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Their once young, fresh-scrubbed faces are now marked with the lines of time and life, but their memories remain alive with the days of their youth.

As November 11th once again approaches, their numbers continue to dwindle.  This year, 2010, is the first year that no-one from World War I (WWI) will be present at any ceremony in Canada and, those from WWII are also becoming fewer in number.

Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre has held a special Remembrance Day presentation for the past two years that feature videos with veterans and historical accounts from local veterans of the area.

The initiative was undertaken by Kirk Scott who approached Museum Director and Curator, Barbara Ribey, with the idea that the war veterans of Bruce County should never be forgotten. 

Kirk Scott and Museum Curator, Barbara Ribey

Ribey completely supported the initiative and presented the idea to the County.  The County also saw the historical benefit and agreed to fund the program, whereupon Scott began to set out to interview the veterans who were willing to tell their stories ... stories that began in 1939.

In 1939, when Canada joined the war effort, many of the youth of Bruce County and the rest of Canada were the first to enlist. Today, some of those soldiers are still here to tell their stories, to try to make a younger generation understand that the freedoms they enjoy came at a great sacrifice.

On Saturday, November 6th,  some of those same once-young soldiers were at the Bruce County Museum telling their stories ... many that resulted in tears, even for some of the dignitaries who attended.

Some of the dignitaries ... (L) Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith and wife, Donna, Arran Elderslie Mayor Ron Oswald, Huron Kinloss Mayor Mitch Twolan and Dr. Jack Bowers

Arthur Curry for instance told of the time that he was taken Prisoner of War |(POW)  and escaped three times.  Like many other service people, he doesn't often talk about the exploits of his youth.  His daughter, Lynn {Curry} Hall however, tells of some of those exploits.

Veteran Arthur Curry (and wife Mary) recounts a war remembrance to Ron Oswald (L) and Mitch Twolan (R)

"We know that he was a 'sniper' highly trained in shooting.  We also know that they were trained to immediately get rid of their rifles if caught ... snipers were immediately put to death.  Dad was in prisoner of war camps in Germany and Poland.  He always remembers his commander, Major Fisher, who died.  Every August, on a clear night, dad will go outside and look up at the sky and, especially if it's a clear night, will stand and look up at the stars.  He always told us is was the same kind of  night when the Major was killed."

Lynn Hall had her sons at the Museum to listen to their grandfather's story and the stories of other veterans.  "Their grandfather went to their high-school  |(Westhill in Owen Sound) and told his stories so that, just maybe, this generation can begin to understand the sacrifices that these men went through."

Among the veterans was Dr. Jack Bower, former Executive Director of the Bluewater Schoolboard.

Museum's Nancy White with Dr. Jack Bowers and a photo of his military graduation at 20 and a recent photo at 88 (he will soon turn 90)

Two colleagues ... Dr.Jack Bowers, former Director of Bluewater School District, and former Wiarton teacher, Beatrice Craig, meet after decades

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Monday, November 08, 2010