Remembrance Day

A Call to Arms - Remembrance Day

Arm yourself with peace in order that we can remember their sacrifice.

Arm yourself with courage so you may do what's right.

Arm yourself with humility so that you may truly serve.

Arm yourself with knowledge - then exercise your franchise.

 

LEST WE FORGET

Lest We Forget

I will remember

                         I will remember

                                                  I will remember

                                                                             

Minister of Veterans Affairs should resign

The last post asked for a do-over for the 100th anniversary of the Beaumont Hamel ceremony. Following a letter to the Telegram by Minister Kent Hehr - I now believe he should look at another portfolio.

There are a couple of comments made by Hehr that should raise red flags. Prime Minister Trudeau should ask himself if his Minister truly understands the sacrifice, the circumstances, and history of the battle.

Here is the first paragraph in question:

"I felt Mr. Sullivan’s sentiments, recently raised in The Telegram, were serious enough in tone to warrant a direct response here. Can we do better next time? Always. Still, I am very proud of the job that was done and we will continue to work with our partners across Canada and anywhere across the world where Canadians answered the call to honour their sacrifice and bravery."

The Minister talks about partners across Canada. This is Newfoundland history at a time when Newfoundland was not a part of Canada. While Confederation may have taken our waters, our resources, and our fishery we must protest that is take over the reality of our history. If it is going to plan events under Veterans Affairs then do so properly - if not stay out of it.

This ceremony was not about Canadians answering the call - as the Minister puts it - it was and is about these courageous Newfoundland and Labrador souls who fought for freedoms. It is about the extraordinary loss of a real percentage of young men. The loss to families, communities, and our Country.

On this 100th year anniversary the Minister should have been able to claim that we could not have done better. It should have been without flaw in planning and recognition.

Then  Minister Hehr wrote the following:

That said, conversations surrounding logistics of commemorative events such as this should not take place in a confrontational way through the papers. It is important to ensure the focus is on the sacrifice of those who did not return home.

The Minister - responding to the comments of Frank Sullivan - feels that commentary that is critical of the ceremony proceedings - regarding such an important event should be in private and not public.
This one sentiment is diametrically opposed to what these men fought for. Airing complaints, opinions, and yes even disgust in the public is exactly the freedoms that were entrenched from battle, blood, and heartbreak.

Finally the Royal Protocol (flags) and Royal schedules (speeches) being used to excuse the fumbles and ignorance does not cut it.

This Minister should resign.

A "National event" - eh? Oh that must mean Newfoundland the nation. Right?

Political Fail - throwing in the towel

Dear Canada,

The absolutely disgraceful events at Beaumont Hamel this year highlight once again the fake embrace of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.

Jim Winter expressed my feelings precisely in his letter to the Telegram.

He along with many of us want an apology. I will go a step further and say I want a do-over.

I have a really difficult time every year when Canada Day celebrations overtake Memorial Day. When Canada so politely places us into the event schedule in Ottawa for half an hour or so.

It is Memorial Day not Memorial Morning. It is time we take our culture and history seriously and stop relegating ourselves behind the birthday of Canada in which we were not a part.

A real consequence of that devestating loss of our men on that day is the loss of our country and subsequent joining in with a group of provinces that would always consider us an afterthought. Those men were young leaders and innovators with real courage to forge a future for our beloved Newfoundland and Labrador. 

When I was a child 45 years ago Memorial Day still kept some of its prominence but slowly and surely it is disappearing into the Canadian mosaic - whatever that is. In our county of multiculturalism - it is ironic that Newfoundland and Labrador's culture is one that is being sacrificed.

The provincial politicians and their Canadian masters are showing how little they really feel in their hearts about who we are and where we come from. Since confederation it has been the reason we have given away so much.

The non-renewable constructed auto-sector manufacturing has always been more important to Ottawa than our renewable culturally essential fishery here at home.

The by-passing of our coastal sector to that of the original coast of Nova Scotia has meant refining, ship-building, and Navy and Coast Guard activities are removed from our potentials.

Our renewable energy sector has been sacrificed for the "green good" of the nation instead of a necessary growth industry for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Danny Williams - the self-proclaimed proud Newfoundlander and Labradorian has all but insured our demise with the disastrous Muskrat Falls deal with Emera.

The Rooms had a significant ceremony for the 100th anniversary of the Battle - however it was dignitaries - we could all see it later.

Maybe this statement on Veterans Affairs Canada says it all:

"Anyone attending the July 1^st ceremony at the Beaumont- Hamel Newfoundland Memorial site in France to mark the 100^th anniversary of Canada’s participation in the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel must register online by Tuesday, May 31, 2016."

Our local politicians have dropped the ball on the whole fiasco at Beaumont Hamel and have taken the Canadian line regarding the major slight on our history. But that just demonstrates the lack of real understanding and appreciation of our culture. It just demonstrates ignorance and shallowness. They are the ones who don't tear up at the Ode but rather see it as part of political protocol representative of their titles.

Pathetic - really pathetic - and if we do not do something soon - we will chewed up entirely and become part of Atlantica - (Ottawa's pet project).

Don't let any of these pompous underperforming egotistical "leaders" take away who we are. If any of them had the courage and strength of the boys and men we lost - we would be sitting pretty now in a place that would survive forever. 

Memorial Day - We Will Remember

Reposted every year. 

July 1 is Memorial Day in Newfoundland and Labrador

On July 1, 1916, 801 members of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment fought in the Battle of the Somme and only 68 answered the roll call the next morning.

Newfoundland soldiers in St. John’s Road support trench, July 1, 1916.

Many a home has been darkened with the shadow of bereavement as the Casualty List, day by day has flashed across the ocean. The sympathy of the whole community has gone forth, both to the brave Lads’ who have suffered, and to their anxious and sorrowing relatives at home. The gloom of these dark days, however, will be lightened up by the glorious heroism, which the Regiment displayed, and the glory it has achieved both for itself and the old Colony which it proudly represents (Diocesan Magazine 124).

Lest We Forget

Lest We Forget

I will not forget. I will always remember.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you to those who gave their lives so others may live in a free society.
I will not forget. I will always remember.
I promise to take our democracy seriously.
I promise to participate in making our society better.
I promise to always vote.
I promise to participate in assisting veterans wherever and whenever needed.
I promise to keep them always a priority and let my voice be heard when veterans have concerns.

Lest We Forget - Lest we Forget

 Please read more about Newfoundland veteran Thomas (Tommy) Ricketts HERE

Sgt. Thomas Ricketts

Please take the time to remember those who fought for our freedom.

Please take the time to remember they fought without thought for themselves.

Please take the time to remember those who serve our country now.

Please take the time to remember all who have sacrificed for us.

Please take the time to remember - take the time to stop and reflect - take the time for them.

Lest We Forget

A post for our Veterans - Lest We Forget

LEST WE FORGET

How do you say thank you to those who fought for freedom?

How do you say thank you to one who lost their own life to allow for another to live free?  

How do you say thank you to those who fought to protect democracy but never lived to vote?

How do you say thank you to the mothers of boys who enlisted in their teens - underage and never lived to thank their mothers.

How do you say thanks to those men and women who continue to serve our country regardless of the mission and regardless of who is making the decisions?

How do we thank our Veterans?

LEST WE FORGET

We Vote,

We participate in our Political Process,

We do not take our democracy for granted,

We fight to protect what they have fought to enable,

We fight by speaking up when anybody threatens our freedom,

We remind those we elect that they are there for the people not themselves,

We instruct those we elect that all financial and social resources are available for our Veterans when needed – as needed.

Thank you to our Veterans – I will never forget.

Sue

It is Memorial Day - Shame on you Canada

IT IS MEMORIAL DAY IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
OUR NATION IS STRIPPING OUR CULTURE
TRYING DOING THIS TO ST JEANS BAPTISTE DAY!!!!



During the First World War Newfoundland was a largely rural Dominion of the British Empire with a population of 240,000, and not yet part of Canada. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment was deployed at Suvla Bay on the Gallipoli peninsula with the 29th British Division in support of the Gallipoli Campaign. With the close of the Gallipoli Campaign the regiment spent a short period recuperating before being transferred to the Western Front in March 1916. In France, the regiment regained battalion strength in preparation for the Battle of the Somme. The infantry assault was to began on 1 July 1916 and at 8:45 a.m. the Newfoundland Regiment and 1st Battalion of the Essex Regiment received orders to move forward. So far as can be ascertained, 22 officers and 758 other ranks were directly involved in the advance.[5] Of these, all the officers and slightly under 658 other ranks became casualties. Of the 780 men who went forward only about 110 survived unscathed, of whom only 68 were available for roll call the following day. For all intents and purposes the Newfoundland Regiment had been wiped out, the unit as a whole having suffered a casualty rate of approximately 90%.

As written in wiki...