgiving Celebration
was held in Exeter over the weekend.As well as bell tower tours, a
Community Thanksgiving Service and a Shriners Fish Fry there was also face
painting, with MelanieAmerongen (above) trying a different look. Below, Don
Finkbeiner, Harvey Smith, Devon Martene, Harold Mills and Ivan Norris, who
make up `Harvey Smith and Friends' were among the entertainment for the
weekend(photo/Pat Bolen)
Restoring history — Former Canadian Forces member Patrick
Armstrong of Zurich, runs Heritage Medal Service which is dedicat-
ed to the proper mounting, wearing and presentation of
Commonwealth honours. (photo/Pat Bolen)
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