For many years now, our November gathering is dedicated to celebrating Remembrance Day. This year too, we joined our hands together to create a wreath to honour those brave soldiers, peacekeepers, firefighters, and public servants who laid down their lives for our freedom. We recalled the spirit of integrity, duty, and patriotism that has motivated brave Canadians in every time and place.
The recently elected President of the Marda Loop Community Association, Darren Grelowsk, welcomed the attendees. He said, “There is probably no greater place in the city to gather with a deeper connection to the military… let us be aware when we travel our community of the streets that bear the names of other battles on Vimy Way, Somme or Flanders Avenues, to pause and reflect on the service and sacrifice that shapes our freedoms.”
This year our guests of honour, Greg McKenzie and David Mitchel introduced us to a project entitled “Citizen Sailor Virtual Cenotaph (CSVC)” in which they are part of a volunteer team researching 11,769 Naval Reservists killed in WWII. Their fascinating findings are sourced from navy records at Library and Archives Canada, Family trees from Ancestry.ca, newspaper archives, historical websites, and reference books.
Chester Kelloway, who served right here in Calgary as well as in operations in the Middle East during WWII, recited “Flanders Fields” and emphasised how fortunate we were to live in a country such as ours thanks to those who fought for our freedom.
We would like to acknowledge our collaboration with #22 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps at our ceremonies over the past few years. This is thanks to Sub Lt. Don Figol who is the Training Officer who has joined us with his cadets and brought a military ceremonial flavour to the event.
Bugler Paul Sholtz added live sound effects to the occasion.
Thank you to Marie Lychak for picking up and delivering the donations of food that our members brough in for the Veterans Food Bank.
Thank you, one and all for making our Remembrance ceremony a meaningful and impressive occasion yet another year.
Heather Bhatty
Director, Seniors in the Loop
Seniors Gathering
The next monthly get together will be our Annual Potluck to celebrate the Holiday Season on Monday, December 2 from 9:00 am to 12:30 noon in the Upper Hall of the Community Association. Senior MLCA Members will receive more details by email. We will also be collecting any hand knitted woollies you would like to donate for Rocky View Hospital. For more information, or suggestions/comments, email [email protected].
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