Burma Star Association - B.C. Chapter
Our branch is now down to 70 members with only about half this number considered to be 'active'. This can be attributed in most cases to ill health and infirmities or otherwise because they live in towns or cities far from our Vancouver HQ operations - even as far as the UK!
So, of the remaining active members, we are further split when it comes to attending cenotaph services on November 11th
The majority opted for the remembrance service in downtown Vancouver but I, along with five other members chose the service in the smaller community of Coquitlam. A few others participated in their own service affiliation's memorials or else with other local communities.
But even at full strength we would not present the impact we did in the past with much larger contingents. Indeed we are a dying breed.
In any case I personally prefer the commemoration activities in the relatively small community of Coquitlam. It is here I find a genuine outpouring mixture of love, gratitude, humility and reverence in stark contrast to the much larger Vancouver assemblage where 'talking heads' tend to extol the virtues of branches of government and the politicians who run them. Then they suddenly remember the meaning of the day and spout the required platitudes from their mouths but not necessarily from their hearts.
But, small as it is, the community of Coquitlam turns out in thousands with only one thought in mind - to honor the sacrifices made by veterans, both dead and still living.
In a packed local school gymnasium more than 1000 people listened to genuine colloquies from the heart given by the local Mayor and Federal and Provincial representatives. Compelling tributes were also given by the local commander of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the local Fire Chief and also the President of the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 263. Lastly, the branch padre held the audience in the palm of his hands with a charmingly engaging speech. It was given with a sensitive mixture of reverence, joy of living, heartfelt thanks and more than a touch of a gentle, sly humour and wit. He embodies all that we look for in a 'man of the cloth'.
After these presentations our small ailing group took a short cut across the park to the cenotaph about ½ a mile away. Those fit enough paraded behind massed pipe bands and a Royal Canadian Air Force Cadet band, followed by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment in their scarlet dress uniforms and a very large number of the Coquitlam and District Fire Department in their magnificent navy blue dress uniforms emblazoned with gold crests and badges and stripes denoting rank.
Most impressive was the massive turnout of young children. Some of them were members of local scout, guide and other troupes but hundreds of others were simply with their Moms and Dads. More than any other service I have attended, this one seems to attract young families with children by the hundreds. And every face, both young and older, reflects a tender sadness with a silent 'thank you' on their lips.
At the cenotaph site, there were several hundreds more families awaiting the continuation of the ceremony, the playing of the Last Post, Reveille and the Lament. This was followed by a two minute silence and the laying of wreaths. This year more than 60 wreaths were laid in honor of various organizations and recent individual deaths of veterans. Remarkably, this wreath laying showed an increase of more than 20 percent over the previous year.
The circuitous march back through town ended at Branch 263 of the Royal Canadian Legion where the major participants and veterans listened to two or three other beautiful and emotional speeches before enjoying an appetizing buffet lunch.
Immediately after the lunch a 30 member pipe band swaggered into the room in full regalia playing a rousing medley of Scottish tunes, ending with 'Amazing Grace". In a relatively small hall with fairly low ceilings the sound was intense and electrifying but it barely drowned out the massive applause of the crowd.
Rightly so, each member has thoughts and memories of their own. These just happen to be mine. The article above does not pretend to be the voice of our Branch and is never intended as such.
Recollections of Joe Arblaster (Webmaster)
