April 26, 2008 Kitchener Ontario Tour St

April 26, 2008.

Kitchener Ontario Tour Stop.

The Rally for Veterans was scheduled for Saturday April 26, 2008 and for two weeks leading up to the Rally the weather was great, but the weather forecast for the Kitchener area was calling for rain on the date of our first “Rally for Veterans”. True to form it was a dark and dreary day in Kitchener that morning but our hard core supporters came out to support the cause of raising video awareness to video taping our WW2 and Korean war veterans. The rally was attended by 35 riders including, Harry Watts our VP, a number of organizers of the Kitchener “RIDE for Dad”, plus most of the members of Kitchener A.B.A.T.E. I would like to thank Dave Jennifer and Wally, his wife, for helping me gather all the people for our first Rally. We had a great turn out despite the weather.

We started the rally at Veterans Green in front of a magnificent statue depicting a veteran in a wheelchair with his hand extending downward as if to be handing a poppy to the person standing in front of the monument. Behind the veteran is a column of soldiers marching behind him from WW1, WW2 and Korea. If you get a chance to stop and have a look at this monument, you will not be disappointed.

We rallied down King St. in Waterloo into Kitchener with a police escort. The 35 bikes were lead by an antique Fire truck courtesy of local firehouse and bringing up the rear was the Canadian Armed Forces with a military vehicle. As we rode to the Kitchener Auditorium people were standing along the roadside waving and clapping their hands in appreciation. The rally ended at the Kitchener Bike Show.

This rally accomplished what it was set out to do, that was to bring up awareness to our cross country tour to establish the “Online Veterans Video Library”

april 08, 2009 12:58am

July 25, 2008 The Push

July 25,2008

The push.

This day started with rain waking me up as it made that familiar sound on a steel roof. I had a 9 o’clock appointment with a local celebrity nick named Chub, so I got on my horse and headed to Mary’s Bake Shop for our meeting. When I arrived, the place was packed and I found Alex (Chub) Howard sitting at the biggest table in the place with all the good old boys from town. After a trip to the little boys room I sat down beside Chub. We all joked for awhile then got down to brass tacks.

Chub was in the 3rd field artillery 19th Battalion and after joining in February of ’42 he landed in Italy. He then headed up the Adriatic for more action, then France, Belgium and Holland. Chub is a good man and it was a pleasure interviewing him.

After competing our interview Chub and I parted ways. He went to take his wife to a hair appointment and I headed down the road to Fredericton.

I found the #4 Legion in no time and parked the Blue Bomber. I went upstairs and talked to the President Ardith Armstrong and 1st VP Jean Guy Perreauld and asked permission to set up a table at the Friday night dance. I told the two of them what we were all about and they thought that it was worth while for me to attend the event. I was grateful because we need the money. I ran over to the electronics store to pick up some more tapes for the Video-a- Veteran day that we are going to advertise at the dance tonight for Saturday afternoon. I have met some good people tonight.

april 08, 2009 12:54am