> -----Original Message-----
> Behalf Of Adrienne Roberts
> Sent: August 2, 2000 16:31...
...
> Myself and a co-worker were tossing around ideas today about designing a
> rememberance day programme
***** For non-Canadians, REMEMBRANCE DAY is November 11 and commemorates the
armistice on 1918-11-11-11:00 after four (4) years 1914-1918 of the Great
War (World War I ).
> for the military museum and i was wondering if
> anyone could offer some advice about how to handle it, what worked or
> didn't work for you, etc. ... has anyone had any
> experience in designing something like this as an outreach project with a
> local high school, etc. any ideas, advice, comments, etc. would be
great!!!
***** In Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, a volunteer named George
Boatman organized "CANADIANS REMEMBERED" events in local armouries starting
about 1995-96 for the weekend before Remembrance Day each year. Putting it
on has involved civilians co-ordinating it, with participation by veterans,
veterans' organizations (e.g. Royal Canadian Legion; Korean War Veterans
etc.), Western Command (the local chapter of the Military Vehicle
Preservation Association www.mvpa.org), other collectors (of uniforms,
flags, weapons, gas masks, medals etc.), current serving members of the
military and cadets, local air museum, local military museums, the Canadian
War Museum, my own museum (Burnaby Village Museum), bands, Veterans Affairs
Canada, Welsh Men's Choir, Scottish dancers, USMC silent drill team (they
LOVED our beer, and came back year after year even though their official US
Navy car was once towed away by local police!) etc. Admission was free.
Advance advertising was essential, as was signage on the street on the days
of the event. The event did not glamorize war, but focussed on REMEMBERING
those who were these, especially those who did not return.
ACTIVITIES
* Opening flags ceremony
* Choirs
* Displays of historic military vehicles, equipment, weapons, uniforms,
badges, medals, photos (e.g. of Korean War), gas masks, air raid precaution
items, 1916 "Roll of Honor" (sic) for the City of Burnaby, models of
warships, full size replica of a WWI fighter plane etc.
* Remembrance ceremony by a Chaplin.
* Military bands
* Demonstrations e.g. US Marine Corps Silent Drill Team.
**** Last year a Veterans' Affair event was held on a couple of schooldays
in addition to the activities on the weekend before Remembrance Day. School
groups booked reservations (free) and it was well attended.
* They viewed military vehicles (old and new) on the main floor of the
armoury.
* Viewed the regimental museum,
* Went to the Officers' Mess where veterans spoke with them in small groups
group.
* The local city police also brought out their police dogs and did
demonstrations. [I was puzzled by this as this was simply a filler activity,
and was not relevant I felt].
* A Canadian military historic fashion show was also put on by Veterans'
Affairs at a nearby mall. I took my 1944 Willys jeep, wore a WWII uniform,
and also narrated the military historical fashion show for them.
* They also watched a play put on by a local college(?) acting group
depicting various aspects of Canadian military history. This was well
received. For example they did a solo impression of Lieutenant Colonel Cec
Merritt winning his Victoria Cross at Dieppe in August 1942, and a North
Atlantic Convoy scenario using the words of the veterans.
**** SUCCESSES
* High public profile - thousands of people visited each day.
* Very well received by the veterans.
* Welsh Men's Choir, a world class group that normally charges a hefty fee,
VOLUNTEERED their time and asked to come again.
* Involvement of Merchant Navy vets, Korean War vets, Japanese Canadian
vets, Chinese Canadian vets, collectors, museums, etc.
* Many people were very willing to donate their time and effort, and bring
out their treasures for such a worthy cause.
* Loan of some uniforms by a local movie supply company (International Movie
Services) for the historic fashion show.
* Great public relations for the military in a city that is noted for being
anti-military.
* Veterans of peace keeping in the former Yugoslavia were recognized.
(where some Canadian peacekeepers were under heavy attack in the battle of
the Medak Pocket).
**** PROBLEMS
* Competition for slender Department of National Defence resources - i.e.
person days. Last year the army would not commit to support the "Canadians
Remembered" event (in spite of being told by their own PR people that it was
the "biggest bang for the buck" public relations value they had available!).
As a result the event for 1999 was cancelled. Veterans' Affairs stepped
forward and ran a smaller event at a different armoury and at a nearby mall.
* This year, even though the "Canadians Remembered" event was already
scheduled at the Seaforth Armoury, Veterans' Affairs apparently have chosen
to repeat what they did last year at the Beatty Street Drill Hall. As a
result, the army has apparently cancelled their support to "Canadians
Remembered" and switched to the Veterans' Affairs event. As a result the
"Canadians Remembered" event has apparently now been cancelled. This
competition instead of co-operation leads to confusion and people paddling
the canoe in different directions. The collectors are in anguish as they
feel a sense of loyalty to those who have worked hard to produce these
events in the past, but don't want to be petty and have the veterans or the
commemoration suffer. Moral: WORK TOGETHER!
* Schools groups were OK for the most part but one private school in
particular caused a LOT of problems. They were like a bunch of monkeys! They
climbed on everything, and even damaged my jeep (Veterans' Affairs covered
the cost for the repairs). School groups need LOTS of SUPERVISION. They did
not come with enough parents and teachers, so you want volunteers and/or
staff there to help supervise.
* Rope off vehicles etc. that you do not want people climbing on. Having a
roving 'guard' is not enough when you are dealing with 100 or more curious
and energetic school kids at one time.
OTHER COMMENTS
**** I can help put you or anyone else in touch with your local military
vehicle preservation group as this is a worldwide hobby.( Here are some
worldwide links: http://www.mvpa.org/links-groups.htm ) For Ontario it is
the OMVA (Ontario Military Vehicle Association
http://members.xoom.com/omva1/ ).
**** One could chose to acknowledge or highlight the Korean War which
started 50 years ago (1950 June). In Canada you will find however that
Veterans' Affairs (Canada) does not like to commemorate the beginnings of
wars, only the endings. My problem with that is that we will lose many more
veterans to old age, illness etc. before that anniversary comes around and
they may die feeling their war service is forgotten. For the Korean War,
which was a United Nations effort, Canada sent ships (e.g. HMCS Haida now
preserved in Toronto, ON and HMCS Cayuga), an infantry brigade (the CASF
later called the 25th CIB), a transport squadron etc. I do not have the
figures at hand, but over 500 Canadians were killed in the Korean War and
some (32?) were taken Prisoners of War (POW). It is one of Canada's
forgotten wars. I had the privilege of serving as the Aide-de-camp for
Brigadier Rockingham, a noted WWII veteran, who commanded the Canadian
Brigade in Korea. (My brief time as his ADC was many years later while I was
serving as a Captain with the Canadian Scottish Regiment)
For some interesting twists about that war:
* Recruiting was so hurried that one man was enrolled who only had one leg.
Another man who was enrolled was in his 70s! Some volunteers were found
training with the soldiers at camp without having formally joined the army!
* The 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2
PPCLI) won a US Presidential citation for their brave stand at the Battle of
Kapyong.
* "The Great Impostor" story took place at this time. Tony Curtis I believe
starred in the film that was made about a fellow who pretended to be a
Doctor and was on board HMCS Cayuga in the Korean War. He conducted medical
operations etc. and was well regarded by the men on the ship!
* One of the POWs was I believe a Canadian pilot who was flying an F86 Sabre
jet (while attached to the US Air Force) over Korea and was accidentally
shot down by one of his own men!
**** Colin Macgregor Stevens,
Curator,
Burnaby Village Museum,
Burnaby, BC, CANADA
> Thanks
> Adrienne Roberts
> Historic Interpreter
> Hamilton Military Museum
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