EvanL
06-06-2004, 01:42 PM
D-Day
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Our Canadian war veterans always seem to be getting a bum deal. They don't receive anywhere near the respect they should be receiving for what they have done for Canada.
Out of the few qualified war veterans still alive, there probably wouldn't be more than 100 wanting or able to afford the expense to revisit that gruesome beach. Some of the veterans who are attending this commemorative ceremony have been forced to seek accommodations elsewhere and travel about two hours one way each day to be in attendance as politicians and the media have taken over the closest accommodations. They can write off their expenses whereas the veterans have to absorb them as part of their costs. The main characters, the veterans, have been pushed aside again.
Canadian politicians and some civilians are treating the 60th anniversary of D-Day with little or no recognition. This is a Canadian historical event. Our young students are becoming more and more aware of what our service personnel did during World War II since our history prior to 1950 has been reintroduced into class. Listening and talking to our war veterans while they relay their experiences is becoming popular across Canada. In the group that I am with, we talk to Canadians of all ages and are amazed at how little knowledge they have about our brave war veterans. Books and films cannot project the true feelings of war.
It is said that when the CBC covered the dedication service of the Juno Beach Centre last June, it was done very poorly. Let's hope it does better this time by showing more of the veterans and less of the politicians.
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John M. K. Bow, CD,
Living History, Highland Creek Legion Branch 258, Toronto
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Our Canadian war veterans always seem to be getting a bum deal. They don't receive anywhere near the respect they should be receiving for what they have done for Canada.
Out of the few qualified war veterans still alive, there probably wouldn't be more than 100 wanting or able to afford the expense to revisit that gruesome beach. Some of the veterans who are attending this commemorative ceremony have been forced to seek accommodations elsewhere and travel about two hours one way each day to be in attendance as politicians and the media have taken over the closest accommodations. They can write off their expenses whereas the veterans have to absorb them as part of their costs. The main characters, the veterans, have been pushed aside again.
Canadian politicians and some civilians are treating the 60th anniversary of D-Day with little or no recognition. This is a Canadian historical event. Our young students are becoming more and more aware of what our service personnel did during World War II since our history prior to 1950 has been reintroduced into class. Listening and talking to our war veterans while they relay their experiences is becoming popular across Canada. In the group that I am with, we talk to Canadians of all ages and are amazed at how little knowledge they have about our brave war veterans. Books and films cannot project the true feelings of war.
It is said that when the CBC covered the dedication service of the Juno Beach Centre last June, it was done very poorly. Let's hope it does better this time by showing more of the veterans and less of the politicians.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John M. K. Bow, CD,
Living History, Highland Creek Legion Branch 258, Toronto