Clinton News-Record, 1984-11-07, Page 21INCORPORATING:THE BLYTH STANDARD -THE BAYFIEL) BUGLE
SECOND SECTION
T
It
711E, WRY OF GOD
AND IN ?riEMQRY
F THOSE X110 DIED
i $ DOWN OF THE SUN of one of the world wars. I smiled and looked
back to him.. His eyes were no longer on the
MORNIN
monument. He was staring into the grass
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7,19
Award winning essay
Bonnie Turner, a Grade 11 student at Cen-
tral Huron Secondary School, won a national
award for her Remembrance Day essay,
What The Poppy ° Means To Me ... Bonnie
wrote her essay last fall and entered it in a
contest sponsored by the Clinton Legion.
After winning in this district, the essay went
on to the provincial finals. Bonnie's essay is
now entered in the national competition.
What The Poppy Means To Me
It was the twelfth of November the day
after Remembrance Day. The autumn mor-
ning was cold and dreary, and my mind was
as cloudy as the drab sky above. Angry at
• the world and the people in it, 1 walked
swiftly, lost in my own thoughts. Almost
mechanically, I drew my coat around
myself and sat down on the seasoned park
bench beside the cenotaph commemorating
the men killed in the World Wars and the
Korean War. There I stayed, seeing no one
who passed fiy•and caring about nothing but
my own problems.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I notic-
ed a stooped figure,. slowly making his way
m the brisk wind. With his head down, and
.gnarled hands clutching his overcoat, the
old gentleman walked as though every step
were an effort.
Unaware of my presence, the man stop-
ped nearby. He drew himself up with digni-
ty. His eyes held a look of pride. Following
his gaze, I saw that the old gentleman's eyes
were upon the cenotaph, which was .newly
laden in wreaths. Probably he was a veteran
ANDt .T=near the bench where I sat. Tears welled up
in his eyes. Sadly he shook his head and
started off down the street.
I was puzzled. Whatobject could make a
man as I had just seen, so distressed? My
eyes searched the : round for what was lying
119TH YEAR ®No. 4
there, and there it was - a poppy. It was not
even real. Just a simple plastic poppy was
on the ground. I frowned, how could such a
forlorn little flower make a man so heavy-
Hhearted? What did it matter? Remem-
brance Day was already over.
Then I realized how much that poppy
meant. That simple little flower was not just
a scrap of plastic; it stood for important
things. It was peace, and freedom - Not only
mine - but the peace and freedom of my
family, and friends and neighbours. Yet, it
was more than these. That poppy was the
soldiers. Soldiers fighting at Virny Ridge
and at Dieppe. It was these men, fighting for
their freedom, and freedom•for the world. It
was their families back home m Canada, ly-
ing there on the soggy ground.
I shrugged. Remembrance Day was over.
That poppy wouldn't matter again until next
year. I tried to think of my own concerns,
but I couldn't concentrate. My mind
wandered. Once again I saw the old man's
face as the tears came into his eyes. I saw
the poppy, lying m the grass, and I was
ashamed. Remembering the soldiers who
fought for Canada was not just a yearly
obligation. Their gift of peace lasts all year
round, and so should their memories. I had
sat here, moments before, angry at the
world, when those men loved the world so
much that they gave their youth, many their
lives for us. These were. the people to be
grateful to, not just on Remembrance Day,
but every, day, for they were the ones who
earned our freedom.
For the first time that day, the world
seemed friendly to me. I knelt down,
rescued the poppy from the wet grass and
proudly pinned it to my coat. The rest of the
world might have thought it was just a bat-
tered and shabby poppy, but to me it was
special - for now I knew what it meant.
44.
A Grade 11 CHSS student, Bonnie. Turner has a clear, thoughtful understanding of
Remembrance Day. Her impressions, written as an essay in last year's Legion Remem-
brance Day Literary Competition, gained national recognition when it won the Canadian
award. Bonnie represented the province and the Clinton Legion in the competition that
involved between 1,800 and 1,900 Legion branches across Canada. This Remembrance
Day, Bonnie will visit Ottawa. (Shelley McPhee photo)
Clinton legion has long
history of service to area
The Clinton Legion has a long history of
service to the veterans in the area and an
enviable record as a service club with con-
tributions to a host of community projects.
After the first World War, a union of sorts
was created by those risking their lives in
that first conflict. The organization was call-
ed the Great War Veterans Association
(GWVA) and for a time the group was ade-
quate for its members' needs.
However, in November 1925, . following a
conference in Winnipeg at which concerns
about the association's strength were rais-
ed, the Canadian Legion of the British Em-
pire Service. League was created.
Just over three years later, on January 10,
1929, the Clinton Branch 140 of the Canadian
Legion received its charter. The nine
original members were H.B. Combe, the
first president, Dr. J.W. Shaw, M.D. McTag-
gart, H.L. Turner, G.M. Counter, M. Agnew,
L.L. Lucas, L.C. Harrison and F.O. Ford.
The Ladies Auxiliary was granted its
charter in November 1932 and the women
have since proved themselves an integral
part of the Clinton Legion, devising fund
raising methods and providing donations for
a variety of causes.
Since that time the Legion has met in
several buildings around the town. The
members held the first meetings of . the
King George VI
In recent years the Kirk Street building
has been expanded. A large, modern kitchen
has been added, the hall extended and a
games room built onto the social area •
downstairs resulting in a legion building of
which its members are very proud.
