by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Seven tribute Victory lapel pins were presented to World War II veterans living in Whitewater Region Township.
The presentation was at the Cobden Legion Branch 550 last Friday afternoon. The recipients are veterans Marion McWade, who is the only woman in Renfrew County to recieve the pin, Edison Stairs, Hamor Markus, Ken Boland, Emmett Ethier, Murray Simpson and Milton Swant.
The Victory pins are to mark the75th anniversary of Canada’s engagement in the Second World War. They can be presented until the end of 2020.
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MP Cheryl Gallant presented the pins with help from Cobden Legion’s Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Heath.
MP Gallant thanked the veterans for attending the event, which occurred on short notice. She was hopeful of presenting them prior to Remembrance Day, but there were just too many to present throughout the riding and not enough time.
“To commemorate World War II veterans, the special Victory Pin is being presented to World War II veterans in this community,” she said. “This is one way of honouring our veterans.”
MP Gallant presented each veteran with a pin as well as a certificate signed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Defence Minister Rob Nicholson.
Emmett Ethier was a paratrooper with the First Canadian Battalion.
“People are safe because of what you did,” MP Gallant said.
With a chuckle, Mr. Ethier told MP Gallant he lied about his age when she joined.
Laughing, she added, “I’m getting a lot of confessions from people who lied about their age.”
Mr. Ethier noted there were four from the Westmeath area who joined the airborn unit and he is the only surviving one. He recalled he joined on April 2, just two weeks after he turned 17.
Because he was too young for airborn, he was sent to Camp Borden for basic training in infrantry. However, he didn’t wait until he was old enough, jumping a fence to join the airborn unit. He was sent overseas and during his service jumped 35 times. He was in on the last push through Germany. Mr. Ethier noted he was on the first boat to come home, which left on May 11. He arrived in Halifax on June 16 and left the service.
Marion McWade was next.
“You are the first lady I’ve had the pleasure of presnting this pin to,” MP Gallant said.
Ms. McWade served with the Candian Women’s Army Corps.
MP Gallant said, “It’s with gratitude of your service in World War II I present this pin.”
When asked how she knew who to present the pins to, MP Gallant said, “Someone called us and let us know what you did.”
Ms. McWade said at 18 years old she joined in Kingston and went to Kitchener for basic training. She was posted to Quebec City where she worked in the office of the signals department in the old post office building. She was in the Joan of Arc barracks.
When the war ended, she went to the Rideau Military Hospital in Ottawa where she eventually met her husband Jim (now deceased). While she was no longer in the army, her husband was and they were stationed to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Eventually, they were posted to Petawawa, returning to Jim’s home town of Cobden to live.
Milton Swant was 16 years old when he joined the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Militia and two years later joined the Infantry Corps in the Canadian Army.
Edison Stairs, fondly called Ed, was 32 years with the Candian Air Force, three of those during World War II.
“Thank you for your sacrifice,” MP Gallant said.
Mr. Stairs noted he didn’t make it overseas during the war. He was headed for the Pacific when the Americans dropped the A-Bomb, he said.
He was then assigned to copy the Japanese code for someone to decipher. He was also sent to Comox, BC, where he was stationed in the control tower keeping track of the planes that were going up and down the coast, he explained.
After returning home, he went to university for three years and worked for Ontario Hydro for a year. He then rejoined the air force and worked as a bio science technician. He retired in 1974.
Hamor Markus spent 19 months with the Royal Canadian Volunteer Reserve Navy. He was stationed on the HCMS Granby in the North Atlantic.
Ken Boland served for four-and-a-half years with the Royal Canadian Airforce. He was a pilot-in-training and flew on working trips into Newfoundland and Labrador. He was eventually transferred to Fly Control and was a crewman in a freight carrier. He spent time on different stations across Canada.
Murray Simpson received the Victory pin as well as a Commemorative Pin from the Dutch Empassy. This pin is presented to veterans for the Liberation of Holland during World War II. It was presented on behalf of Princess Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, the former Queen of the Netherlands from Jan. 31, 1938 until she abdicated last year. During World War II, she attended a public primary school in Ottawa and when the war ended,returned home to complete her education in the Netherlands.
Mr. Simpson landed in France and then travelled to Belgium, Holland and Germany.
“I am presenting you with a special gift from Princess Beatrix,” MP Gallant said.
Mr. Simpson served with the Royal Regiment #2 out of Toronto. He drove a Bren Gun carrier (which is a tank).
In 1944 he landed in France and in November 1945 he returned home.
MP Gallant noted anyone who would like to apply for a World War II veteran to receive a Victory pin, as well as a Certificate, can call 1-866-522-2122 to have a form sent by mail, or visit a service Canada office and a form can be printed out for them.
