In This Issue
HKVCA President's Message
Hi Everyone. I hope you are all keeping well and staying warm and safe. *** The Memorial Wall is back together with the corrections received over the last few years in place. There is some light maintenance left for warmer weather next spring. We are pleased that it was ready for the November 11 and December 6 services. Big thank you to Randy Wing and Derrill Henderson who headed up the operations and dealt with the necessary issues to accomplish this. **** We were pleased to hear that all WWII veterans will be receiving a commemorative lapel pin and certificate in recognition of their service. The HKVCA submitted all our veteran’s names so trust you have received them now. If not let us know and we will check. **** We are pleased to announce our new Membership Chair, Gerry Anderson who will be gathering all the membership lists for the regions and keeping them archived. Jim Trick will work with him to assist in a smooth change over in the process. Thank you Gerry and welcome aboard. The Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs, announced the rededication of the National War Memorial that took place at the annual Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa with Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence participating. An inscription,In Service to Canada / Au service du Canada,will be added to the Memorial to formally recognize all Canadians who served in the past, serve today, and will serve in the future. The Memorial will also be inscribed with the dates of the Afghanistan mission and the South African War. Another announcement from Ottawa has Walter Natynczyk, General Retired, as the Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs. He has formerly served as Chief of Defence Staff and has a good knowledge of veteran’s needs. *** I know many of you will have attended the November 11 service in your area to say thank you to our veterans for their service and possibly to lay a wreath. Maybe there will be pictures here to show us all. I was also laying a wreath at Charleswood Legion service in Winnipeg where over 500 people, including service personnel, observe this occasion. Several of our HK vets came from this area. *** The Canadian Museum of Human Rights is open in Winnipeg. Barry and Constance Mitchell with Allan and I attended to view the displays, which are mostly virtual. It is a very profound exhibit and would take several days to do it justice. Unfortunately, there is no display on the Battle of Hong Kong as it is classed a military mission, and the intent is to show injustice done against civilians. We would need to produce a video to prove the injustice shown the HK veterans when they returned home with the lack of proper health care, pensions and benefits until 2001 when they received 100% pension. So we can add that to the project list. *** Please read the election information that will be found in the newsletter as the process will be different. Thanks to Derrill Henderson who has worked hard on getting this process to a manageable one. Again I ask that you take time and consider donating some to the HKVCA on a project or to the management of the Association Next year marks an anniversary of the return of those who survived the Battle of Hong Kong and the years of internment. Check the website for information about Mike Babin’s trip to Hong Kong in December 2015 and for information on the National Convention. I hope that you enjoy and celebrate the Christmas season with family and friends. Have a wonderful holiday and I wish you a happy, healthy New Year. All the best from my family to yours. Carol |
