Heritage/Service Clubs & Video

To Comment on this article Click Here

 It was a proud moment to be a Canadian and even prouder to be a resident of Kincardine.

About 40 veterans of the Second World War and the Korean Conflict were presented with Order of Kincardine medals at a special ceremony Wednesday afternoon in the Kincardine Hall at the Davidson Centre. Each medal features the Kincardine crest and hangs from a red ribbon.

Kincardine mayor Larry Kraemer presented the medals, while Kincardine Legion president Maureen Couture presented Legion pins, Brian Armstrong of Bruce Power presented keepsake boxes for the medals, and Mary Ellen Ross of Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell's office presented certificates. Also on hand were Huron-Bruce provincial PC candidate Lisa Thompson, and members of the Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Command and Zone Command.

Kraemer credited Donna Wilson, public relations officer of the Kincardine Legion, for coming up with the idea to have the hometown recognize the local veterans for their contributions to society , the community and the residents of Kincardine.

"We want to make sure nobody forgets the sacrifices made during the Second World War and the Korean War, and how these people have helped in the development of our world," said Kraemer.

"We have enjoyed 50-70 years of incredible wealth and freedom because of what these people did, and we thank them."

The ceremony was a co-ordinated effort among the municipality, the Legion and Bruce Power which helped sponsor the event.

Jennifer Farrell of the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band piped in the veterans and dignitaries, followed by the presentation of the medals.

As he read out the final name on the list, Irv Kennedy of the Legion, said, "I'm very proud of these people," and the crowd gave the veterans a standing ovation.

Couture thanked everyone who helped organize the event and all who attended. She read the following poem, "Heroes," written by Jared Jenkins, which epitomized every veteran in the room.

HEROES

In war, there are lives risked and lives taken
Men and women giving their best to defend what they love
They defend their country
Their honour
Their people

Some call them soldiers
Others call them heroes

Our veterans have risked their lives for us
They have lived through hell and fought with honour
Many have killed
And regret doing so

For every life, there is a soul
For every soul, there is a life
For those who have died, we show great appreciation and remembrance
For those who live, along with them live the horrific memories of battle
Some, memories of defeat
Some, memories of victory

Our veterans were more than soldiers
They were, and still are, heroes

"We thank you for the sacrifices you and your families have made," said Couture.

Brian Smith, vice-president of Legion Ontario Command, commended Kincardine for honouring its veterans with this award. "It's important that we show them the appreciation they so dearly deserve," he said.

Armstrong said several members of his family served in the Second World War, including his father and his uncle. His father came home, but his uncle gave the ultimate sacrifice in battle. "I am proud and very grateful for their service," he said, "and I thank you all very much for honouring your veterans this way."

Wilson thanked the municipality, the Legion and Bruce Power for helping make her idea a reality. "It's been a lot of fun to meet all our veterans and their families," she said. "They're all fabulous. We have to remember what they did - they put their lives on hold and went to war so we could enjoy the freedom we enjoy today."

Rev. Jim Weir, Legion Chaplain, offered a prayer at the end of the ceremony.

Veteran Charles Mann said he is proud to wear the medal and pleased to have his hometown recognize all those who served in wartime. "I figured if the Europeans and Americans could recognize their veterans, surely our hometown could too," he said, with a laugh. He has lived in Kincardine since 1964.

Major General Richard Rohmer, who lives in Collingwood and Kincardine, said he hopes the municipality will present the Order of Kincardine to other people who have served this community for a long time.

Providing entertainment for the ceremony were Bob McLeod and Friends; Trillium Court and Malcolm Place donated the cakes; and Bonnie Kraemer and Kinfarm Tire made a generous donation toward the event.

The following Second World War Veterans received the Order of Kincardine:

Keith Armstrong of Ripley, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) - Air Frame Mechanic, 1942-46

Cliff Buckingham of Kincardine, RCAF, 1941-45

Emma Campbell of Kincardine, Canadian Army Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps, 1942-46

Alexander Clark of Kincardine, British Army Royal Artillery, 1944-47, served in Italy, Palestine, Egypt

Margaret Clark of Kincardine, British Army, 1944-47

Richard Colwell of Kincardine, British Air Force 112 Fighter Squadron, Cairo, Palestine, Iraq, 1939-46

Jack Demmar of Kincardine, British Royal Marines, 1942-46, boarded a landing craft gunship and crossed the Atlantic to Canada, escorted a convoy of ships to Gibraltar, from there to Malta and onto the Island of Panter Leria where his ship was sunk. He was rescued and taken back to England where he became a tank driver and went through France and Germany

David Dickson of Kincardine, Canadian Navy - Ship Repair, 1940-45

Clarence A. Diebold of Kincardine, Canadian Army 10th Regiment, 1941-44

Norman Dunsmoor of Kincardine, Canadian Army Infantry, April to August, 1945

Wes Giesz of Kincardine, Canadian Army - Royal Canadian Mechanic Engineer, 1941-46

