Burma Star Association - B.C. Chapter
By
mid morning, at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park, some activity began in the south
corner of that large, flat, grassy crescent, where a newly arrived, 8-10 cubic
foot, polished, granite stone sat. A small canopied truck disgorged a small,
quiet generator, wires, speakers and microphone and soon came a rental truck to
deliver chairs. Coming in quick order, an HMCS Discovery bus pulled in from
Tsawwassen with a contingent of veterans and wives from Vancouver Island, and at
least one van dropped off a musical group of veterans wearing naval band
uniforms. Then a mixture of people came on the scene.
Many wearing blue blazers adorned with WWII
medals of involvement, some wearing berets, some bush helmets. Many
members had their wives and/or friends accompanying them and our Honorary
Member, Bob Stewart brought his
wife, mother and two sisters to this special occasion.
At 1330
the Vancouver Naval Veterans Drum & Bugle Band came to attention, the Colour
Guard formed up with the Canadian Flag, Union Jack, BC Branch Standard and the
Victoria Branch Standard in that order. They positioned themselves behind the
memorial stone facing the audience. Our Number One Burma Star Member, Sir
Bernard Chacksfield and his wife Lady Elizabeth arrived at 1350 hours.
The
overcast had gone, the sky was blue, the sun gave the heat we welcomed and the
quietness was disrupted, almost appropriately, with many overhead flights of
commuter aircraft to Vancouver's Coal Harbour.
President
Paul B. Adams began our dedication service at 1400 hours. His presentation
follows next. Sir Bernard's comments, prior to the unveiling, were from an
impromptu 3 x 5 card. We also have Bryan Colwell's dedication/prayer to sum up
our service.
What
a wonderful setting for this special occasion in remembrance of our S.E.A.C.'s
fallen comrades.
As
reported by Gord
Sir
Bernard Chacksfield, Lady Elizabeth, Honoured Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
This
is a proud day for the British Columbia Branch of the Burma Star Association.
Through the efforts of Branch members who worked to obtain the funds, we are
here to dedicate this monument to the men and women of the Commonwealth who
served in Burma and the Far East during World War II.
We
thank the Vancouver Parks Board for allowing us this site. Here the monument
looks over English Bay to the Pacific Ocean, across which, far away, lies Asia
and the land of Burma. It is an ideal site. There is none better in the city.
The
events we commemorate happened a long time ago, when we were young. But their
memory is fresh in our minds. We will never forget the heat, the torrential
rains, the mud, the leeches, and all the other good things we encountered. We
will never forget the constant danger, or our valiant comrades who did not make
it back.
Sir
Bernard, we thank you and Lady Elizabeth for being with us on this day. Would
you please take the microphone and proceed with the unveiling.
Paul
B. Adams
May
10, 1994
O
God of battles and Spirit of Peace, as we dedicate this stone in the memory
of all the Commonwealth and other Forces who served and died in the Burma campaign
we find our hearts filling up and flooding over with memories and thanks and
prayers.
We
remember those who died; they were part of our number; they shared with us the
boredom, the deprivation, the occasional humour and the stark terrors of war.
Some died by accident; some of sicknesses, endemic in a land which is filled
with threats to health; some died suddenly; some while waiting alone, wounded
and far from home awaiting a terrible death from the enemy. Some survived, but
suffered an early death because of what they had suffered.
We
remember them all, and thank You for the lives which they laid down as gifts to
help win a victory against tyranny and oppression.
We
thank You for their loved ones, who waited in vain for their return, and then
carried on, without the ones who had shared their lives, their hopes and their
dreams. Help us to continue to support them, in remembrance of the past. And we
thank you for the memories of all of our number who have died since the war.
We
thank You, also, for the realization which has come to us that You were always
with us, even when we did not realize the fact. You loved us all - even before
we were born; and Your purpose was, and is, that we be the people You intended
us to be - we who enlisted to serve - we men and a few women with a longing for
justice and peace, for an end to hunger, ignorance, dire poverty, the pollution
of the environment, and war. We - working with You to help You create the world
You long to see - a world filled with right relationships and with people who
have a joy for serving. You have heard us - and we are hourly grateful to You
and are constraining to serve You.
Our
prayer is that all Your people in the world - not merely from the Commonwealth,
including those from Asia (the vast majority of those who served in Burma), from
Europe, Africa, the Americas, the Antipodes, and islands of the Seas) - from
everywhere - will learn to live as
one great Family intertwined in right relationships. Our further prayer is that
You will help us to forgive our enemies, past and present, lest we become bitter
and hard, walking with unforgiveness weighing us down, its burden hard and
crushing.
And,
finally, let the memory of those who died be an example to us, that we be true
to their best dreams and that we, being faithful unto death, may with our
departed friends receive at last the crown You offer us as You say to us,
"Well done, good and faithful servants; you have been faithful in a few
things; enter into the joy of Your Lord. This is our prayer, God.
Amen.
Prayer given by Bryan Colwell,
May 10th, 1994
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| This Memorial in Stanley Park was erected to face West across the Pacific to the lands where so many of our comrades died. | Looking from the monument to the North Shore Mountains which lie across Vancouver Harbour | A close up of the granite memorial in Stanley Park, Vancouver. Vancouver's Stanley Park is world famous and heavily traveled by tourists and the local population alike. |