Just a Gal from Glidden: Remember, every day
BY KATE WINQUIST
kate@yoursouthwest.com
With September drawing to a close, my thoughts begin to focus on commemorating the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and civilians in times of war. At Your West Central Voice, we will honour those with a special supplement to our regular paper, which will come out on Monday, November 9th. Over the next few weeks, I will be requesting that people send pictures and a brief write-up of family members who have served.
It is something that I will continue to do with great pride, and I hope that it shows in the final product. It is my favourite edition to put together, as it makes me reflect on how lucky I am to be able to do what I do and share my passion with others.
I welcome submissions from all across our west-central region. Please take the time to share your stories and photos with me, and I will endeavour to turn it into a keepsake edition that is sure to be treasured for years to come.
I already feel like I have a great start to this supplement as I received an email a couple of weeks ago from Elrose Legion member, Doug Bone, who has compiled the military history of Elrose & District fallen of World War I. His 48 pages of detailed research is truly a gift to Elrose and District.
I also had the privilege to meet Clifford Neufeld of Remco Memorials, who has been doing grave marker maintenance through a program created by Veterans Affairs Canada. Cliff was contacted by Veterans Affairs to do work on some gravestones at Eatonia for their homecoming (which didn’t happen this year due to COVID). He finished that small project and was contacted again to do 62 more from the Senlac, Macklin and Neilburg area over through Alsask and Kindersley.
Veterans Affairs Canada and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintain the gravesites and grave markers provided and installed by the Government of Canada of more than 300,000 fallen Canadian Armed Forces members here and throughout the world.
The Government of Canada has invested $24.4 million over the next five years to address repairs and ensure that the graves of those who served are well maintained. The work began in 2018 and will continue until 2023. The new funding will be used for cleaning, restoring or replacing grave markers, and fixing foundation issues.
It’s probably not a job that most people want to do, but Cliff feels it’s his duty. His dad fought with the Commonwealth Forces in Korea, and he has heard the stories of battle.
I have also been in touch with David Burke of the Kindersley Legion Branch 57, who has promised to give me a tour of the newly renovated Legion Hall.
I am looking forward to meeting more of you and listening to the stories as we celebrate the efforts of these brave men and women.
On November 11th, we take the time to pay homage to those who courageously volunteered for the cause of freedom and peace. We take the time to wear poppies and visit memorials and attend ceremonies. We take the time, one day of the year, to stop in silence for thought and reflection and for that one brief moment, we remember why we must work for peace every day of the year.
Clifford Neufeld cleans the gravestone of Pte. John Boyd at the Kindersley Cemetery as part of a program created by Veterans Affairs. Photo by Kate Winquist
My Great Uncle Bruce Maclennan was killed just before the air war was coming to an end. Maclennan Lake in northern Saskatchewan is named in his honour.