41260156Corner of Mayor Magrath Drive& 28th Avenue South, Lethbridgewww.cornerstonefuneralhome.ca403-381-7777 (24 Hrs)On Remembrance Day, we honor the members of our armed forces who served and made the eir courage and dedication will always be remembered.Lest we forget. Remembrance Day 2016, November 11 Remembering our veteransOn Remembrance Day, we honor the members ofour armed forces who served and made thewill always be remembered.Lest we forget. Remembrance Day 2025, November 11On the 11th hour of the 11th Day of the 11th month we will remember you.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 Lethbridge Herald page – C2Remembrance Day is here and, as in previous years one of the focal points for Remembrance Day observances will be the Lethbridge Cenotaph just outside the Genevieve E. Yates Memorial Centre near City Hall where one of two annual ceremonies will take place.Almost every city, town, and village in Canada has a cenotaph or other war memorial. A cenotaph is a monument to honor those who died in military service but whose bodies are buried elsewhere or were lost. These memorials serve as central gathering places for ceremonies, most notably on Remembrance Day, and represent a community’s commitment to never forget the sacrifices of its veterans and fallen service members.Lethbridge’s Cenotaph stands on guard twenty-four-seven and the newest semi-permanent memorial is a nearby commemorative Veterans crosswalk, which was completed at the end of October just in time for Remembrance Day.The crosswalk features a silhouette soldier, inspired by the soldier statue on the Cenotaph; and “we will remember” is written in Blackfoot, English and French. Plans are in the works to make the crosswalk permanent.Other Remembrance Day displays are more fleeting, being here for the occasion, like the ceremonial poppy flag flying in front of City Hall. The Brewery Gardens, down the street from the Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) station also has a Remembrance Day display that seemed to pop-up overnight. It features a Remembrance Day billboard behind a patch of white crosses. Up to October 31 the space had been a Halloween display. By October 4th, however, it had been completely transformed. The display is a simple yet poignant tribute to honour those who have served and who continue to serve. It is part of the broader Remembrance Day observations in Lethbridge, which include official ceremonies hosted by the Lethbridge Legion and the City.The gardens are open to the public 24 hours a day, allowing visitors to view the display at any time. Unlike the Commemorative Crosswalk and the Cenotaph, however, the display is relatively out-of-the way and only visible if you take the take the 1 Avenue South exit on the Crowsnest Highway and drive by it, or purposely go there to see it Inside the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden Bunka Centre, there’s a small row of crosses, each has a poppy at the centre and a few have photos on them; representing the sacrifices of Japanese-Canadians for Remembrance Day.It is a common belief by both the public and living Veterans, that fallen veterans should be remembered year-round and not just on designated holidays like Remembrance Day. The sentiment is that the sacrifices made for freedom and security should be appreciated continuously rather than limited to a single day or week.While the exact number of lesser known permanent remembrance monuments has not been catalogued, Lethbridge has several general and specific memorial sites dedicated to veterans and war history beyond the main Cenotaph.The Lethbridge Eternal Flame burning at the entrance to Mountain View Cemetery was erected in 1966, through the combined efforts of Veterans, the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4 and the city of Lethbridge. It burns as a perpetual, though perhaps less prominent, monument dedicated to those who served. The inscription at the base of the flame reads: “To you from failing hands we throw the torch. immortal flame. Dedicated to those who served. A diamond jubilee project”.Within Mountain View Cemetery itself is the Field of Honour Memorial, dedicated to those who served in the military. Erected by the Lethbridge Legion, the inscription reads: “Dedicated to the memory of all who served by sea, by land and in the air who rest here. They left to their heirs and all people this Canada we enjoy today.”Mountain View Cemetery is the final resting place for over 1,400 police and military veterans. A significant ongoing “unmarked grave program,” run by the Last Post Fund and local volunteers, works to identify and install permanent military headstones for previously unmarked veteran graves, ensuring their remembrance. The Lethbridge Military Museum at the Vimy Ridge Armoury, contains numerous exhibits, plaques, and historical resources that serve as a form of indoor, multi-faceted memorial; and is usually open to the