2013 Warrior’s Day Parade

The 2013 Warrior’s Day Parade is Saturday August 17th at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. Complete details on the event are located here:

Official Warrior’s Day Parade Web Site

The links to the previous Branch 136 participation previously posted to this blogcan be found here:

• 2012 Warrior’s Day Parade
• 2011 Warrior’s Day Parade
• 2011 Warrior’s Day Parade Photographs

Branch 136 Team, 2012 Warrior’s Day Parade

 

In 2013 The Warriors’ Day Parade will celebrate the 200th Anniversary of The Battle of York and the 60th Anniversary of The Korean War Armistice. We proudly remember the contributions and sacrifices made by Canadians during the Korean War. We also proudly join the many organizations and communities throughout Canada in celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, a very important chapter in Canada’s history. The grounds upon which our Parade has taken place for the past 92 years played a very important part in the 1812 conflict particularly in 1813 during the Battle of York.

Korean War Veteran Program

2013 marks the year of the Korean War Veterans and to the best of our knowledge we have four (4) lads at Branch 136 who fit into this category:

• George B. Thornborrow
• Joseph E. Paul
• Howard “Jim” Smart
• Gill Wallace

According to Gill he was not on-shore in Korea but served in a support roll while serving in the Royal Canadian Navy.

For those interested in activities for the Korean Veterans here are some of the web sites:

• Korean Veterans Association of Canada
  
  • 2013 Special Events
  • Links to Other Sites
• Veterans Canada – Year of Korean War Veteran
  • 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice
  • Ceremonies and Events
  • Certificate of Recognition
    • General Information
    • Application for Certificate
• SALUTE! Year of the Korean War Veteran Publication

For those that are interested in the July 27, 2013 service and parade at the Korean Veterans National Wall of Remembrance, here is the basic information:

Korea Veterans Association Commemorative Service

Start Date: July 27, 2013
Start Time: 11:00
End Time: 12:00

Details:
The Korea Veterans Association, Ontario Region, will be hosting a parade and commemorative service to mark the 60th Anniversary of the cessation of the Korean War. The annual service of remembrance will take place at the Korea Veterans National Wall of Remembrance located at Meadowvale Cemetery in Brampton.

Location:
Meadowvale Cemetery
7732 Mavis Road
Brampton, Ontario

Contact:
Nicole Wotton – 705-568-4217 - nicole.wotton@vac-acc.gc.ca

I have contacted Nicole to let her know that we are looking into bringing up a group from the Milton Legion. If you are interested in attending, as a Veteran or as a Guest, please let me know as I will also try to arrange for transportation. I will also check to see if there is a roll our Branch Colour Party can play in this event, as there is a parade.

If you are a Branch 136 Korean War Veteran and require assistance in obtaining your “Canadian Certificate of Recognition“, please let me know directly. I will also send in the information for your “US Department of Defense Certificate of Appreciation“, as already completed for Jim Smart (see Jim’s certificate here). You may also apply for the Republic of Korea Ambassador for Peace Medal. In order to complete these applications on your behalf I will need to contact you to obtain the necessary information for the application forms.

Update Saturday May 11, 2013

I have heard back from Terry Wickens, the Ontario Region President of the Korean Veterans Association (KVA) of Canada. Veterans who wish to participate in the parade and attend the luncheon after the memorial service must register (contact me for those details). The KVA needs a mailing address for each person that wants to attend the luncheon so they can mail the tickets, as you must have a ticket secured ahead of time to get into the luncheon. Registration is limited to the Veteran and one guest (spouse/caregiver). There is no cost for this luncheon for the veteran and guest. It appears that additional tickets may be available at a cost of $45 on a “first come first served” basis for which there are already 50 people on the waiting list. (My Comment: I assume they are not letting out the extra tickets until they confirm that they have enough places for all the veterans and guests.)

As for the colour party, the reply was that they have their own colour party as well as a colour party from the Korean Veterans. Again I assume that means that they do not require any additional colour parties from Legion Branches etc.

I have the e-mail addresses or mailing address for anyone that wishes to register for luncheon tickets.

V. E. Day (Victory in Europe)

Throughout most of the world V E Day is May 8th but in the Commonwealth Countries it is generally celebrated on May 7th. So far I have not heard “a peep” on the news about the events of today or tomorrow (68th Anniversary). For all of us at Branch 136 Milton Legion, tomorrow will be the day to thank the Vets that show up every Wednesday for some comradeship. Will you be there? I wonder what the Branch has organized for our WWII Veterans for tomorrow? Not to worry, we will be there, as will all the others that remember and care.

