Many events planned to honour veterans
REMEMBRANCE WEEK
Posted By By Jeff Helsdon
Posted 3 months ago
Each year Canadians set aside one minute on Nov. 11 to celebrate Remembrance Day.
Last year, the local Legion and Robin Barker-James expanded on the Remembrance Day concept and created a Week of Remembrance in town. Tillsonburg Remembers – The Week of Remembrance 2009 will commence next week.
With last year being a success and many people asking if there would be a repeat, it was decided to continue the tradition. Since one of the big successes last year was the screening of the movie Passchendaele, three movies will be shown as part of the week this year.
Professor Terry Copp, Canada's best known military historian and author of more than a dozen war books, will talk on the Dutch city of Nijmegen during the Second World War.
"That was where they had the Bridge Too Far offensive," Barker-James said. "It was heavily bombed and shelled after the Bridge Too Far offensive in Operation Market Garden in October 1944. The city was heavily damaged."
There is a local connection to the offensive. Local vet Bill Findley was part of the action there. In addition, there are many Dutch residents in the area.
The event will be held at Annandale House, starting at 7 p.m. There is no admission, but seats need to be reserved by phoning the Legion at (519) 842-5281.
On Thursday at 2 p.m., the movie The Downfall will be showing at Broadway Cinemas. This movie tells the story of the last three weeks of Hitler's life in his bunker. It is a German-language film with English subtitles. Again, admission is free, but reserve seating is required by phoning the Legion.
On Friday, there will be a roast beef dinner at the Legion, followed by the video The Paper Clips. This movie follows the story of how Tennessee school children collected 11 million paper clips to represent the lives lost in the Holocaust. Cost of the dinner is $10 and the video is no charge.
On Saturday, amateur historian Robert Stewart will talk about the impact of the Great War at the Legion, starting at 3 p.m.
The Legion church parade on Sunday, Nov. 8, is a long-standing tradition and not a new event to Remembrance Week. New this year will be an open house at Annandale House hosted by Tillsonburg Military History Club, from 1 to 4 p.m. The public is also invited to bring in their personal items.
"If people want to bring artifacts in, we're going to do a kind of Antiques Road Show tell them what they are and what they're worth," Barker-James said.
Saving Private Ryan, the Tom Hanks film that won the Academy Award for best picture, will be screened Monday at 6 p.m. at Broadway Cinemas. Again, there is no charge, but seating must be reserved at the Legion. This film is about D-Day during the Second World War.
Jason Pankratz and Barker-James will speak about war novels and war posters on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. People are asked to bring their favourite war novel and read from it. There will also be a display of posters and slideshow. This event will start at 7 p.m. at the Station Arts Centre.
Although there is no charge for most events, donations are accepted.
"We're welcoming anybody that wants to make donations to the costs or any corporate donations," Barker-James said. "We'll also pass the helmet at events to help defray costs."