public after the main Remembrance Day services. These sites and other initiatives highlight that beyond the primary cenotaph, Lethbridge has multiple ways and locations where veterans and their sacrifices are remembered year-round. Lest we forget.What to Do on Remembrance Day And Where to Do ItIn Canada and other Commonwealth nations Remembrance Day is an annual and very solemn occasion dedicated to honouring and remembering those Veterans who lost their lives while serving in the Canadian military. Across Canada from bustling city centres to small town cenotaphs, the day is marked annually by ceremonies, parades, and quiet moments of gratitude for the service and sacrifice of Canada’s war dead. The most important thing any Canadian can do on Remembrance Day is to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. on November 11 to honour those who have served and sacrificed. Additionally, wearing a traditional poppy as a symbol of remembrance and support local veterans prior to and on Rememberance Day is encouraged. The three elevens (11-11-11) associated with Remembrance Day are significant. The first 11 represents the time, the second represents the day, and the third for the month of November marking the end of World War I hostilities, when the armistice went into effect in 1918.Ottawa will hold a Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial there, while both Edmonton and Calgary. All three events are usually broadcast live on television and online. For those who want to attend live community observances, Lethbridge, Coalhurst, Picture Butte, Coaldale and Taber are all holding their annual Remembrance Day ceremonies on Tuesday.Lethbridge is holding two concurrent Remembrance Day events: an indoor ceremony at Excite Lethbridge (formerly the Agri-Food Hub) starting at 10:45 a.m. (with doors opening at 10 a.m.) and an outdoor service at the Cenotaph at 10:45 a.m. Both are hosted by the Lethbridge Legion General Stewart Branch #4, with the outdoor event also supported by the 20th Independent Field Battery. You can also visit the Veterans Memorial or Cenotaph at other times to pay your respects.The Town of Coalhurst Legion Branch No. 273 is holding its annual Remembrance Day service on Tuesday, November 11 at the Coalhurst Community Centre. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Service begins at 10:30 a.m. sharp.The Town of Picture Butte will have music and a service at Elks Hall starting at 9:45 AM followed by a laying of wreaths at the Cenotach at 11:00 a.m.The Town of Coaldale will host an in-person Remembrance Day Ceremony that will also be presented virtually via live stream on our YouTube Channel. The Ceremony will begin at 10:30 AM on November 11. The in-person ceremony will be at Jennie Emery Elementary School.Finally, the Remembrance Day Service commences at 10:50 AM at the Taber Community Centre. Seating is limited, and attendees are asked to arrive early.Remembrance Day was officially created in Canada in 1931 when the government proclaimed that the day would be observed on November 11. Prior to this, it was observed as Armistice Day on the Monday of the week of November 11. An amendment to the Armistice Day Act changed the name to Remembrance Day and fixed the date permanently to November 11.Countries that observe Remembrance Day, or a similar memorial holiday on November 11th, include the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, and the United States (as Veterans Day). Many other Commonwealth nations, such as India and Barbados, also observe the day, and others around the world have their own variations of the holiday.Lest we forget.Lethbridge’s Cenotaph and Crosswalk: Year-Round Remembrance for Veterans
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 Lethbridge Herald page – C3403-329-55002415 2 A Avenue NorthLethbridge, AB.403-329-55002415 2 A Avenue NorthLethbridge, AB.With gratelhearts we thankall our veteransfor their serviceWith gratelhearts we thankall our veteransfor their serviceWITH HONOR ANDRESPECT TO OUR VETERANS403-382-3601703 13 St NLethbridge, AB T1H 2T2Remains of 44 World War 1 soldiers from the 16th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Scottish Regiment) are lying in a potato field where the Battle of Vimy Ridge took place. Among them is Private Arthur Forbes Ruddock of Powell River. Tragically, Private Ruddock’s military service lasted less than a year, as he was killed in action on April 9,1917 during the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. His remains were never recovered although visitors to the battlefield will see his name inscribed upon the Vimy Memorial.Ruddock was born in New Brunswick but lived in Powell River before moving to work in New Westminster prior to enlisting. Both his parents, Arthur Edward and Isabella Sarah (Forbes) Ruddock are buried in the Powell River Regional District Cemetery in Cranberry. Research by military historian Norm Christie shows that the