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GUARDS 2009 REUNION 7-9 AUGUST Over 80 members and spouses
have already registered, but by the time you read this it will be
after April 20 and the option for accommodation at Carleton
University will be closed. People from out of town may make their own
arrangements at the Embassy Hotel and Suites, 25 Cartier Street,
telephone 1-800-661-5485, at a cost of $106 per night for a suite
with kitchenette. Buses will be provided to take people to the Hill
for Saturday’s Changing of the Guard Ceremony and to
"Fortissimo" that evening.
IN MEMORIAM
We send our sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to the families,
friends and comrades of the following members of our Regimental
Family who have passed away since the last newsletter: Michael
Arsenault, Garnet Cameron, Charles Clapp (2007), Rhoda Hazlett-Skerry (
wife of Joe Skerry), Al Hennessey, Shirley Meyer (widow of
Rean Meyer), Cindy Miles (wife of Ted Miles), Gerry N.
Osborn, Betty Pantuso ( wife of Frank Pantuso) and Ethel Jean
"Marie" Scott ( wife of RSM C.J.Scott ).
" For Lo, the night approaches, twilight fades and quiet comes
to the land" (Anon)
REPORTS
Petawawa Branch: "Fellow Guardsmen: our report from
Petawawa is fairly short. An executive meeting was held in March and
it was decided not to hold a Spring outing due to upcoming summer
events. There will be a newsletter going out with all current
information on upcoming events. The 50th Anniversary of the first
Guard Mount is in Ottawa 7-9 August and the Atlantic Branch reunion
will be held in Clarenville, Newfoundland, 11-13 September.
After this long winter, I wish everybody a happy summer."
Ambrose Dwyer, Pres.
" Hello out there from Petawawa and Pembroke, a warm welcome
from all of us here to our members across the country! Our dues are
still a bargain - $5 for the Branch and $10 National. If you wish to
renew or pay ahead, give us a shout. After a long, cold winter I am
sure we are all looking forward to summer and nicer weather. Jean and
I, along with many others, will journey to Ottawa for another reunion
and are looking forward, hopefully, to the one in Newfoundland. Give
a shout, we are always available for renewals and new members for our
organization.
Henry Campbell, membership chairman, Petawawa Branch."
FYI: The following were elected to the Board of Directors at
the 2008 AGM.
John Barclay - VP and Newsletter; Henry Campbell -
Petawawa Branch; Terry Dexter - Director, Atlantic Branch;
Ian Douglas - National President; Ambrose Dwyer -
Director, Petawawa Branch; J.A.S. Haley - Director, Guardsnet
and Membership stats; Gerry Heffernan - Director and
Webmaster; Al Johnson -VP and Secretary/Treasurer; Bill MacIver
- VP and Membership Chairman; Norman McBride - Petawawa Branch
and museum representative; Howard Pierce - Director; Percy Price
- Director and Guards Help Chairman; Gerry Wharton - Director
and Museum Chairman.
Atlantic Branch: " Things in the Atlantic area are going
along very well. Several of our members have finally received the
remuneration for having worked in Nevada and Chalk River in 1958. We
are very pleased to have Chris Beattie, along with others, working so
hard on this project for so many years. I know your work in seeking
help for others is ongoing. Well done all!
Our membership continues to be positive (70) and we continually seek
new members - we are hoping to pickup a few more this September 11,12
& 13, at the AGM and Reunion in Newfoundland.Over the years our
ranks have been slowly thinning due to ill health ( and the Grim
Reaper ), so it is more important than ever to encourage Guardsmen
everywhere, to belong to the Association and keep the spirit and
memory of The Regiment alive and well.
The kit shop continues to be popular with many members and several
relatives who have purchased items for their fathers and others. Why
just today, 8 April, I sent an order to Steve Brodsky for his
grandson to wear at the celebration in Ottawa in August. That is what
I call "Keeping the Regimental Spirit Alive" through our
younger generation.
I recently spoke to Colonel Milton Gregg and he tells me that neither
he nor his wife Norma, are able to attend the Reunion this year, due
to their health. We shall miss his keen sense of humour and
contribution to the Reunion. He and Norma continue to be strong
supporters of the "Atlantic Guards" and the whole
Regimental Family across Canada and abroad. We wish them well in the future.
