Remembrance Day 2020

LEST WE FORGET

NOV 11

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WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2020

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Ken Legge displays the medal that accompanied him being awarded the rank of Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest national honour. The 97-year-old Canadian Navy veteran was in his early 20s in June of 1944 when he was on a gunner ship off the coast of France on D-Day, helping the Allies lay the groundwork that led to victory in the Second World War. DAVE EAGLES/KTW

The District of Logan Lake is proud to honor those who have and continue LOGto N L KE serve our country.

REMEMBR NCE D Y CEREMONY A

A

A

A

Sunday, November 11th at 10:40am Lakeview A mphitheater We invite you to join our live stream ceremony Together to honor their sacrifice, wetoremember and honour link our online ceremony is available those whoatsacrificed www.loganlake.ca

for our freedom.

WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2020

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LEST WE FORGET ‘THERE AREN’T MANY OF US AROUND ANYMORE’ Ken Legge is now 97. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy when he was 19 and spent four years at war — including taking part in the D-Day invasion.

DAVE EAGLES/KTW

TIM PETRUK

STAFF REPORTER

tim@kamloopsthisweek.com

T

his year will be the first Remembrance Day in Ken Legge’s memory that hasn’t been spent in parades and at cenotaphs and memorials.

The 97-year-old Canadian Navy veteran was on a gunner ship off the coast of France on D-Day, helping the Allies lay the groundwork that led to victory in the Second World War. Legge joined the Navy at the age of 19 and spent four years at war.

“I was an anti-aircraft gunner on a Canadian destroyer,” he said proudly from Berwick on the Park, where he lives.

“Our first job was taking 100-ship convoys across the North Atlantic with all the war goods on them. That was our main job. All year-round. A dirty job, a cold job.”

Legge said his ship was eventually given a new task — clearing out the waters in the Bay of Biscay along the west coast of France.

They didn’t know it at the time, but the young men on HMCS Kootenay were preparing for D-Day — Operation Overlord.

“The Germans were trying to get rid of us,” Legge said.

“They sent bombers out to drop bombs on our ship, with no luck.

“They tried to torpedo us and they had shore batteries all along the French coast with these huge guns.

They tried to knock us off with those, too. We were just a lucky ship.”

After the war ended, Legge returned to Canada and trained to be an electrician.

“I was doing an electrical job in North Vancouver for this fellow and he said to me, ‘You ever think of being a firefighter?’” Legge said.

“I said, ‘Never crossed my mind.’

He said he was the fire chief and he

was looking for four men. He thought I’d be good for the job.”

He was. Legge would become North Vancouver’s fire chief before retiring after a 25-year career.

Born in a small mining town in Alaska, Legge moved with his family to Vancouver at 12 years of age.

On his 21st birthday, while aboard a Navy ship on the Atlantic Ocean, he chose Canadian citizenship.

“So I became a Canadian that way,” Legge said. “Many, many years later, I had a hell of a time getting a passport to go to Mexico with my kids.”

A father of five, grandfather of 10 and great-grandfather to 15, Legge and his wife lived in a cabin at Green Lake near 70 Mile House after his retirement.

Following her death, Legge moved to Brocklehurst and has been at Berwick on the Park in Sahali for about four years.

Legge said he enjoys life in the facility, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made days tedious — no outings and limited visits.

“It’s a nice place,” he said. “But it’s been so boring since the virus.”

That means Legge will spend Remembrance Day this year at home, where staff are planning to honour Berwick on the Park’s veterans with a special meal and encouraging residents to stand for a moment of silence in their doorways.

“They’re having a breakfast for us, but there’s only four of us here,” Legge said of Second World War Veterans. “There aren’t many of us around anymore.”

A gifted storyteller, Legge knows he had led an interesting life and he’s not shy about recounting it all.

But there’s one thing he won’t talk about.

“I try not to even think about D-Day,” he said.

“It was a terrible day as far as personnel was concerned. It was a tough day. We lost so many men.

“And there are still families everywhere that lost family on D-Day. That’s why I don’t like talking about it.”

Thank you

FOR YOUR SERVICE | FOR YOUR COURAGE | FOR YOUR SACRIFICE

FOR OUR FREEDOM

Jack Van Goor

Joyce Walker

Ken Legge

60 WHITESHIELD CRESCENT SOUTH, KAMLOOPS | 250.377.7275

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WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2020

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When out shopping, try buying from a veteran Prince’s Trust Canada is launching its annual awareness campaign to encourage Canadians to celebrate and support veterans in more ways than one.

The Buy Veteran campaign and mentorship initiative are part of Operation Entrepreneur, a program aimed at helping Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans and their families successfully transition from service to explore second career options.

“Throughout neighbourhoods across Canada, there are veteran entrepreneurs and heroes among us who have served our country and are now pursuing their passions and second careers, creating positive economic and social impact in their community,” said Sharon Broughton, CEO of Prince’s Trust Canada.

“During these unprece-

dented times, we are reminded of their strength, resiliency and tenacity. Their careers in the Canadian Armed Forces taught them leadership, strategic planning, creative problem-solving, execution, focus and determination.

“Veterans are highly skilled and experienced individuals who possess many attributes required to succeed as entrepreneurs.”

The Buy Veteran campaign highlights veteran business owners “When you buy from a veteran-owned business, you’re not only getting an excellent product or service,

you’re directly supporting those who have served our country, thanking them for their service and encouraging them on their new life mission,” Broughton said.

The Canadian Veteran Business Directory, online at buyveteran.ca, has a platform to search local veteran-owned businesses in every province and from a wide range of products and services, including coffee shops, dog treats, florists, consultants, designers, cabinet makers, home inspectors, fitness coaches and more.

All members of the Canadian Armed Forces community, including veterans, serving members and their families, can list their businesses in the directory at no cost.

Since launching the directory in 2016, there are more than 450 veteran businesses listed across Canada — and growing.

A SALUTE TO

OUR HEROES:

OUR VETERANS

Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans in Canada Kamloops Anavets Unit 290

9 - 177 Tranquille Road • 250-554-2455 New members always welcome. Open 10am everyday. Everyone welcome.

WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2020

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LEST WE FORGET Honouring veterans in the age of the pandemic Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian (centre) was presented with the first poppy of this year’s campaign on Sept. 30

by Royal Canadian Legion Kamloops Branch No. 52 president Daniel Martin (left) and Kamloops ANAVETS Unit No. 290 first- vice-president Randy Williams outside city hall.

KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK

The Royal Canadian Legion has taken the unprecedented step of discouraging Canadians from attending Remembrance Day ceremonies this year as COVID19 upends the traditional ways of honouring those who sacrificed their lives for Canada.

In Kamloops, the local Branch 52 of the Legion is holding a By Veterans For Veterans Remembrance Day ceremony on Wednesday morning, with no members of the general public to attend.

According to Legion past-president Craig Thomson, there will be no public gathering at Riverside Park, there will be no parade, there will be no fly-past by the Royal Canadian Air Force 419 “Moose” Squadron from Cold Lake, the public will not be invited to attend the ceremony, large contingents of military, police and first responders will not be present and there will be no wreath-laying by the general public.

Instead, the official ceremony will be held at the Battle Street

Cenotaph, by invitation only, with up to a maximum of 50 people attending.

The format of the ceremony will be very similar to past years, with a Cenotaph guard posted, a colour party and the singing of O Canada and playing of Last Post.

The laying of wreaths will be restricted to local dignitaries, representatives of the government and members of ANAVETS, Royal Canadian Legion, Rocky Mountain

Rangers and RCMP. Other than those dignitaries, the ceremony will be restricted to veterans, with the Legion’s two most senior Second World War veterans part of the group at the Cenotaph.

The Legion expects that the number of veterans involved in the ceremony will be about 20, leaving room for about 30 more veterans to attend.

Post-ceremony socializing will

Thank You Veterans

be also be different this year.

The Rocky Mountain Rangers armoury will not be open to the public, while the ANAVETS Unit will be restricted to members only and the Legion will be restricted to members and veterans only.

The Remembrance Day event will be live streamed on the Kamloops Branch 52 Legion Facebook page and on CFJC-TV. Bob Underhill, vice-president of the legion’s operations in B.C. and Yukon and head of the organizing committee for the ceremony in Vancouver’s Victory Square, said “it is sad that we have to limit the numbers.”

The Victory Square ceremony is believed to be the second largest in Canada after Ottawa’s, with about 20,000 people attending each year.

This year, Underhill said, the

Thank you for your sacrifice for our freedom.

On Remembrance Day, we salute our nation’s fallen

and the families who carry on without them.

Their heroic spirit and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

We will always

remember

that freedom is not free.

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number is being kept under the local maximum of 50.

“We’re going to have our official wreath-laying at the site, but we’re going to try and minimize what we’re actually doing at the site so as to not attract attention and get people gathering because we’re under the 50-person maximum,” he said.

“It’s going to be very different.”

Royal Canadian Legion national director of communications Nujma Bond said that despite the restrictions across Canada, the ceremonies will remain unchanged in their reverence paid to Canada’s veterans and some of the familiar elements.

“And we are very hopeful and invite people to participate in other ways,” she added.

“It’s such a key moment for the Legion every year. It’s a key moment for veterans and for many Canadians.”

Ways to participate include not only watching on TV or online, but wearing poppies and recognizing two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 no matter where people are.

YOUR SAFETY IS OUR CONCERN KNOW BEFORE YOU GO!

www.ShiftIntoWinter.ca

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WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2020

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Clarence Fortier

Arthur (Ted) Black

Connie Wahn (Biddell)

Edward Lapierre

Fred Rich

John O. Gordon

Arthur E. Dickinson

Ray Rich

Robert Rich

Emil Rich

Fred Rich

Lawrence W. Burt

W.C. Bill Tilden

John F. Kuharski

Lyle Donald Mcivor

Robert P. Sigston

Arthur J.reimche

Gilbert A. Marini

Joseph S. Blais

William Funnell

Earl Robillard

Jacob William Grant

Frank Montagne

Andrew Goodwein

G.W. Nordick

Glenn Monson

Bill & Eileen Dale

James and John Beesley

Terence & Bernard Beesley

WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2020

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LEST WE FORGET

Max Paul Kasper

Everett Sponaugle

Andrew John Plowman Valentine Price

Terry Flaherty

Percy Kenneth Druskee

Blake Lodge

John F. Feller

John Harrison

Robert Manion

Aubrey (Bud) Fell

Ross Nordin

Doug Hunter

James Sehlin

Richard (Dick) Fawcett

Russell Pilch

Darryl Davies

William Bedwell

Howard Allan

Cecil Woodrow Brown

Robert Daniele

John Clarke

Clifford Owen Hannah

Richard Harrison

Dr. Robert Manion

Eric E. Manion

James P. Manion

Stanley M. Liddle

Howard L. Maughan

Frank Collett

George F. Davis

George Strecheniuk

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Lest we forget.

Thank you for your service, past & present

We Will Always Remember!

We are 4th generation funeral directors helping friends and families for the past 75 years in B.C. This would not have been possible without our grandfather, Able Seaman Alfred DeFrane.

After serving in WWII Alfred began his career in Funeral Service and now 3 generations later we still are very proud of his service and legacy in our family Lawrence Schrader and to our country.

Alfred ‘Alf ’ De Frane Owner/Operator 285 Fortune Drive, Kamloops

Family owned & operated

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WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2020

Walter Trusler

Larry Bakken

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Pvt. Phil Deschutter

Chris Hatton

George E. Stringer

John H. Marini

Donald (Pets) Manson

Ernest Saunders

Barney Kiernan Oscar Zorn

Paul Moody

James Arthur Pilch

George A. Mcauliffe

Robert Pickerell

Al Harrison

CPL Dan Hoidas

Branch: InfantryCommunications.

Unit: 3 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

Charles Caponero

Charles Alfred Boon

Joseph Illingworth

Roger C. Harvey

Leighton Budd

F/L Ron Chisholm

Barry G. Peters

Ralph Patrick Madden

Lyle Nelson

Erin Doyle

Alexander Mcintosh

Thomas James Collins

Glen Lucey

Trevor E. Schubert

City of Kamloops Office of the Mayor

LEST WE FORGET

Kamloops City Council gives heartfelt thanks to all Veterans.