remains of the 44 soldiers were never properly buried at Nine Elms Cemetery, along with other fallen Canadian Scottish Regiment soldiers, as was supposed to happen. He believes it is important that those bodies are recovered from the field where they fell 108 years ago and given a proper burial. Christie set a Help Recover Our Vimy Heros campaign goal of $110,000 to discover the remains, and bury them properly. Donations will cover engineering, documentary filming, and safety costs.Christie and his team predicted the soldiers’ location by determining discrepancies in burial records and through decades of research. Records from the Imperial Graves Commission also indicate where the remains can be found. They are in a mine crater site known as CA40 that lies beneath a farmer’s potato field in northern France, near Vimy Ridge. This land is potentially slated for industrial development.Initial fundraising and on-site investigations have been completed. However, apparently a regional French bureaucrat has stopped further excavation, and the campaign is awaiting a review of the situation. During the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which took place from April 9 to 12, the Canadian Corps captured the heavily fortified ridge. It was a victory for Canada but resulted in over 10,000 casualties. After the battle, Canadian burial squads collected the dead and interred them in temporary battlefield sites, including mine craters. Following the war, exhumation companies were tasked with moving remains from temporary graves to permanent war cemeteries. A documentary, Searching for Vimy’s Lost Soldiers, produced in 1917, followed Christie’s efforts to find the CA40 crater site using geophysics and radar. The area is dangerous, as the ground is still riddled with unexploded munitions. The story of the 44 soldiers and the search for their remains is an effort to provide a proper final resting place and commemoration for the forgotten soldiers of the Great War. Private Ruddocks name is seen at the end of the video at 28:47.https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=-xJTLl8mWos.Local resident and military history buff, Stewart Holmes, who donated to the fundraiser, strongly feels the Canadian government should be doing more to ensure a proper burial for the fallen soldiers. He presented a letter to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre about the matter at his visit here during the federal election campaign. “I feel it’s political and question the campaign awaiting a review of the situation because a regional French bureaucrat has stopped further excavation,” said Holmes. “Canada went to France to help the French and our fallen should be honoured no matter what the timeline. Something’s not sitting right. I can’t believe any true Frenchmen would dishonour Canadian liberators or any soldier that went there to liberate France from both world wars.” When France locates the remains of a foreign soldier from World War I, it cooperates with the soldier’s home country to ensure a respectful burial. The ultimate fate of the remains depends on whether they are identified and on the policies of the soldier’s native country, Holmes added.On April 3, 2003, the Canadian government designated April 9 of each year as a national day of remembrance for the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Campaign continues for proper burialPowell River soldier among 44 under potato fieldAT HOME: Private Arthur Forbes Ruddock standing outside a Townsite house in full regalia of the Seaforth Highlanders 16th Battalion before heading overseas during World War I.Service info and death notice for Private Ruddock.Donation thank you to Stewart Holmes
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 Lethbridge Herald page – C4On behalf of our team and our fellow Canadians, we will never forget.Today we honour the selfless service and memories of those in uniform who gave their lives for the greater good of our nation. We salute their patriotism, courage, character, hard work, loyalty and dedication, and we will always remember the sacrifice they made to protect the way of life we cherish.LETHBRIDGEThoughts, Gratitude & Respect on Remembrance DayGive pause on Remembrance DayThroughout history, millions of soldiers have marched into wars to protect the freedoms of their countries. Remembrance Day is a solemn time to commemorate those soldiers’ achievements and sacrifices, and to pay respects to soldiers who died in battle. In the United States, people honor their present and past military on Veterans Day. In British Commonwealth countries and territories, including Canada, November 11 is known as Remembrance Day. Since the end of World War I, memorials to remember those of the armed forces who fought in battle and perished in the line of duty have been dedicated on this day.Armistice Day OriginsRemembrance Day was once known as Armistice Day because it marks the signing of the armistice that put an end to the hostilities of World War I. