by CONNIE TABBERT
EDITOR
WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — A relationship forged decades ago was made stronger with the unveiling of a monument at Veterans Memorial Park in Cobden Sunday afternoon.
The unveiling of this Memorial Cenotaph was also the conclusion of the 75th anniversary weekend celebrations of 427 Squadron from Garrison Petawawa.
The celebrations began with a pig roast and meet and greet social Friday evening, a ball Saturday evening, both at Garrison Petawawa, and the unveiling Sunday afternoon.
During the 30-minute ceremony, the gathered crowd of about 200 heard from four different speakers – Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson, 427 Squadron Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Clay Rook, retired 427 Squadron Colonel Walt Pirie on behalf of the 427 Squadron Association and Padre Captain Ray Smith.
Emcee Master Corporal Imre Glassé-Hille provided a brief history of 427 Squadron.
“427 Squadron was initially formed in 1942 as a bomber squadron during World War 2,” he said. “The squadron was adopted by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM, who presented a bronze lion to the squadron. This, along with the adoption of one of Prime Minister (Winston) Churchill’s lion cubs, Mareth, is how the squadron became affectionately known as the Lion Squadron.
“Following the war in 1952, 427 Squadron was re-activated as a fighter squadron flying first the CF-86 Sabre and then the CF-104 Starfighter in 1962.
“In 1971 the 427 Lion Squadron was rerolled to tactical aviation flying in support of the army with a variety of aircraft including the L-19 Bird Dog, CH-136 Kiowa, CH-135 Twin Huey, and currently the CH-146 Griffon.
“427 Squadron is now the dedicated Special Operations Forces aviation asset for the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command,” MCpl Glasse-Hille continued, ending with, “In leading up to the squadron’s 75th anniversary, a project was undertaken to honour all those who had perished while serving with 427 Squadron since its inception. The result is what you will see unveiled here today.”
Prior to the speakers taking to the podium, 427 Squadron Honourary Colonel Del Lippert and honourary guest retired 427 Squadron Colonel Jim Smith unveiled the bronze Lion statue atop the monument as they pulled off the tartan cloth. Hon. Col. Lippert was chosen to unveil the monument because he was a driving force behind the project and retired Col. Smith was chosen because he is one of the oldest Lions, an ex-tail gunner in 1945 of 427 Squadron.
“He’s one of the oldest members that used to serve the 427 Squadron,” LCol. Rook said.
The monument is spectacular. It is made up of four black granite slabs about 6 feet tall with the fallen members names inscribed on them, the battles the 427 Squadron members fought in and the aircraft they flew in etched on the granite slabs. A large bronze lion stands on a round granite slab atop the monument. The monument sits on top of another large, round granite slab.
Whitewater Region Mayor Johnson was first to the speaker’s podium.
“This is a huge, huge honour to have this memorial here in our park in Whitewater Region,” he said.
It is a tradition going back quite some time that the squadron has been looking after Cobden and the people who come every year to make us proud to be part of our Remembrance Day service. They also use the area as a training ground when necessary, he added.
“I especially feel honoured when I see the blue uniforms,” Mayor Johnson said. “My father was in the airforce in the second World War.”
He recalled when 427 Squadron Hon. Col. Lippert attended a council meeting in early spring to ask permission to have the monument erected in Cobden’s park.
“I’m sure he realized immediately that we were overwhelmed, that all of council was in favour of this and honoured, to have such a noble lion and noble honour as this memorial on Hwy 17 in our Memorial Park, it just about brings tears to my eyes to think of that.,” Mayor John said adding, “Cobden is front and centre to all traffic going west, all traffic going east.”
Mayor Johnson noted that all of Canada will eventually see this memorial as they travel the TransCanada highway.
He knows young people will have their picture taken at the monument and know the history of this unit because of the monument.
“On behalf of Whitewater Region, thank you to 427 Squadron,” Mayor Johnson said.
Just as he was to leave the podium, he said, it’s a small world we live in, because CO LCol Rook knew his father, the late Harold Johnson, who was well known in Cobden.
LCol Rook said 427 Squadron is a world-class precision special forces aviation unit in support of Canadian special forces command.
“From the skies over the English Channel, France, Fortress Europe and Germany in January 1943 to 1945 to preserving peace in Europe during the Cold War and continuing to support the Canadian army with tactical army aviation in the last quarter of the 20th century to today, 427 Squadron continues its tradition of selfless dedication, professionalism, warrior spirit and relentless task and mission focus as recently demonstrated in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the globe,” he said.
