S.A.R.V.A. EVENTS/TOURS/NEWS

Please scroll down to view a variety of articles and requests for information

Listing of contents on this page (Scroll down to view articles)

Two SAR soldiers receive France's highest honour.  See below.

A very worthwhile project to support our troops.  Please see below.

Newspaper article on SAR Veteran John Nichols at the candlelight tribute in Georgetown, Ontario on May 4th.

Children from Dauphin Manitoba remember our Veterans on Valentines Day.

Dutch newspaper article about honouring those buried in Holten at Christmas

A Salute to our Canadian Soldiers (a nice tribute)

Just A Common Soldier (a nice read)

Pictures of Jack and Audrey Porter at the Tulips 2005 Tour in Nanaimo on June 8, 2005

Article and tribute of Liberation Celebrations, including winning posters from Holland

Does anyone remember seeing this hat?  A request for information about the SAR field service cap

The Greatest Canadian

The Battle of Normandy Museum in Bayeux is threatened

Reprint of the SAR Regimental history -  The South Albertas

Canadian children in Dauphin Manitoba remember our Veterans.   A great gesture of remembrance from our young to those who ensured their freedom.  Thanks to Kim MacMillan for obtaining the parent's permission to use this picture and article.

A SALUTE TO OUR CANADIAN SOLDIERS

A salute to our Canadian Soldiers

 I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow their carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long , uneventful flight home.

With the huge capacity and slow moving people taking their time to stuff luggage far! too big for the overhead and never paying much attention to holding up the growing line
behind them, I simply shook my head knowing that this flight was not starting out very well.

I was anxious to get home to see my loved ones so I was focused on "my" issues and just felt like standing up and yelling for some of these clowns to get their act together. I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting rough when you resort to the over priced, useless sky mall crap to break the monotony. With everyone finally seated, we just sat there with the cabin
door open and no one in any hurry to get us going although we were well past the scheduled take on time.

No wonder the airline industry is in trouble I told myself. Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us all that we were being delayed. The entire plane let out a collective groan. She resumed speaking to say "We are holding the aircraft for some very special people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more than 5 minutes. The word came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that "I" was
finally going to be on my way home.

Why the hoopla over "these" folks? I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the hold up.........Just get their butts in a seat and lets hit the gas I thought.

The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a loud and excited voice that we were being joined by several Canadian Soldiers returning home from Afghanistan!!! Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause. The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people cheering for them as they searched for their seats. They were having their hands shook and touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One elderly woman kissed the hand of one of the Soldiers as he passed by her.

The applause, whistles and cheering didn't stop for a long time. When we were finally airborne, "I" was not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in "me" getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my hand. These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently about "me" and "my" issues.

I took for granted the everyday freedoms I enjoy and the conveniences of the Canadian way of life I took for granted, others paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes delay to "me" those heroes going home to their loved ones.  I attempted to get my selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we landed I suggested to the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to remain in their seats until our hero's were allowed to gather their things and be first off the plane. The cheer! s and applause continued until the last Soldier stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken for granted everyday freedoms......... I felt proud of them. I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say Thank You for a job well done. I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the lesson learned.

I can't say it enough, THANK YOU to those Veterans and active servicemen and women who may read this and a prayer for those who cannot because they are no longer with us. GOD BLESS!! WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE !!!!!

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER

Just a Common Soldier
(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honour while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

©1985 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

Tulips 2005 is a tour of Canada by a musical group from the Netherlands. They are playing in over 75 towns and cities this summer.  This tour is in tribute to the Canadian Veterans who liberated the Netherlands. 

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER SEEING THIS CAP?

PLEASE READ

Reprint of the Regimental History

The South Albertas - A Canadian Regiment at War

By Donald E. Graves

In the five years since it was first published, the Regimental History of the SAR has become widely recognized as one of the best, if not the best, regimental history of a Canadian unit in the Second World War.  Since it went out of print in May 2002, it has become a very desirable item and copies are now selling for more than $100.

At a recent reunion in Victoria, a decision was made to reprint the Regimental History.  The intention is to print a third and final edition at a cost of $20,000. in the Spring of 2004.  Pledges have already been received to the amount of about $13,000. but the Regiment must raise the balance to complete this reprint.  All those who donate will receive a tax receipt for their contributions.

This final edition of the History will differ from previous editions as it will contain a picture of the VC on the cover, and excerpts from the many fine reviews the Regimental History has received over the last five years.

MARCH 2004

We wish to acknowledge the following individuals who have taken pictures of gravestones for use on the Graves & Memorials project that Jack is currently working on and will be ready later this year on this site.  We thank Alex Marten (Adegem), Jacques Buermans and Wiilyc of Antwerp, Al Ball of the British Legion in England as well as Ger and Catherine Sterken in Holland for taking pictures in Holten and Groesbeek Cemetaries.  Leon Roosenboom and Frank Nefs for Bergen-Op-Zoom and Olivier Richard and Nicolas Blais in France.  The total number of pictures taken by these individuals is 89.  Your help and efforts are greatly appreciated and will be acknowledged in a letter to you in both the Gravestones Book as well as in the slide show that is being developed.

Portions of the Gravestones Project can be viewed by clicking on the Graves and Memorials icon.  Bergen-Op-Zoom, Brookwood and France are some that are completed.

Jack Porter -  Member of the South Alberta Regiment - June 6, 1940 to February 20, 1946.

ANNOUNCEMENT

It was recently announced that Major Danny McLeod, MC, CD will be honoured with an Honourary Doctorate of Military Science at the Spring Convocation of the Royal Military College in Kingston in May 2004.  Congratulations Danny!

UP DATED  07-02-2013