We are looking forward to the Reunion on "The Rock" this
year. All reports indicate a large turnout, perhaps one of the
largest yet! Bernie and Sue Skehen and their committee are
"working like beavers" to ensure we enjoy ourselves as
their guests at the AGM and Reunion. We certainly look forward to
seeing many Guardsmen, their wives and relatives in Newfoundland this September.
Kindest Regards to all, Terry Dexter - Atlantic Branch."
Hot off the presses!! From Dan MacArthur: Marine Atlantic is
offering discounts for passenger fares for Military Veterans (and 2
or 3 family members ) between North Sydney and Port Aux Basques and,
50% off the fares between North Sydney and Argentia. Neither discount
includes the vehicle cost. The discounts are available from May to
October. The Marine Atlantic (toll free) number is: 1-800-341-7981
for reservations. There is a website at Marine Atlantic where further
information is available.
A reminder: The Atlantic Branch Reunion is in Clarenville, NFLD, Sept
11-13.
Hotels are: St. Judes 1-800-563-7800: Clarenville Inn 1-877-466-7911,
and Restland Motel 1-800-205-3993. See ya on the Rock!
Another reminder: The Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the
first "Changing of the Guard and Guard Mount" ceremonies is
coming up 7-9 August in Ottawa.
For a Registration Form, write to -
‘The Secretary, Canadian Guards Regimental Association,
PO Box 972, Station "B", Ottawa, ON, K1P 5R1.
Band Correspondent: Tony Van Gogh came to the Guards Band via
the Dutch Navy in Holland. Prior to that he played trumpet in the
village band beside his father, also a trumpeter. This band was
sponsored by the Phillips Company for whom they worked. Tony took
lessons from a professional trumpet player in Holland.
In 1962, Tony came to Canada and joined the Guards Band, in which he
played for some five years. Later postings included the RCR Band in
Gagetown and the Stadacona Band in Halifax. Altogether Tony spent 34
years in the Canadian military and he commented "I loved it very
much and enjoyed every day of my service." ( One of his pet
peeves was having to play on Parliament Hill when the temperature was
"100 degrees".)
The bulk of his service ( 18 years) was with the Stadacona Band. He
really enjoyed playing with them and especially the small combo group
when they were on assignment in Morocco. As a Warrant Officer, he
earned the privilege of conducting the band whenever the
‘presiding’ conductor was unable to do so.
At age 70, Tony keeps very active as he jogs and works our for two
hours a day in the town of Bedford, N.S. He also maintains his music
skills by playing in several community bands and a church band.
Bob Bertuzzi, Band Correspondent.
CORRESPONDENCE
(I must admit that I am caught in a cleft stick regarding the
heading above. Should it be, "CORRESPONDENCE " or, "
CORRESPONDENTS " ?? On looking at several back issues, I see
that I have wavered between the two for some time. Your
comments/suggestions/advice -no rude remarks please - will be
appreciated. Ed.)
Firstly, to two of my most frequent correspondents, apologies for not
using their recent pieces. To Howie Pierce: Try as I might, I
could not edit your " Reading between the Lines" Christmas
elegy to a size I could publish without deleting all the sinews that
held it together, thus ruining it altogether. To Steve Brodsky:
I wish you would allow broader dissemination of, " A Scribble
Rediscovered". Once again, further editing would have ruined
that ‘autumnal’ reminiscence of the Regiment’s 50th
Anniversary celebrations. This newsletter and the Regimental Family
is well served by ALL our correspondents.
Gary Mancuso - Thanks for your letter. By now you should have
all the information on the August Reunion. And yes, you are correct:
the 3rd Bn was in Valcartier and the 4th Bn was in Camp Ipperwash,
beside the famous beach..
Ken Hollingbury - A real "Blast from the Past!".
Your letter brought forth so many memories of Petawawa in the 50s and
the early days of the 1st and 2nd Battalions.
JAS Haley - Great research, JAS! Dear reader, did you know???
Members of our Regimental families, "live in 436 cities, towns
and villages from the Yukon Territory to Newfoundland/Labrador and
all points West, East and South in Canada and around the world. The
latter includes Australia, Denmark, Germany, Guatamala, Malta, UK and
USA. ( no wonder our mailing costs are so high!)
