Rotarians Host Annual Veterans Dinner on November 10, 2014
WE WILL NOT FORGET!
For more than 30 years the Rotary Club of St. Marys have hosted the annual Veterans dinner. Rotarian Ray Bennett who has been the event coordinator for most of those years, told club members that when our club first started hosting the Veterans dinner, there were approximately 50 local veterans attending. Sadly, with the aging of our veterans and their failing health, we were only able to honor 12 veterans this evening.
It has been the practice for club members to pick up the veterans and return them to their homes after an evening of good entertainment and an excellent meal. It is one way that we can say thank you to them for their sacrifices.
This year was no exception. Our caterer, Janice Mitchell, served a complete turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Frank St. Germain, a resident of Rotary Parkview, played piano and led a sing along. The veterans were in good voice and seemed to thoroughly enjoy singing the old tunes of their youth. Percy Smith told a story about a watch he has that was from a German spy.
This annual dinner is our favourite event. We are so humbled by their bravery and courage and so thankful for their safe return to their families and community.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from the failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
"In Flanders Fields" was written in 1915 by Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae.