CORNWALL Ontario – What does the Poppy mean to you as Remembrance Day approaches? Should we be remembering those who sacrificed their lives only one day per year?
Many people have different thoughts about the Poppy which is used by the Legion to raise funds for our Veterans. Many return maimed, wounded, or mentally scared and have fallen through the cracks.
The poppy to this writer is a sacred Canadian symbol, second only to our flag; yet to some it’s not. To some it’s “not a big thing”. To some it’s just this thing we buy and in some places respect isn’t given at all.
The Legion has a trademark on the poppy and even has fought with the folks from the White Poppy movement.
Here in Cornwall we have seen one of the worst defacements of our poppy ever; at least according to Bill Maxwell from the Legion’s own Poppy & Remembrance Committee.
“It is a first. I have never seen such a blatant defacement of our sacred symbol and believe that if other Canadians could see it, they’d be as outraged as I am,” says Bill Maxwell, who is secretary of the Legion’s Poppy and Remembrance Committee.
We first covered the story back on July 2nd of this year. It’s now November 1, nearly four months later and what has occurred has essentially been a sanctioned cover up.
A member of a hate group on facebook, and yes it is a hate group, was suspended by the social networking site and the groups administrator not only posted that persons picture in the group; but as you can see in the image at the top of the page joked about “no poppies being hurt in its making”
He was not sanctioned or even criticized by Mr. James “Jim” Brownell who is the Honourary Lt. Colonel of the Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Highlanders. A unit whose Colonel in Chief is Queen Elizabeth herself. Mr. Brownell in the image above is using a picture of himself in his Highlanders uniform as his profile picture.
Mr. Brownell not only didn’t sanction the person who made the defacement; but championed him and is quoted.
I am not my brother’s keeper.
But isn’t that what our brave soldiers are? Aren’t they our keepers when this country is in need?
Mr. Brownell was communicated to multiple times, respectfully and privately. He was asked if he was aware that he was in the group. He was asked if he was aware of the administrator and his past. He was shown the defacement of the poppy itself and corresponding entries.
Our original story is still on his personal facebook wall as it was linked by another of his former students. There are two main questions to answer. Why did he take this position and two, why did so many refuse to call Mr. Brownell on this gross case of dereliction of duty and his refusal to condemn someone who defaced the poppy?
Frankly the second question is more frightening than the first.
I first asked Mr. Brownell if he actually joined the hate group on July 3, 2014.
CFN
Hi Jim,
I did not join a hate group, and, quite frankly, it’s none of your business what I do.
Jim
CFN
Hi Jim,
I do not belong to a hate group, so there is no news here.
Jim
CFN
Hi Jim,
JIM BROWNELL
Just now getting back on the internet, after technical troubles, and I can tell you that I have never seen anything related to the x-files, or whatever that might be. So leave me alone. I have been a friend with Kevin Dockery for many years, and I certainly have no regrets. He was a fine student. If the photo shows him in a state, other than that of a student, then so be it! Both you and I have probably been there, before. Please leave us all alone, and quit using references to us on your blog, or in the South Stormont News. I do have big shoulders, so can handle it, but just take a hike!
July 3rd
CFN
Jim Kevin formed a boycott facebook group. It was taken down for being a hate group. He simply restarted it the next day. Same people, same attacks against myself, CFN, SSN, and then council and Mayor McGillis in South Stormont as well as a few other lucky people like another one of your students, Debbie Cameron.
JIM BROWNELL
I have no idea why my name gets associated with many things, but I don’t get too concerned about it. I know nothing about a hate group, nor do I belong to a hate group. I have no idea why this is of a concern to you. You have commented about x-files, but I have no idea what you are talking about. I have more important things to do in my life, so will sign off. You should find better things to do, too, rather than attacking every person who has ever tried to improve our communities. Leave us alone!
It was a bewildering back and forth with Mr. Brownell making like he didn’t anything about the group that he was actively posting in.
I had asked Mr. Brownell, if he was going to post in this group, to not use his profile pic that I had allowed him to use while at Queen’s Park. He replaced it with one of him in his uniform.
Mr. Brownell posted on facebook:
Just wanted you to know that my posts are now without a photo. Unfortunately, Cornwall’s BLOGGER had Facebook remove it, as he took the photograph. My staff at Queen’s Park, in 2011, placed it as my profile photo, and I had used it since that time, as it was the only photo I had on the day that my Private Members’ Bill was debated and passed in the Legislature.Apparently, Cornwall’s BLOGGER had taken the photo, and he has now asked that it be removed on Facebook. Unfortunately, I did not know how to remove it, so I guess I’m going to need assistance in getting a new photo with my posts. Cornwall’s BLOGGER can take the photo and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine! To my Facebook friends, I’m sorry for being so blunt, but Cornwall’s BLOGGER is way over the top.
