Friday Morning Coffee Club recognizes veterans on 70th anniversary of V-E Day

Jim, Ron, Bill

\Friday Morning Coffee Club marked V-E Day which celebrates  the end of World War II, by giving special recognition to three of its members who have served in their nation's Armed Forces.

Ron McFarland served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II; Bill Nightingale in the Royal Canadian Air Force for more than 30 years, and Jim Roberts, originally from Oregon, but now a Canadian citizen, in the United States Marines in Vietnam.

Bill, Ron

We deeply appreciate the contributions that Ron, Bill and Jim have made in the service of their respective countries, and continue to make in the community. Thanks guys. 

Lest we ever forget that you each were willing to place yourself in harm's way for your family, friends and country.

Ron front row on left

On May 9, Cranbrook Branch 24 of the Royal Canadian Legion held a most  impressive ceremony at the cenotaph in Rotary Park to honour all those who served in Canada's Armed Forces on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the first Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945.

Ron and Bill were on hand for the occasion.

Bill

Later, at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall, Legion members and friends gathered, including Joel Vinge, a founding member of FMCC and member of the popular singing group, ' Sound Principle'. was there.

Here are Joel's comments:

Ron

"Our quartet ‘Sound Principle’ sang at the Legion. I dedicated our first song ‘Once Upon A Time’ to the memory of my brother-in-law Jim Parsons.

"My Brother- in law- Jim was 17 when my wife, Sheila, was born. She was 2 when Jim went overseas at the age of 19. When he and his comrades came home after 3 years Sheila remembers going down behind Woodward’s to the railway station, to greet them. 

"She, then 5, remembers mostly knees and being picked up and being swung around by “young men she didn’t know" and that it was a happy time.

"Jim lived until he was 85 and now would now have been 91. He told all that he didn’t win the war as he “was too busy trying to survive” to be a good fighter but I know he was there when he needed to be. He was a good man.  

"I would like to dedicate this song “Once Upon A Time” to Jim’s memory and to thank him for his effort.  Lest we forget!”

Thanks Joel. We all have our memories of once upon a time.

On a very personal basis, I don't recall the exact end of World War II, but my father's sister Marion recalled in a letter to me shortly before she died that, church bells rang, and citizens flocked to the respective churches. 

Jim, Bob, Bill, Ron

And the good people of Chapleau, Ontario, offered prayers of thanks for the end of the war.

My father, Flying Officer James E. Morris, was killed while on active service in the RCAF on July 16,1943. 

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them."

Terry, MJM, Jim

-Ode of Remembrance from For the Fallen, 1914

Photos by Joel Vinge and MJM