From Wikipedia:

Victory in Europe Day—known as V-E Day or VE Day—was the public holiday celebrated on 8 May 1945 (in Commonwealth countries, 7 May 1945) to mark the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich, thus ending the war in Europe. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not until 9 May 1945. On 30 April Hitler committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin, and so the surrender of Germany was authorized by his successor, President of Germany Karl Dönitz. The administration headed by Dönitz was known as the Flensburg government. The act of military surrender was signed on 7 May in Reims, France, and on 8 May in Berlin, Germany.

In 2010 the CBC reported that an Ipsos Reid survey commissioned by the Historica-Dominion Institute, marking the anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, showed 50 per cent of Canadians know May 8th is V-E Day; the other half of Canadians, however, appear less knowledgeable. In addition to being confused as to whether the May 8th anniversary has anything to do with Trudeau, who died in September of 2000, or a crisis that took place in October, 16 per cent of Canadians thought it was the 200th anniversary of Sir John A Macdonald’s birth (January, 1815) and 12 per cent figured it had to be the 20th anniversary of the death of the Meech Lake Accord (June, 1990).

For more information on V E Day and the significance to Canada, visit the web site of the Canadian War Museum: V E DAY – The Canadian War Museum In Germany, where the Canadian Army fought right to the last day, soldiers were too relieved to celebrate very much. In Paris and London, Canadians joined people in the streets in an outpouring of emotion. In Toronto, thousands danced in the streets while three Mosquito aircraft dropped ticker tape overhead. Most Canadian cities and towns held religious services of thanksgiving. Frustrations built up after years of wartime controls and rationing led to riots and looting in some places, but nowhere else on the scale of those in Halifax ( see The Halifax VE Day Riots ). The war was not yet over – the war with Japan was still underway – but the major threat of Nazi Germany had ended.

Quilts of Valour – Canada

The following information was provided by Branch 136 Member Casey Koelewyn (our “Dutch Marine”) on behalf of his wife Elly and the group of quilters at Milton’s St. Paul’s United Church. The artistic talent appears to “be in the family” for as most of you know it was Casey who designed and constructed the stained glass Legion assembly in the Club Room window.

The E-mails tell the story the best!

From: Jean Lillie
Sent: February-06-13
To: St. Paul’s Quilt Group
Subject: FW: My beautiful QOV

Well, I have tears in my eyes as I read this letter to all if us. I never expected to hear anything about our quilts…

From: Mary Ewing
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 6:38 AM
To: Jean Lillie
Subject: FW: My beautiful QOV

Thought your group fo quilters would love to have a copy of this beautiful letter from an injured soldier. Thank you so much for your help with giving thanks to our military members.
The quilts are truly appreciated.
Cheers
Mary
PS keep up the great work there are still so many who do not have a quilt.

From: laurel Jones
Date: 5 February, 2013
To: scraoaueen
Subject: My beautiful QOV

Dear most talented and giving quilters;

I would just like to send a little email to all the amazing quilters of St. Pawls Quilt Group of Milton, Ontario.

I was so wonderfully surprised today when I was presented with my QOV. This quilt means so much to not only me but all those who are injured in the line of duty. I am in awe when I look at my quilt not only because of its beautiful craftsmanship and outstanding detail but also what the quilts and dedicated quilters represent.

When I proudly showed my 7 year old daughter Lexa my quilt today she said “Oh wow mommy, it’s so soft and nice”. Then she took it out of my hands and danced proudly around the mom wearing her new “dress” I had to explain to her that although she looked like a princess in her new dress, we had to be very careful because her new dress sure does mean a lot to me and we want to make it last forever.

So thank you all for all your hard work and dedication. I will snuggle up with my daughter on cold winter nights, on rainy blustery evenings, and have many living room picnics with my new beautiful quilt for many years to come.

