As most regular readers of CFN know I’m very supportive of our military. From working for the release of Collin Fitzgerald to many other times over the years we at CFN have never said no in supporting our troops.
As a matter of fact for the St. Andrews Ball a few years back I got a local brewery to provide free beer for 450 people.
Sadly though we had a severe case of defacement of the Poppy, but even more sad, after the Legion in Ottawa condemned the image (which I won’t republish) and outed the SD&G Highlanders Honorary Lt Colonel, Jim Brownell, as someone that essentially said and did nothing while posting to social media while wearing his uniform, all voices dimmered down.
Essentially his gross disservice to the uniform and men and women that wear it was covered up. Even though the clear evidence was sent up the chain, as soon as Mr. Brownell was discovered people stopped being upset or outraged.
It’s a gross slap to the face of anyone that truly cares about what the poppy really means especially in light of the noise made over the Franck Gervais case which the Legion participated in.
That Mr. Brownell has not been publicly condemned, but has been allowed to continue simply impeaches the local Legion, the Glens themselves, and anyone connected to the cover up including the commander of the Glens themselves, LCol S.J. Young, CD.
Brownell, a retired teacher and former Liberal MPP for the riding had joined a hate group that has since vacated but is still available to be seen. The group was run by a convicted criminal that had been one of his former students.
Mr. Brownell’s response when confronted with the defacement of the poppy; something referred to by Bill Maxwell of the Legion as:
“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.
Mr. Brownell response when challenged about not condemning the posting of the defaced poppy image was:
Mr. Brownell’s transcript of our email trail can be read in this previous story. LINK
That there is a street named after Mr. Brownell in Long Sault and that the Canadian Forces has tolerated this gross action by Mr. Brownell is something that only politicians can explain.
While I wish to honor our forces I cannot do it in this community as long as that stain remains that so dishonors a proud military unit with such a long and valued history. Frankly I can’t imagine anyone that truly cares about what the poppy means attending an event with Mr. Brownell participating in uniform.
I will end this piece with universal words that sum up November 11th of each year.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
Please honor all those that have fallen so that we may have the freedom to live our lives which includes our Freedom of the Press which monsters like Jim Brownell and his supporters clearly do not respect much more than they truly do our soldiers. An honorary position such as the one he so cherishes should always be about those that are served and not about a vanity kick.
Sadly our local military unit has stood up for ……instead of the poppy and all it misrepresents.
Sadly Jim did not stand up for the poppy & what it represents to veterans & families,my dad was WW1 Vimy Ridge
Jim Brownell has deficated on the poppy and he showed his true colors just what kind of a character that he is and represents. Thank God that I am away from Cornwall and SD&G. I could not live in the same place as this character at all.