Full house for Carman’s Remembrance Day service
Speaker covers 125 years of military history
Posted By Glen Hallick
Posted 2 months ago
(Photo by Glen Hallick) Lorne Bakke spoke eloquently of Canada's military history.
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"Everyone contributed in this fight for freedom, both at home and abroad, even the pacifist had to serve in some way toward the greater end. There was many an unsung hero at home as well as at the battle front,” Lt.-Col. Lorne Bakke.
Another full house highlighted the Remembrance Day service at the Carman Community Hall.
Last year only standing room was left when the service started. This year there were very few empty chairs when Royal Canadian Legion Branch 18 president Rod McPherson commenced the service.
He acknowledged the support from the people and local businesses.
"I'd like to thank all of you for coming," McPherson said. "And all of the businesses in town who supported our poppy campaign."
Among the dignitaries joining the Branch 18 president on stage was District 4 commander Mel Willis.
Following the traditional two minutes of silence to remember those who died in war, wreaths were laid by: Lt.-Col. Lorne Bakke (ret.), Canadian Forces; Cpl. Marshall McGregor, Carman RCMP; Ken Minty, Carman Legion; Barb Doerksen, Ladies' Auxiliary; Second World War veteran Carm Colvin, Government of Canada; Carman MLA Blaine Pedersen, Province of Manitoba; Deputy Mayor Jane Swanton, Town of Carman; Reeve Shawn McCutcheon, RM of Dufferin; and Martin DeWit, Canadian citizens of Dutch descent. Also there were wreath layers from Carman Collegiate, Carman Elementary, the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, and the Girl Guides, Brownies and Sparks.
Reading of the Honour Rolls
When it came to the reading of the Honour Rolls, Minty read the 84 names of area residents who were killed in the First World War.
High school teacher Carrie Phillips read the names of the men and women killed in the Second World War. Prior to reading the 45 names, she paused to make a short statement.
"Several students made the conscious decision to be here today. These men and women fought for our freedom, and we need to remember that. But I don't know if [the students] actually realize what that means. We must never, ever forget why we do this each year," she said.
As guest speaker, Lt.-Col. Bakke provided a history of Canada's participation in several overseas conflicts during the last 125 years.
"Canada is 142-years-old and over that span of time we, as a people, progressively gained our independence by accepting responsibility," the retired aerospace engineer stated.
"When the call to stand up and be counted was promulgated throughout the land, her citizens answered the call and accepted the burden they were asked to bare. And of course I am particularly of thinking of Canada's service on foreign soils."
He began with the 400 boatmen and soldiers who assisted the British Army getting up the Nile River to Khartoum in 1884. Of those Canadians, 16 died on the way to rescue the failed Gordon expedition in eastern Africa.
"The raising of this contingent set an important precedent - Canada was willing to help in an overseas war."
Bakke noted some 8,300 Canadians, mostly in the militia (reservists), served in the Boer War (1899-1901) in South Africa and 234 were killed and another 252 were wounded.
Led By Own Officers
The war also marked the first time Canadians served in their own units and led by their own officers rather than being dispersed among British formations. Three battalions were created of which two were sent to South Africa and the other replaced the British garrison in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
"Canada was beginning to show an interest in her own defence."
In the First World War, Canada, as Bakke pointed out, suffered one of the highest casualty rates among the Allied countries at 37.5 per cent. Of more than 619,600 personnel, over 59,500 were killed and nearly 173,000 were casualties. He quoted an article written by Lt.-Col. D.J. Goodspeed.
"Canada had begun the war with little military experience and with practically nothing in the way of a standing army. She ended it with a superb fighting machine, the greatest national achievement of the Canadian people since the dominion came into being."
Bakke said such sacrifice led the way for Canada signing the peace treaty on its own rather than having Britain sign for it.
"Everyone contributed in this fight for freedom, both at home and abroad, even the pacifist had to serve in some way toward the greater end. There was many an unsung hero at home as well as at the battle front," he said.
Next Bakke talked of Canada being among the original members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949 and as part of the United Nations' force in the Korean War (1950-53).
22,000 Served In Korea
Almost 22,000 Canadians served in Korea, with 516 killed and nearly 1,600 wounded. In the two years following the conflict some 7,000 Canadians served to maintain the peace between North and South Korea.
Next he spoke of Canada's role as a peacekeeper, especially with the UN.
"The year was 1956, the Suez Crisis of October and November brought the world to the brink of nuclear war," Bakke stated.
The UN, through Canada's foreign minister, Lester Pearson, formulated the idea of using troops to keep belligerents apart.
Bakke spoke of a July 2006 incident when Israeli artillery shelled a UN observation post, killing four observers including a Canadian.
He noted Hezbollah forces used the UN post as a shield as they fired artillery shells at Israel, thereby initiating the latter's response in kind.
As for the conflict in Afghanistan, the retired lieutenant colonel said 36 Canadians were killed in the last year, and brought the total to 136 in seven years. Bakke read out the names of the three dozen killed since Nov., 2008.
McPherson wrapped up the service by pointing to the troops returning from Afghanistan.
"We must remember there is still a war going on and people coming home may need our help."
