Members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232 appeared before Huntsville’s General Committee on May 29, asking councillors to find a home for the World War Two Honour Roll so that community members could see and appreciate it.
The Honour Roll is currently displayed at the Huntsville Post Office. Its origin is uncertain, but after much effort, Legion members managed to have it transferred to the Legion. Representatives were before the committee, agreeing to transfer ownership to the Town and requesting that it be displayed at the Canada Summit Centre.
The Honour Roll contains the names of 398 veterans from this area who were in the Second World War.
Councillor Helena Renwick thanked Legion members for their efforts in getting the display to Canada the Summit Centre. Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock called it an honour to have it transferred to the municipality. “And I can’t imagine a better location for it but the Summit Centre given the number of people that go through there daily and the number of tourists that actually go through there as well. It’s just the perfect spot,” said Alcock.
“It’s so important to remember our history and where we came from and what happened during the Second World War,” said Councillor Cory Clarke. He said it reminded him of something his history teacher, Peter Kear, said in high school. “History is like driving a car. You have to check the rearview mirror once in a while to remember where you came from so that you remember where you’re going.”
Municipal staff will move it from the post office to a location at the Canada Summit Centre and a special unveiling ceremony will be held.
Screenshot of the Honour Roll to be displayed at the Canada Summit Centre
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Great initiative with much perseverance by Huntsville’s Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #232, to have the forgotten Second World War Honour Roll of our community transferred from the blocked-off entrance to the Post Office, and the gracious decision by our municipal Town Council to have it timely installed in a prominent position in the G8 Summit Centre.
How appropriate to have this transition take place in 2024, the 80th anniversary of D-Day that initiated the invasion of Normandy and what would be the costly, sacrificial road that led to V-E Day (May 8, 1945), and the return of democracy, freedom to much of Europe after six years of total war against the tyranny and evil of fascism.
And, oh my, it’s not often that one is quoted by a former student who is now an elected political decision-maker – Councillor Cory Clarke – who still remembers a meaningful and positive HHS classroom exchange decades later. From a teaching perspective, maybe it illustrates the enduring power of using an analogy to explain, to understand a difficult concept or question. And yes, apparently some students do listen!
Photo: For the record, one of the ‘ancient’ 35 mm coloured slides – years before the Internet, PowerPoint, PDF, and social media platforms like Google Classroom – that I used in history/civics classrooms to illustrate the rearview mirror analogy when attempting to persuade teens of the important benefits of ‘doing history’ as future citizens of a democratic society.
To all my fellow comrads at the Royal Canadian Legion branch 232. As we used to say in the R.C.N. Bravo Zulu ! I for one didn’t know of it’s existence until this article appeared. A great spot to view this important part of our past. Lest we forget.
Ross Pease
W.O. ( Ret’d)
Well done Comrades !
Wonderful and finally it can be in a place of Honour, no longer in an abandoned to storage closet former entrance of the Post Office.
This really took too long to move… but, it’s happening.
Thank you to all who are making it happen.
” We Will Remember Them” !