Author: Darcy Robert
Remembering D-Day
Remembering D-Day
Message from Comrade Peter Martin- Transcona Branch #7
Saturday June 6th is the 76th Anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy
Every year in the past, the Transcona Legion have acknowledged this historic event with ceremonies at the Transcona cemetery Field of Honour and followed by wreath laying at the Transcona Cenotaph.
This year is not the same and all Legions are ensuring their members and the public stay safe in light of Covid -19. I find it kind of interesting that those who landed on D-Day did that to also keep us safe and free. Even though we cannot get together for ceremonies of Remembrance, we should all think about those who served and especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. We paid a high price for freedom and we should never forget that and continue to appreciate what a wonderful country we live in.
My father, Paul Martin landed during the first wave on Juno Beach. He was a dispatch rider, and the picture below shows him on his motorcycle in the Isle of Wight, where he trained for the invasion.
I was on Juno Beach last year and collected sand and stones from the beach where he landed which is included in my creation below. He survived but many of his friends did not. His best friend from School, Roger Ferman was captured during the landing and shot by his captors two days later along with 39 others in a wheat field. My father did not speak a lot about his experience but one thing he did say was that the D-Day landing was a massive team effort with unbelievable support from many including Transcona ladies making shells at the Transcona shops.
This Saturday, please accept sincere thanks of appreciation for all your family and friends that served 76 years ago. Their participation and sacrifice will never be forgotten even during this time of Covid-19.
Lest We Forget
Wreaths in Field of Honour
Christmas Wreaths
Who: Audrey and Peter Martin invite our Community
What: Place a Christmas Wreath on Veterans Grave
When: Dec 1st 2019 at 1:00 p.m.
Where : Field of Honour Transcona Cemetery
Why: Express our appreciation to those who served
The Martin’s invite our great Community to join them by bringing a real Christmas Wreath to place on one of the 325 Veterans Graves in our
Field of Honour-Transcona Cemetery.
The Cemetery Management have installed stakes at the end of each row
with hooks on each side for hanging of wreaths. You are welcome to
place a wreath on a gravestone in between the stakes. There will be
small Canadian Flags if you wish to attach to your wreath.
The event is informal with the goal to have a wreath at every gravestone. Everyone in attendance will be able to see the board showing the names of the 119 Transcona Soldiers that are buried in Europe. Wreaths will also be placed by the Board. The Board will be removed at the end of December
and placed in safe keeping over the winter months. A group photo will be taken of all the participants. If anyone is unable to attend on December 1st please feel free to go before or after this date and post a selfie if you want.
Field of Honour-Transcona Cemetery
Peter Martin spearheaded a project to recognize the 119 Transcona soldiers who died during
WW I and WW II and are buried overseas.
A special board was designed, created and donated by Premier Printing with the names being provided by the Transcona Museum Curator (Alanna Horejda).
Please see the attached poster which shows the board that was installed Monday November 4th in the
Field of Honour at the Transcona Cemetery.
The Board will stay up until the end of December and will be stored over the winter to keep it safe.
There are 9 soldiers whose bodies were never recovered for burial.
Remembrance Exhibit Kildonan Place
Please join our Colour Party at Kildonan Place Mall
Nov 5th for NOON at Centre Court hosted by the
Transcona Museum for the opening ceremony for their
Remembrance Week Exhibit.