With bug hugs;
Laurel Jones

Quilts of Valour — Canada QoV delivers your quilts to our veterans and military service members., QoV Canada started with the delivery of quilts in early 2006 in Edmonton to three seriously injured soldiers recovering from their injuries sustained in Afghanistan. Quilts continue to be presented to our military personnel injured in the line of duty, or recovering from post duty stress related situations. Our veterans also receive QoV quilts. Quilting contacts have been organized across Canada to receive your completed quilts. These quilters are connected with our military contacts who distribute quilted hugs to our injured Canadian Forces personnel and our veterans. Quilters, whether working on their own or with guilds and friends can use Quilts of Valour – Canada as a means of getting their quilted hugs to our brave men and women. Your quilted support goes out to all members of our Canadian Forces, male or female; commissioned and non-commissioned; all land, sea or air personnel and all rankings of soldier. Quilts are one small way of showing our brave men and women that their sacrifices are recognized by those who value freedom and security in our world. Financial support is also greatly appreciated and charitable receipts can be supplied. http://www.QuiltsOfValour.ca Quilts of Valour — Canada Society BN802946699

Canada Company Military Employment Transition Program (MET)

The following update is provided by Richard Laughton and Laughton Management Corporation as founding members of CANADA COMPANY represented at Milton Legion Branch 136. Other Milton based companies who have an interest in participation in this project my contact Canada Company or myself directly.

Canada Company is a charitable, non-partisan organization that serves to build the bridge between business and community leaders and the Canadian Military. Our goal is to ensure that the men and women in our Canadian Forces receive the widest support, care and recognition that they deserve.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Good afternoon Canada Company Members,

It is with great pleasure that we send you this update on the Canada Company Military Employment Transition Program (MET)!

Officially launched by our Founder Blake Goldring and former CDS Walt Natynczyk in Toronto on June 15, 2012, we are very pleased with the development of this critical veteran’s transition initiative for Members of the Canadian Forces who have made the decision to transition out of military life and into the corporate sector. Canada Company is once again providing the bridge between our Canadian military and corporate Canada, and has learned much about the most efficient and cost effective way to assist these transitioning members since the inaugural roundtable session with CF senior leadership in April 2011.

Highlights include:

• A direct working relationship between Canada Company and the Canadian Forces Department of National Defence Transition Team, with Canada Company’s MET program positioned by DND as the “one stop shop for all things transition related” for transitioning CF members
• Sixty five Canadian corporations currently onboard as highly committed Employer Partners (EP’s) from coast to coast, with additional EP’s joining weekly
• Comprehensive MET website showcasing all EP’s listed with descriptors and links, various transition-related resources, and links to other NGO’s that also offer transition services to CF personnel (accessible via http://www.canadacompany.ca )
• Soon to be launched secure MET portal for transitioning CF members only, where they can access the password protected Employer Partner microsite (this allows for tracking of key metrics with respect to the number of CF personnel utilizing the MET program, number of successful hires and general measurement of the overall success of MET)
• Recent opening of a MET Career Transition Specialist Division (CTS), headquartered in Ottawa, and led by a recently hired CTS Program Manager with five years of experience coaching transitioning CF members
• On-going MET presentations at CF SCAN seminars (transition assistance seminars run by CF for their members) across the country
• Regular MET Recruitment Events across Canada commencing this month with MET EP’s and transitioning CF member’s gathering to explore employment opportunities and options

These are the key elements of the MET program, and we are pleased to report that the number of successful hires is accelerating monthly!

As a highly valued Canada Company Member you are in a unique position to play a key role in the success of MET. There are several options for participation in this critical CF support initiative:

• List your organization as an Employer Partner with MET; this is as simple as arranging for our MET Director of Employer Partnerships to meet with your head of HR for approximately 45 minutes to get the process underway; there is no cost associated with EP status and I would be pleased to personally facilitate this introduction on your behalf
• Consider contributing to MET as a “Corporate Supporter”, with all of the benefits associated with Employer Partner status plus one Canada Company Membership for a senior leader in your organization, as well as invitations to several highly unique Canadian Forces events each year and many other exclusive experiences available to Canada Company Members
• If your firm is already a Canada Company MET Employer Partner, a referral to another organization(s) that you feel would be a valuable addition to the MET Employer Partner portfolio

As always, we truly appreciate your support and look forward to hearing from you!

Very best regards,

Peter

Peter Hart
Managing Director
Canada Company
http://www.canadacompany.ca
Direct Line: 647-224-0634

Veterans Affairs Canada

Veteran Affairs Canada has provided the following information to update our post Veterans Information 2013.