The long-standing support and relationship between Cobden and the squadron continues to be a driving force of success, he said.
“Thank you to all from Whitewater Region for your continued trust, support and acceptance within your community,” he said.
H/Col. Lippert’s determination that those who have served and sacrificed be recognized, along with the relationship between Cobden and 427 Squadron, is the reason the unit’s memorial is in Veteran’s Park, he said.
“This cenotaph is a dedication to the honour of those who have died in the line of a duty, a tribute to the future generations of all the families and of our community in remembering those who protected our freedoms and beliefs,” Lt/Col. Rook stated. “It also symbolizes the future accomplishments that have yet to be written for the men and women who continue to serve today.”
Retired Col. Pirie spoke about how the cenotaph came to be in Cobden and who will be looking after it in years to come. He flew the F86 Sabre during the Squadron’s sabre era of the 1950s and early 1960s.
He noted the 427 Squadron Association, which is made up of former and current members of the squadron from World War II to today, maintains the history of the squadron and provides information about the squadron through its website.
The idea for this cenotaph started with LCol Jeff Orr, the past CO of 427 Squadron, and the current CO LCol Rook continued to support it when he took over, R/Col Pirie said. The reins of the project were handed to HCol. Lippert who moved it forward.
“Del has seen the project through from inception, through design, to contract letting, to manufacture and installation,” R/Col Pirie said.
He was the primary fundraiser, with help from Dean Black, a member of the association, and they raised more than $200,000. A list of donors will be inscribed on a plaque to be erected to the side of the cenotaph, he said.
Although the cenotaph is completed, the association’s work does not stop, as it will ensure the monument is maintained throughout the years, Col. Pirie said.
Speaking about the monument, R/Col Pirie said, “I know of no other in the world that would surpass this one in workmanship, appropriate design and intricate detail. The bronze lion grabs one’s attention immediately, and appropriate so. But, to see scale etchings of each of the aircraft flown by 472 Squadron from the squadron’s inception in 1942 through to the present, along with a listing of all those members who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country and in support of freedom for all, is truly awe inspiring.”
Padre Cap Smith spoke to the crowd prior to blessing the monument.
“We are here this afternoon to honour our fallen comrades, to honour those who served in the past and those who are currently serving, and to dedicate this memorial to their sacrifice and service,” he said.
Standing in front of the memorial, Padre Smith said, “Who do we build a place like this? For the fallen; for the families of the Lions; for us, those who have served and those who are serving now, for all Canadians – to remind all Canadians that their freedom came at a price.”
He gave nine reasons why anyone would want to go to a memorial monument, including to grieve, because grieving is healthy; to make peace with the battle that is still raging inside some of us; to remember good times with our comrades; and to celebrate the lives of those we lost and to be inspired, to be proud, to stay focused and stay vigilant.
“If our fallen comrades could speak to us, what would they say,” Padre Smith questioned. “I believe the would say to us – treasure your loved ones…treat every day as a gift; savour each moment; don’t waste time worrying about things that don’t really matter and stop and smell the roses.”
But most important, he said they may be saying, “Please don’t forget us.
We cannot forget for two very important reasons,” Padre Smith continued. “The first is that forgetting is disrespectful and the second is that forgetting is dangerous. Those who forget history are destined to repeat it. Our world isn’t getting any safer.”
Although a man of peace, Padre Smith knows peace does not just happen by itself, at times it has to be created.
“The Good Book says, ‘Blessed are the peace makers’,” he said. “That’s us. We are the peace makers. We rush into harm’s way and make peace because that is who we are and that is what we do.”
Padre Smith then gave the prayer of blessing and dedication to end the ceremony.
Everyone was invited back to the Cobden Legion for a social time and food and refreshment.
Following the event, LCol Rook said, “(This monument) is a way to recognize those who have sacrificed for all the freedoms and beliefs that we preserve and sometimes take for granted in Canada.
“It’s recognition of the relationship between Whitewater Region and 427,” he said adding, “What a great opportunity for us to reflect on the past, look at what we’ve done and remember those fallen for all the freedoms we do have and for what successes we’re going to have in the future in supporting Canadian Armed Forces, the Government of Canada and the great citizens of Canada,” he said.