Andy Maxwell - Congratulations to both you and Bettine
( especially Bettine) on the celebration of your 60th
(Diamond) Wedding Anniversary . As they say in Regimental circles,
"Well done all!". Andy was the Commander of the first
Ceremonial Guard and when asked what he remembered from that first
time, he said, " The traditon of pride of the troops
participating. It was an exhilarating event and something I’m
pleased to see it has been continued. 50 years is a mark of
worthwhile started by "A Regiment Worthy of its Hire."
Mary Logan: Thank you for providing the notice of the death of
Shirley Meyer. I also note from your letter that once your daughter
made the connection, in the best tradition of the Regimental Family,
you went to visit Shirley and helped her cope with the darkening days
by reminiscing about happier times. Good work!
Bernie Zwicker - Thanks for your note. I find myself in about
the same PR positon for the upcoming Celebration - but I’m not
going on a tour of any brewery, especially now that Carlings is no
more! See you on the Rock, perhaps?
Bob Rutledge - Regarding late or unpaid dues, only those who
are in arrears are sent written notification. It was decided, at an
AGM some years ago, that haranguing the many for the sake of the few
was comparable to asking at a meeting, " All them as are not
here put up your hands!" The situation is reviewed several times
a year by the executive, but the letters go out only once a year. As
our membership is over 600 - from about 300 a few years ago - the
current system seems to be effective.
Rob Duncan - (Rob is a member of the Governor General’s
Foot Guards (GGFG) and a correspondent to the GGFG newsletter
"Guards Star". We hope he will continue to send us these
bon mots on a regular basis. Ed)
" Many of you know Joe Pelisek. Joe has been a Guardsman
for more than 40 years, including time spent with the Regiment of
Canadian Guards in the Regular Force. Joe has been a tireless
supporter of the (Guards) Association, the Guards Club of Ottawa, and
also became the primary liaison between the Regiment and the Cadet
Corps. Joe was recently awarded the Army Cadet Volunteer Service
Medal ten year service pin for his dedication and enthusiastic
support for the Cadet Corps."
VETERAN’S OMBUDSMAN
The following is an abbreviated version of an information paper sent
to us by Gerry Wharton while wearing his ANAVET hat.
(The following is for information as the deadline for submissions has passed.)
" The Office of the Veteran’s Ombudsman launched a systemic
investigation into the Red Tape involved in Veteran’s Affairs
Canada (VAC) processes regarding benefits applications. Veterans were
asked to answer (the following) questions as a basis for their submissions.
1.What specific encounters have you had with Departmental red tape
and why were you frustrated?
2. Based on your experiences which VAC programs, benefits and
services suffer from lack of information and clarity or provide
little flexibility?
3. What application forms are difficult to complete and why?
4. Which policies or regulations have been problematic and why?
5. What types of decisions take too long and why?
6. What are specific occasions when you have been asked to get
additional justification that you thought was not necessary?
7. What are some examples of sound administration at VAC or elsewhere
that might be useful to consider?
8. Have you been in a position where you had to mediate between VAC
administration and your service provider?
9. Based on your experiences, what suggestions do you have for
simplifying the application for VAC benefits and services provided
directly, or by third parties on behalf of the Department?
Perhaps you have some specific information you may want to share? (
Or you can just answer the questions as a good mental exercise.)
Address: Office of the Veteran’s Ombudsman, PO Box 18, Station
"B", Ottawa, ON K1P 6C3
LAST WORDS
It is now about 22 years since I began writing and editing this
newsletter, ( with two years off for good behavior when Roger
Corrigan saved our bacon as Secretary/Treasurer) and by and large,
from your comments and critiques, it would seem that you are pretty
much satisfied with the output. To all those whose names I have
misspelled, made the subject of premature obits, reduced to almost
‘nil strength’ their carefully crafted submissions and/or
who have been entirely appalled at my writing style, I offer my
sincere apologies. I cannot give you any assurance, however, that
such things will not happen in the future. My thanks to you all for
putting up with me and being such a good audience.
John Barclay, editor.
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