We will remember them.

Kamloops.ca

Alex Shearer and Alex Sim

Branch: Army1920 Battalion CEF

Thank You Veterans

We will never forget 700 TRANQUILLE ROAD KAMLOOPS • 250-376-1259

WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2020

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LEST WE FORGET

Alfred ‘Alf’ De Frane

Raymond Penny

Elmore McMorran and Melvin McMorran

Andrew Wallace

Nora (Plaxton) Morrison & Norm Moe Morrison

Edward (Ted) Bonford and Joan Bonford

Bob Preston

Hartwell W.B. Illsey

Stuart Bruce

Charles Stewart

Jeff D. Swart

John Haggarty

Bert “Andy” Anderson

Samuel (Sam) Meyer

William Gardner

Leo Hagarty

Jon Mcgillivray

Vivian Franklin (Frank)

William “Bill” Martyn

Cyril Holding

Peter Kansky

Joe Pringle

W.C. “Robbie” Robertson

John Walter Witek

Dawson Clapperton

James Clapperton

Ewart Clapperton

Gordon Clapperton

Duncan Clapperton

Honouring Our Fallen.

Their courage and sacrifice will always be remembered.

WE SALUTE OUR VETERANS!

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For more information or to book an appointment. #307-730 Cottonwood Avenue Kamloops

448 Tranquille Road • 778.470.6101 email: kis@immigrantservices.ca • www.immigrantservices.ca

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WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2020

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Kenneth Clapperton

Russell Clapperton

Edwin Blomquist

Arnold G. Liddle

Rita Plowman

John Plowman

Edward Babcock

John Horie

William Joseph Joinson

Benjamin Meyer

Roy Arthur Froome & Hannah Froome

Nick Waslenchuk

Kenneth Johnson

Mark Hatten

Lawrence (Larry) Dick

Mary Harvath

Mariane R. Hindbo Udesen Mann

Glen M. Hart

J.E. Jahour

Eugene Sirianni

Ken Legge

D. S. Robertson

Reginald Fowler

Grieg Anderson

Wayne Kennelly

Ernest Hubbard R.C.E.

Frederick Meyer

Joey and Shane Hartling

E. J. (Jim) Mathews

Remembering their courage & sacrifice Lest We Forget

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In memory of the Fallen...

My grandad served in WWI and survived.

My Uncle served in WWII and survived. ~ Chad Perozac

A L I G H T I N T H E N I G H T. . .

WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2020

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B11

LEST WE FORGET

Ernie J. Smith

Margaret Stankievech

Robert A. Gordon

James A. Bus Gordon

Reginald Duff

Gustav Kropp

Michael Kuzyk

Joseph Chisholm

GORD’S

APPLIANCE + MATTRESS CENTRE

Marcus Chisholm

Paul Yuchym

Douglas Haig Macleod

George Edward Davis

Alexander J. Gabinet

Thank you to all the men and women who have served and are serving our country.

Norman Jolicoeur

948 Tranquille Road - 250-376-5353 Sales@gordskamloops.ca www.gordskamloops.ca

Wilfrid Jolicoeur

Fernand Jolicoeur

Yvette Jolicoeur

Edna Wismer (Gordon)

Jullian Henri Malbeuf

Hugh McLachlan

Honour and remember our veterans Joseph Allan McKinnon

KAMLOOPS

RCMP

May we never forget

Trixie and Tony Bellos

The community of Chase is proud and humbled by the courage of our veterans and those who continue to serve our country so that we can live in a democratic society.

We hope everyone will join us in wearing a poppy in remembrance.

VILLAGE OF CHASE

Branch 52 Kamloops • 425 Lansdowne Street 374-1742 • www.kamloopslegion.com

Frank Brauner

THE FAMILY FRATERNITY

Loyal Order of Moose • Women of the Moose • Moose Legion

We thank the men and women who served our country to make our dreams possible

Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1552

730 Cottonwood Avenue • 250-376-8022 mooselodge1552@shaw.ca

Remembrance Day 2020 LEST WE FORGET

DL 30329

Edward T. Foley

THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION

1794C KELLY DOUGLAS RD

250-377-4320

Forever in our hearts.

We remember.

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