Main Information Sources:

• Web Site: http://veterans.gc.ca
• E-mail: information@vac.acc.gc.ca

Information on Services and Benefits:

• Please have your VAC client number ready before you call
• English: 1-866-522-2122
• French: 1-866-522-2022
• Snowbirds from the USA: 1-888-996-2242
• UK, Germany, France, Belgium: 00-800-996-2241
• Any other country: 1-613-996-2242

Information on disability benefits, how to request a review, how to appeal:

• Bureau of Pension Advocates
  1-877-228-2250

Information of Remembrance Programming:

• English: 1-866-522-2122
• French: 1-866-533-2022
• Hearing Impaired: 1-800-465-7735

Veterans Review and Appeal Board:

• P.O. Box 9900, Charlottetown PE  C1A 8V7
• In Canada: 1-800-450-8066
• International: 1-902-566-8751
• Web site: http://www.vrab-tacra.gc.ca

Funeral and Burial Information: (Last Post Fund)

• Phone: 1-800-465-7113
• Web site: http://www.lastpostfund.ca

VAC Confidential Assistance Line:

• Available: 24/7
• Phone: 1-800-268-7708

Office of Veterans Ombudsman:

• P.O. Box 18 Stn. B, Ottawa ON  K1P 6C3
• In Canada: 1-877-330-4343
• International: 1-902-626-2919
• Telefax: 1-902-566-7582
• Web: http://www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca

2013 Election Results

The following are the unofficial results of the Election for Pte. U. J. (Joe) Waters Branch 136 of the Royal Canadian Legion as held on Sunday April 28, 2013. There were 87 members in attendance and registered to cast a vote. Under the new Branch Regulations, the term of office is 2 years. Candidates were presented to the members attending at the start of each ballot at which time, if present, they verbally stated whether they accepted or declined the nomination. If not present, a written statement of acceptance submitted prior to the election was required. The elected candidate(s) for each position are marked in bold red.

You may post any corrections, or ask any questions for clarification, in the COMMENTS box found at the bottom of this posting.

Election of President

Nominees: (all nominated prior to the election, no new nominees from the floor)

• Elliott, Bob
• Hipwell, Don
• Thompson, Patricia
• Williams. Bob

Dropped out after the first ballot:

• Elliott, Bob
• Williams, Bob

Elected after the second ballot:

• Thompson, Patricia

Drops down to the next group of nominees as unsuccessful in the election for President:

• Elliot, Bob
• Hipwell, Don

Past President (automatic position as not successful in election to retain Presidency)

• Williams. Bob

1st Vice President

Nominees: (only drop-downs, there were no new nominees prior to the election or from the floor)

• Elliott, Bob
• Hipwell, Don

Elected on the first ballot:

• Elliott, Bob

Drops down to the next group of nominees as unsuccessful in the election for 1st Vice President:

• Hipwell, Don

2nd Vice President

Nominees:

• Bousfield, Lynn (nominated from the floor, declined nomination)
• Gorski, Debbie  (declined nomination)
• Haddad, Dan
• Hipwell, Don

Elected on the first ballot:

• Hipwell, Don

Drops down to the next group of nominees as unsuccessful in the election for 2nd Vice President:

• Haddad, Dan

3rd Vice President

Nominees:

• Blaine, Kathleen
• Bousfield, Lynn (nominated from the floor, declined nomination)
• Haddad, Dan

Elected: (after correction of the reporting error which had the results reversed)

• Haddad, Dan

Drops down to the next group of nominees as unsuccessful in the election for 3rd Vice President:

• Blaine, Kathleen

Executive

For clarification, three (3) members of the Executive are elected and three (3) are appointed. A proposal from the floor to have all positions filled from the election was dismissed, as that was contrary to the current Branch Regulations. A motion to drop the bottom three (3) after each ballot was seconded and approved. There were 78 registered members left in the room at the start of the elections for the Executive.

Nominees:

• Barrager, Steve
• Blaine, Kathleen
• Bousfield, Lynn (nominated from the floor, accepted nomination)
• Corradetti, Joan
• Faria, Urban
• Green, Frank (declined nomination)
• Lindsay, James
• Mahan, Bob
• McKeown, Sharon (nominated from the floor, absent but accepted in writing prior to election)
• Smith, Fred

Dropped after the first ballot:

• Barrager, Steve
• Lindsay, Steve
• McKewoen, Sharon

elected after the second ballot:

• Blaine, Kathleen
• Bousfield, Lynn
• Mahan, Bob

Summary of Election Results

• President: Patricia Thompson
• 1st Vice President: Bob Elliott
• 2nd Vice President: Don Hipwell
• 3rd Vice President: Dan Haddad
• Elected Executive: Kathleen Blane, Lynn Bousfield, Bob Mahan

The remaining three (3) members of the Executive will be appointed by the President and ratified by the Executive Committee at its first meeting of the term with the subsequent approval of the Branch at the next General Meeting (reference: Section 501(2) The General By-Laws for Branches of Ontario Provincial Command)