Stan Godard of Kincardine, British Army, 1943-49

John Hill of Kincardine, Canadian Navy, 1944-46

Lawrence Holder of Kincardine, RCAF, 1939-45

Reid Hutchinson of Brampton, RCAF attached to RAF 92 East Indian Squadron, 244 Wing Desert Air Force, 1944-45

Stanley Kennard of Kincardine, Army, 1942-47

Laura Lankin of Tiverton, Canadian Women's Army Corps, 1944-46

Harold Lewis of Kincardine, Canadian Army - 1942-45

Ken Linklater of Kincardine, joined RCAF in London, trained as a gunner on heavy bombers in Quebec and then became attached to RAF Squadron 15 on Lancasters, and flew at least 35 trips over Germany, 1942-45

John Lock of Kincardine, British Army, 1943-47

Stuart Loree of Kincardine, Navy, 1944-46

Ilene MacMasters of Kincardine, Canadian Women's Army Corps, 1943-46

Charles Mann of Kincardine, Non-Permanent Active Mission, 1937-40; Active Army, 1940-46

Harvey McCaig of Kincardine, Canadian Army, 1944-45

Ernest Murdoch of Kincardine

Howard Munroe of Kincardine, Canadian Army - Artillery Radar Instructor, 1942-45

Jack Muszynski of Kincardine, Canadian Navy, 1943-45

Muriel Newton of Kincardine, RCN WRENS, 1943-46

Jack Pym of Kincardine, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, 1944-46

Alf Rackley of Kincardine, British Army Queen's Regiment, served in India and Burma, 1944-47

Walter Ravell of Tiverton, Army, 1944-45

Major General Richard Rohmer of Collingwood and Kincardine, arguably Canada's most decorated citizen as well as a decorated veteran. He is a lawyer, author of some 18 fiction books, about 13 non-fiction as well as others. His papers are in the archives of York University and in the National Archives of Ottawa. He served with the RCAF as a fighter-reconnaissance pilot during 1942-43. He took part in the D-Day Operations, served in France, Belgium and Holland, completing a 135-mission tour of operations in November, 1944. He was awarded the distinguished flying cross. He served in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, 1945-46. In 1950, he returned to the RCAF, flying Vampire Jets and commanded 400 Squadron. In April, 1975, he was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Senior Air Reserve Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff. On Jan. 31, 1978, he was promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed Chief of Reserves of the Canadian Armed Forces.

John Shepherd of Kincardine, Canadian Army, 1943-45, later joined a combined operation and boarded a Greek ship chartered by the British Government Army, 1945-47

Klaas Smidt of Kincardine, Dutch Navy, 1945-49

John Smith of Tiverton, British Dragoons, 1943-46

Olive Smith of Kincardine, British Women's Land Army, 1942-45

Ardwell Tuddenham, British Navy, 1945-47

Arthur Turland of Kincardine, RAF, 1939-46

Doreen Wardly-Nowell of Kincardine, British Navy WRENS, 1945-48

Donald Weber of Tiverton Canadian Ambulance Corps, 1942-46

Cam Weese of Kincardine (deceased), Royal Canadian Army, 1940-45

Maria Weese of Kincardine, British Territorial Service ULK, 1940-45

Rebecca Wilson of Tiverton, Women's Auxiliary Air Force Scotland, 1941-44

Jean York of Kincardine, Canadian Women's Army Corps, 1943-45

The following are veterans of the Korean War:

Eugene Harrison of Kincardine, Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)

Robert "Red" Larsen of Kincardine, RCN and Canadian Forces, 1951-80; HMCS Athabasca Korea, 1952-53

Murray Lee of Kincardine, Royal Canadian Navy - HMCS Iroquois, 1953-60

A plaque lists the names of all the veterans who were honoured with the Order of Kincardine

Veterans are piped in at the start of the ceremony



Kincardine mayor Larry Kraemer (L) places the Order of Kincardine medal around Margaret Clark's neck



Emma Campbell (L) receives her medal from mayor Larry Kraemer



Norman Dunsmoor (L) is greeted by Brian Armstrong of Bruce Power



Muriel Newton proudly wears the Order of Kincardine



Art Turland shakes hands with Maureen Couture, president of the Kincardine Legion, after receiving his medal



Jean York (C) is congratulated by Mary Ellen Ross (L), Brian Armstrong, Maureen Couture and Larry Kraemer



Eugene Harrison receives a Legion pin from Maureen Couture

The Order of Kincardine medals

Survey Participate in our latest Kincardine Times survey

Survey Participate in our latest Saugeen Times survey

Survey Participate in our latest Walkerton News survey

^{for world news, books, sports, movies ...}

Thursday, June 23, 2011