Almost every aspect of . the community
benefits from the • fund raising skills and
generosity of Branch 140. Minor sports in all
its phases, the Red Cross, CNIB, March of
Dimes and 'the Pipe Band are some •of the
organizations receiving funds, as have the
arena, the high school and the swimming
pool.
Institutions such as Parkwood Hospital in
London with its veterans wing, the Clinton
Public Hospital, Huronview and the Day
Care Centre in Vanastra also benefit from
donations.
Members of the Clinton Legion have
represented their branch on the executives
of the zone and district encompassing the
branch and even in a provincial capacity..
The' Canadian Legion, which was granted
permission to use the title Royal by Queen
Elizabeth in 1960, has undergone a transi-
tion since World War II. As well as' its
emergence' as a service organization, the
criteria for membership has been relaxed
due to circumstances, and different
categories have been devised. There are
fledgling branch at the Clinton library with - now fraternal and associate membership"
the clubrooms on Huron Street. The Legion
moved over the old Bank of Montreal, mov-
ed again to the building housing Chapman's
Barber Shop and then, on November 11,
1952, Dr. J.W. Shaw, a charter member and
the branch's second president, laid the cor-
nerstone for the present Kirk Street hall,
wholly built by volunteers.
designations to enable others to join and
keep the Legion a strong entity.
Now the Royal Canadian Legion is looking
to 1985. Events to celebrate the diamond
jubilee are now in the initial stages of
development. The jubilee will be celebrated
from May 8, 1985 to the June. convention in
1986.
Honor roll of residents
The following is a list of Clinton residents
who responded to the country's plea for ser-
vicemen and who paid the supreme
sacrifice in defense of their beliefs.
World War I
Pte. Wan. Walker, Pte. D.A. Cantelon,
Pte. Homer Cantelon, Pte. S.H. Brown, Pte.
Newman Cluff, Pte. James C. Lockwood,
Pte. Richard Walton, Pte. A.B. Furniss,
Pte. C. Austin Nediger, Pte. Frank For-
rester, Pte. Arthur H. Grant, Pte. H.O. Han -
tient, Pte. J. Usher, Pte. Clifford Grealis,
Pit. Lieut. W. Hall, Major Broder McTag-
gart, Lieut. J. Knox Mair, Capt. C. Mac-
Pherson, Adj. R.J. MacDonald, Corp. Harry
Miner, V.C., Sergt. G.B. Sewell, Gunner
Frank Mair, Pte. W. Manning, Pte. W.
Seaward, Pte. James Farrant, Pte. A.L.
Fisher, Pte. H.B. Wood, Pte. W.E. Morgan,
Pte. E.B. Hill, Pte. B. Blacker.
World War II
F.O. Alvin Corless, Flt. Sgt. Ernest Mit-
tel], W.O. Charles E. Mutch, Capt. James
Owen Combe, Sgt. W.E. Bunking, F.O. John
D. Hawkins, Keith Ward Jenks, Robert D.
McKenzie.
In Flanders Fields
By Dr. John McCrae (1872-1918)
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row, ,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you,from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Donations assist in Blyth and area
The Royal Canadian Legion in Blyth,
although smaller than the Clinton Legion,
has also distinguished itself through its
generosity to the community.
Branch 420 received its charter on May 29,
1946 and Dr. C.D. Kilpatrick was president,
directing the first meetings which were held
at Gordon ook's egg grading station. The
Ladies Auxiliary was granted its charter in
1947 and Anna Draper served as the first
chief executive officer.
After the Legion met in the egg grading
station, a move was made•to the Memorial
Hall where . the .branch. met for about two
years. Enough money was made to build a
hall in 1949 and members joined together to
construct the present building. In 1960, the
legion building was raised and a basement
added.
The Blyth Legion also has a long record of
community service. It helps support minor
sports in the 'village and surrounding area
and made a substantial donation to the .
arena when an injection of cash was needed
for the building. The Beavers meet in the
hall, a result of the Scout troop started by
Branch.420 in the 1950s.
The veterans' Christmas Tree Fund at
Westminster Hospital and the veterans'
wing at Parkwood ' Hospital in London are
also beneficiaries of Blyth Legion fund rais-
ing. Wheelchairs and beds have been given
to Huronview.
Donations are also given to several larger
charities. The March of Dimes, CNIB, the
Red Cross, Christmas Seals and many
others can depend on Branch 420 for con-
tributions. Members also canvass for the
Arthritis Society.
The community events which are unique Memorial Hall and wreaths will be placed in
to Blyth are supported ,by the Legion. The the hall to honor those who gave their lives
critically acclaimed Blyth Festival, in in the wars in which Canada has par -
which plays by Canadians are featured and ticipated.
the Memorial Hail in which it is housed,
have received funds. The Thresherman's
Reunion, attended by thousands of people
every September honor. 'the veterans of
Branch 420 by asking them to lead the
parade held during the event. The Ladies
Auxiliary also holds an .annual Penny Sale
each September to raise funds for Legion
work.
•
About 150 people belong to the Blyth
Legion including 50 members of the Ladies
Auxiliary. The membership also includes 40
regular members, one of whom is a World
War One veteran, 57 associate members and •
30 fraternal members.
This November 11; services will be held,
as they have been .in the past, at the
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