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year, guns fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare between the Germans and Allied troops. The armistice agreement was signed in a French train carriage at 11 a.m. Later, the carriage where the historic event took place was placed in a specially constructed building to serve as a monument to the defeat of Germany. Although it was moved by German forces and later destroyed during World War II, after that war ended a replacement carriage, correct in every detail, was rededicated on Armistice Day in 1950.Remembrance Day EvolutionArmistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day after World War II to commemorate soldiers from both world wars. It is now used as a way to pay homage to any fallen soldier.Each year a national ceremony takes place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, a monument erected as a memorial to soldiers buried elsewhere. The Queen lays the first wreath at the Cenotaph, while others leave wreaths and small wooden crosses.In Canada, Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday in many provinces and territories. Official national ceremonies are held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. Events begin with the tolling of the Carillon in the Peace Tower, during which members of the Canadian Forces participate and congregate at Confederation Square. Similar ceremonies take place in provincial capitals across the country. Very often, moments of silence are offered for lost lives.What About the Poppies?One of the unifying symbols of Remembrance Day is the poppy that is worn to honor lost soldiers. The bold, red color of the flower has become an enduring symbol of those who died so that others may be free. The poppy became a symbol for a specific reason. Some of the most concentrated and bloody fighting of World War I took place in Flanders, a region in western Belgium. As a result of the fighting, most signs of natural life had been obliterated from the region, leaving behind mud and not much else. The only living thing to survive was the poppy flower, which bloomed with the coming of the warm weather the year after fighting in the region had ceased.Poppies grow in disturbed soil and can lie dormant in the ground without germinating. Without the war, they may have never come to the surface. John McCrae, a doctor serving with the Canadian Armed Forces, was moved by the vision of poppies flowering in Flanders and wrote a poem titled “In Flanders Fields.” After the poem was published, it received international acclaim and the poppy became a popular symbol of those lost in battle.Men traditionally wear the poppy on the left side of the chest, where a military medal would be placed. Women wear it on the right side, because that is where a widow would wear her husband’s medals Remembrance Day is celebrated every year, providing people humbled by the sacrifices of soldiers an opportunity to remember those soldiers’ efforts to secure freedom.Canadians celebrate Remembrance Day each year on November 11. That date is significant because November 11, 1918 was the day when combatants in World War I reached an armistice that marked the end of hostilities during the conflict.Remembrance Day honors those who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. Canadians looking to honor those sacrifices can do so by visiting any of the notable monuments to veterans across Canada.Newfoundland National War MemorialThis memorial in downtown St. John’s was formally unveiled in 1924 before Newfoundland was a Canadian province. The Government of Canada notes the memorial is set against the old harbor and commemorates all of Newfoundland’s wartime achievement on land and sea. A female sculpture holds a torch in her left hand and a sword in her right. That sword is symbolic of Newfoundland’s willingness to serve in World War I.Sherbrooke War MemorialThe Sherbrooke War Memorial is a cenotaph that was unveiled in Sherbrooke, Quebec, in 1926. Three Canadian soldiers beneath an angel with outspread wings are a centerpiece of the memorial, which honors Sherbrooke residents who fought in World War I. A bronze plate affixed to the granite base of the sculpture features the names of the 248 Sherbrooke residents who died during the war. A second plate featuring the names of Sherbrooke residents who were killed in World War II was added to the memorial after the end of that conflict.Korean War Wall of RemembranceThe Korean War Wall of Remembrance at Meadowvale Cemetery in Brampton, Ontario, is a 60-meter polished granite wall that lists the names of all Canadian units that served in the Korean War. One of the memorial’s more unique features is 516 bronze plaques. The Government of Canada notes there is one bronze plaque for each Canadian service member who died during the Korean War. The Wall of Remembrance was dedicated in 1997 and features a verse from the Laurence Binyon poem “For the Fallen.”Veteran’s Cemetery, God’s Acre Veteran’s Cemetery in Esquimalt, British Columbia, was built in 1868. More than 2,500 military personnel and their family members are buried at God’s Acre. The cemetery was the brainchild of Rear-Admiral George Fowler Hastings, who aspired to create a Royal Naval cemetery for those who served at sea. A small chapel and the Cross of Sacrifice, unveiled in 1961, are two moving and notable features of Veteran’s Cemetery.Canadians can visit any number of the notable monuments honoring veterans across the country this Remembrance Day.Notable monuments to veterans across CanadaNewfoundland National War MemorialSherbrooke War Memorial