In July a Captain of the unit with a personal relationship to Mr. Brownell was shown the poppy image and some of our communication. He was shocked and in disbelief. Instead of condemning Mr. Brownell though he stopped communicating with myself. Shortly after that the group went underground into a secret mode.
Most indicting was Mr. Brownell’s comment when he clearly stated that he felt no guilt regarding the Poppy defacement.
I am not my brother’s keeper, but I can still be a friend with my brother, even if I do not believe in or agree with comments from my brother. The same goes for my friend. I don’t abandon family or friends, just because they write or say something I don’t agree with. So stay out of my life, and don’t try to make me feel guilty, because I DON’T FEEL GUILTY, IN ANY WAY!Jim
One of the group members also posted this gem.
Omg someone altered a picture of a poppy on the internet better call a local news source! What a joke! But I do know what im doing when I get home! Altering a few more!
From August 17th.
CFN
Jim do you have any comment for publication about your support for Mr. Dockery’s defacement of the Poppy, joking about his defacement of the poppy, and you wearing your honorary Glen’s uniform when posting in the X Files group?
Thanks,
JIM BROWNELL
CFN
Jim I emailed you the actual image of the poppy defacement. It’s in our email trail. It’s in our official investigation.
Loading ...(Comments and opinions of Editorials, Letters to the Editor, and comments from readers are purely their own and don’t necessarily reflect those of the owners of this site, their staff, or sponsors.)
Comment policy reminder
CFN suggests you post comments using your real name. If you wish to post with a pseudonym you can register that user id by emailing info@cornwallfreenews.com with your name, address, phone number and user id you wish to register.
HUH! What crock of BS coming from you Jim Brownell and you should hang your head down mighty low to the ground. I hope that you do not show your face at the cenetaff or anywhere else. Your South Stormont showed how low you voted for a person who doesn’t deserve to be mayor nor the council. You Mr. Brownell do not deserve your title at all whatsoever and you should be mighty ashamed of yourself even to be associated with the poppy defacers and supporters of such a horrible act as well as the X-files. Dickery, dickery doc, the mouse went up the clock. That is the only dickery that I know of. I might as well have ag good chuckle about it since I look on you and your friends so mighty low.
You sir are a sad waste of skin, this post will be deleted, but I know your sick mind will read it. Your done, get over it and move away..Your sick twisted mind is not welcome here anymore… SSN is also done… you sir are indeed a scab that will not heal…. byeeeeeee
Mr. Jim Luciani your post was allowed this time simply to show what you have been continuously posting, and to reflect the mentality of a sadly far too large part of our community. Frankly sir it’s sick. And something that our community should be concerned about. If the truth brings out this much hate it’s time for people to consider standing up your type of behavior. You can’t live in lies and expect good results.
Again, if you wish to participate in a boycott of this newspaper then perhaps you and your friends should understand the meaning of what a boycott is and observe it?
And yes, this is your last post on CFN.
{MODERATED}
Comment policy reminder
CFN suggests you post comments using your real name. If you wish to post with a pseudonym you can register that user id by emailing info@cornwallfreenews.com with your name, address, phone number and user id you wish to register.
I believie People like Mr.Brownell and Mr.Jim Luciani should embrace your articles Jamie or sue the hell out of you if they belivie you are lieing.But your to smart of a man to even think about writing lie,s and they all no that.
I think many many people should br angry over this,but welcome to Cornwall.
Should burning our national flag or desecrating national symbols like the poppy be illegal or should the rights of the minority that believe these actions are a form of free speech, be protected? When do the rights of inanimate objects or national symbols trump the rights of free thinking human beings?
Mr. Dugas in some places it is actually illegal to burn or desecrate a poppy. The whole concept of a protective law is that the “majority” wish something to be law, not everyone will agree. For example when we say a species is endangered and say that you can’t hunt it there are some that feel that they still should.
The point of this story however is that when you are a member of a military unit; even an honorary one; there are standards. Mr. Brownell has clearly chosen to be loyal to the person that desecrated and mocked the poppy rather than to the men and women of our Armed Forces and the those that are members of the Glens.
Marc a few people have noticed that generally when I write something like this I provide this funny thing called PROOF. A PROOF is what courts use to determine the TRUTH.
And in this case the TRUTH is that because of Mr. Brownell’s animosity he has made choices that I’m sure he would not make if it involved another person. What next? Eating babies? It’s sad that someone at his age and with his legacy is digging his hole deeper and deeper.
