ROTARY VOICE REPORT—NOVEMBER 8, 2019 MEETING
By Robert O’Brien
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.
These words from the Ode of Remembrance formed part of President Kevin Power’s moving invocation and framed the theme of today’s annual Remembrance Day. The Governor General’s Military Band Quintet inspired us with nostalgic music before and during lunch and led us in a rousing O Canada after the heart piercing Last Post and Reveille were trumpeted by Paul Taylor from the balcony of the National Club.
Our head table was graced by the presence of last year’s speaker Jack Robertson and President Kevin recognized five veteran members of our Club—Jack Robertson, Jim Bell, John Austin, Harry Figov and Saleem Kassum as well as the one veteran we lost in the past year Elgin Coutts. Past President Don Bell served as Monitor and welcomed the six visiting Rotarians and guests. Sylvia Geist eloquently expressed appreciation for the courage, bravery and sacrifice of soldiers but she also spoke of the current plight of 3000 to 5000 soldiers who leave service each year and many of whom may suffer from transitional issues and “Release Trauma”. A special committee under Sylvia’s leadership is hosting a special forum on November 26 to explore the issue of Release Trauma and veterans are invited to come and share their stories and experiences.
Harold Hetherington introduced our keynote speaker today: author, historian and educator Eric McGeer PhD. Dr. McGeer transported us back in time to the 22-month period between July 1943 and May 1945 when 93,000 Canadians served in driving the Germans out Italy. The Italian front has often and sadly been overshadowed by the D-Day invasion in June 1944 and the campaign to retake France and Holland. The term “D-Day Dodgers” for the Canadians fighting in Italy is a complete misnomer for what in reality was Canada’s baptism of fire fighting in Sicily and making their way through Ortona in December 1943, the near impregnable Hitler line outside Rome May 1944-- all before Allied troops landed at Normandy. The brave and obdurate Canadians who fought in this campaign were facing a fierce enemy as well as rugged and treacherous terrain.
Mr. McGeer told the story of the Canadians piercing of the Gothic Line in Northern Italy—the Germans last economic supply line-- and the heavy German resistance accompanied by the devastating casualty rate. November 1944, Mr. McGeer told us, was the highest casualty month in the entire War. Our speaker reminded us that we need to remember the sacrifices of Canadians during that bloody and brutal campaign and how critical the Canadian role was in the war effort and particularly in the sometimes overlooked Italian war theatre.
There were two draws today—first the Ace of Clubs continues to elude us but Jayson Phelps was the fortunate winner of one of Mr. McGeer’s books while Tony Postesio took home the wine. We all departed today’s Remembrance Day meeting inspired and YES - We Will Remember Them.