Cornwall Ontario – Our Canadian doctor Lt. Col John McCrae could not have known that his poem “In Flanders’s Field” written in 1915 would become such a famous loved poem for the whole world.
The Annual Poppy Campaign of the Royal Canadian Legion raises money for our Veterans and their
families and organizations which help them.
When we donate to the poppy fund and wear a poppy we are not only honouring our Veterans but helping as well.
I found this wonderful photo of my late brother Sonny Herrington in the Navy on what may be a patrol vessel during WWII dated 1943.
We were blessed in m
y family as my Dad, Sonny and all my Mom’s brothers came home after serving in the war.
Some soldiers returned home wounded; others didn’t make it.
So on Remembrance day we think of them…..all our soldiers then and all our soldiers today; they are our heroes.
It looks like this Remembrance Day will be a cold one.
My mind goes back so easily to the ’50’s when I was in the CCVS band.
We played at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day.
CCVS Band of the 1950’s
As you can see we wouldn’t have been too warm in our kilts,
tunics and little berets in that cool November weather.
The worst part was putting the icy metal mouth pieces to our mouths…they were really cold.
But we were hearty young people and others were chilly also.
We were glad to have been there to honour our veterans.
I remember looking at the Veterans , some in wheelchairs.
My Mom’s brothers Cecile Tardiff (Navy), Art Tardiff (Air Force) were there with my brother Richard “Sonny” Herrington (Navy) and I was so proud of them and grateful that they came home safely from the war. My Dad Richard “Dick” Herrington (Army) had been wounded in France and came home injured but alive, thank heavens.
I found this poem in an old album recently:
They Fought and died For Thee by Colin Powell
“Long ago did their battle cease
Now ‘neath white crosses they rest in peace.
Far from home and loving hands
There they lie in distant lands.
Many were those brave young men
Who we will not see again.
Forget them no O’Canada
Now so strong and free
Those sons of yours who
fought and died
They fought and died for thee.
Remember everyone this day
As we all kneel and pray.”
And so in the 11th. month, on the 11th. day, at the 11th. hour, we will gather again as community at the Cenotaph to honour our Veterans and to hear again Robert Laurence Binyon’s poem of 1914:
“For The Fallen”
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, not the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.” ….all of them.
I am hoping the new Ontario government will help low income seniors when it comes to Dental and Vision Care and Hearing Aid problems in Ontario.
We do have some help with Hearing problems thanks to the National Campaign for Better Hearing which has raised $306,616 so far for those who can’t afford hearing aids, according to their web site and the generosity of some of our Hearing Aid Centers.
Some other centers not sponsored by the Campaign offer rentals or may offer free refurbished ones. Go to https://campaignforbetterhearing.ca.or call 1-800-787-HEAR ( 4327) for more information on the centers who offer free ones under the Campaign.
Two handsome guys celebrating their birthdays this month:
My brother Ron (Satch) Herrington on November 17th. Here is one of my favourite photos of Ron who is now a resident of the Heartwood nursing home.
And another handsome guy – Robert “Bob” Katz, a local Cornwall resident who recently celebrated his birthday:
When we were young kids we had a lot of little rhymes we used to say. I looked up a few I could remember on the internet and found some of them. I was really surprised because I thought some of the older kids made them up. Not true. One was: “What’s your Name? Mary Jane. Where do you live? Down the lane. What’s your number? Cucumber. What do you eat? Pig’s feet.” Silly?? We would say it and laugh and laugh. “It’s raining, it’s pouring. The old man is snoring….” We thought it was great.
Another was: “Nobody likes me. Everybody hates me. I’m going to the garden to eat worms…….”. And a scary one : “Did you ever think when the hearse goes by that you may be the next to die?…..”. We thought these little rhymes were lots of fun and we could all recite them whenever we wanted to have a laugh. You can probably think of some more.
I couldn’t find Tiger again. All of a sudden it seems he is nowhere. I searched the closets, even looked outside to see if he had gotten out when the front door was opened . Nowhere. Not in the bedroom, hall, den or kitchen. I didn’t think he was in the living room because I had just been in there but when I went back into the living room, there he was on his bed on the couch. I washed that little bed three weeks ago and he totally ignored it …until now. What a cat!! Keeps me hopping!!
A reader sent in some amusing quotes of Steven Wright who is known as the famous erudite (comic) scientist:
1) Borrow money from pessimists – they don’t expect it back.
2) Why do psychics have to ask your name?
3) A clear conscience is usually a sign of a bad memory.
4) If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.
5) OK, so what’s the speed of dark?
6) How do you tell when you are out of invisible ink?
7) Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
8) I intend to live forever – so far, so good.
9) What if you get scared half to death twice?
10) My mechanic told me, “I couldn’t repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.”
Have a good week, Dawn
Tiger you are so cute. I wanted to stay in bed but can’t. If only I can hide like Tiger and be comfy without disturbance from anyone. Unfortunately I can’t. Tiger you should meet the tiny poodle Teddy where hubby and I go. So very cute. Hubby made a mistake of stepping on Teddy – he is so small.
I, too, remember parading in the CCVS band to the cenotaph in Memorial Park. Wearing the kilts of our cadet uniforms we had cold knees and tried hard to keep our instrument mouthpiece warm. We were lucky to have such an active band.and were proud to do this.
-Myrna
Well done, Dawn. Thank you
Myrna Plumley, Sue Thompson and our beautiful Dawn you all grew up in much better days than what we have today. I remember that old cadet thing and when I went to CCVS it was dissolved the year after. There is no patriotism anymore like what existed before. This is very sad today.
Great column as usual Dawn, thank you so much
Pete: I am glad that you enjoy the columns. Thank you. Dawn