@ Dwight Dugas. That is a good question for a Grade 10 intro to sociology class or your rado show. But military law is something else, and this is probably where the issue of being a member of a cyberabuse group and the defacement of the poppy should rest.
(The Queen’s Commands)
19.09 – USE OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCE FORBIDDEN
No officer or non-commissioned member shall attempt to obtain favourable consideration on any matter relating to the member’s service by the use of influence from sources outside the Canadian Forces.
19.14 – IMPROPER COMMENTS
(2) No officer or non-commissioned member shall do or say anything that:
if seen or heard by any member of the public, might reflect discredit on the Canadian Forces or on any of its members
Just for the record sir, I removed myself from any site that’s involves a boycott. I just cannot understand why you feel the need to attack good people in our community.
No Jim. The group’s simply changed their names. Should I post the screen caps? But the subject of this story is the cover up of Mr. Brownell’s supporting of the person that defaced the poppy and then mocked the defacement.
I apologize for my comments. I will not post again.
Jim a few simple questions. Do you support the Poppy? Do you support the defacement of the Poppy by Mr. Dockery? Do you support Mr. Brownell as Lt Col of the Glens supporting Mr. Dockery instead of the Poppy and all it stands for. Those should be easy enough for anyone exposed to what’s occurred to answer.
Either we support our troops sacrifices and all that the Poppy stands for or we don’t. It’s not a popularity contest.
Great blog about Jim Brownell… Definitely a “story” there lol You are delusional and the Free News is an embarrassment; at least it’s entertaining and does provide for free advertising (did I thank you for that yet?) I cannot wait for the few cheaply printed sheets of “The Bash Tammy Hart News” to be cut off from the municipal trough. By the sounds of it, the paper is nothing without this funding. That’s too bad, i might have just shed a tear. Good luck in life , you’re a real winner lol hopefully those “false charges” don’t result in negative consequences that would prevent me and everyone else from getting their daily dose of entertainment!! Oh, while you’re reading … can I get some more free advertisement ? I may not have made it this time, but 2018 is around the corner and I’ll take what I can get !
After reading this article I must say I am shocked at the stance Jim Brownell has taken on this. First SIR, it is quite clear this is without any doubt a poppy, regardless your hate for this site or Jamie, you have clearly showed you disrespect the poppy and for our heroes, you support hate and anger (clearly in your email responses) but what is most disturbing SIR, you support a convicted criminal. Is this typical of a Liberal? Just look at how Kilger is, resembles much of the same HATE I’d say in how you are taking this and spinning it. I have no respect for you and I would make a good guess in saying many people will lose respect for you also. You may have a hate on for CFN but do the right thing, either admit you are wrong and you put temper and ignorance over the truth or simply take off that uniform and walk away, you certainly don’t represent Canadians after this article. @ Jim (Luciani)what you wrote is beyond hate and ignorance, people who spell out truth regardless who they are, are not what you posted, it speaks volumes the type of person you are, you are the type of person who after clearly reading this article supported a person like Jim Brownell and his hate for a person over clear truth.
{MODERATED}
Comment policy reminder
CFN suggests you post comments using your real name. If you wish to post with a pseudonym you can register that user id by emailing info@cornwallfreenews.com with your name, address, phone number and user id you wish to register.
Jim Luciani have you ever heard of the old saying “you are judged by the company you keep” well Jim Brownell sure picked his company and he will not be respected at all for what he did and he is finished. Any title that Jim Brownell has should be taken away from him. I used to think that South Stormont was a nice place to live but not after what I have seen of a mighty horrible mentality of people to vote for such people and who stand up with the X-Files and Jamie and others call them. Anybody with an ounce of respect does not behave in that manner.
Millions in our Nation are in agreement with you Mr. Gilcig!!! The Poppy is a sacred National symbol.
When you tell the truth, you have nothing to fear!
While defacing the poppy is considered a faux pas, what I find admirable about Jim Brownell is that he says “Damn the torpedoes” and stands up for his friend. I think we all need true friends like that.
Mr. Munro based on your blatherings I’m sure voters will be as equally impressed with you next time around than they were this year. The public isn’t into those that ride their daddy’s coat tails.
The poppy that we are familiar with is a copyrighted image/object owned by the Royal Canadian Legion. I don’t think it qualifies as a sacred object.
I have apologized for my comments. For the record I support the Poppy campaign . My step son is a serving member of the British Army and has served a duty in Afganistan where thankfully he survived and came home un harmed, and is currently deployed in a theater somewhere.
I have also removed myself from any boycott group, as it serves no purpose anymore. Life is short. I would really like to see articles exposing bad tenants and landlords…
Again Mr Gilcig, I apologize. I hope you can turn your business into a more positive venture, which surely turn into advertising revenues.