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 Lethbridge Herald page – D1Proud to support our community. This advertisement sponsored by Fee Simple Law LLPTuesday, November 11, 2025 – 10:45amfor 11am Vigil Ceremony this year running concurrently at two locations:Exhibition Park – doors open at 10am for indoor event with Legion members, veterans, first responders, dignitaries and youth.Cenotaph - City Hall – outdoor event with 20th Independent Field BatteryWebsite: LethbridgeRemembers.caLethbridge Military MuseumLocation: Vimy Ridge Armoury located near the Lethbridge Airport, 337 Stubb Ross RoadOPEN 12pm - 4pm • FREE ADMISSIONTHE LETHBRIDGE REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE AND THE LETHBRIDGE MILITARY MUSEUM INVITE YOU TO THE FOLLOWING:The organization is centered on “Veterans helping Veterans” and doesn’t stop at the Veteran themselves. Their families are a big part of the organization; the spouses are looked after even if the Veterans have passed away. Usually, the spouse and children are the ones suffering along with the Veteran’s PTSD or other issues and they are encouraged to come in anytime to read, play games, colour or just watch TV. The VAFB is more than a food bank, as it contains a dining area/coffee area where the Veterans can have a refreshment, and usually a pastry. It also has a quiet room/TV room for anyone who just wants to watch TV or read as they have a small library to use.A lot of Veterans are reluctant to ask for help, and it is hard to find them. Usually, Veterans in need only talk to other Veterans about their problems and even then, are reluctant to ask for help. The VAFB pulls out all stops to help any Veteran in need no matter how small or large the issue may be. This may be as minor as cutting their grass, shoveling the walk or by paying their rent, vehicle repairs and such, till they get back on their feet. The Lethbridge office also holds briefings on PTSD and hopes to provide many more of these types of sessions, (First Aide, financial counseling, legal advice, and wills) and such. When the organization did open, it was quickly put into duty with hamper boxes being distributed to the various grocery stores and other organizations. Christmas proved to be a hectic time as Calgary shipped the Christmas Hampers, gifts for the children and all the ingredients for a Christmas dinner. Twenty-three hampers were delivered, from Fort Macleod to Medicine Hat. The association continues to deliver hampers to the Veterans who are in need, hampers consist of enough food for a month for a family of two and a $150.00 gift card to a grocery store for anything else they need. Hampers are routinely augmented with any toiletries or cleaning materials if required and they are delivered to the family by another Veteran so the association can do a wellness check on the individual. There is no standing in line for anything at the VAFB other than for a coffee or refreshment. On top of the resources offered, the Veterans Association realizes pets are a huge part of the family and are just as important as their two-legged companions. These family members are provided with grooming, food and even operations if required. For even more assistance, a Purple Poppy Fund has been started, this part of the organization has taken off quickly with veterans in other countries garnering support for them. The VAFB has a dinner every second Tuesday (soup and sandwich, usually) for all Veterans and their families. Kids are usually entertained in the TV room and enjoy drawing, colouring or just watching TV.The VAFB can be seen at various events in the Lethbridge area selling raffle tickets, 50/50 tickets and has a supply of T-Shirts and other regalia on hand to purchase, with all proceeds going to the Veterans and their families. This year we will again gather at Mountain View Cemetery at 9:30 am to clean military markers. The public is invited to join in.Anyone is welcome to come in and have a coffee and a chat with the staff and take a tour of the facilities. They are open Monday to Friday from 0900-1600.Victory in Europe (VE) Day marks the formal end of the Second World War in Europe, representing the moment when Nazi Germany officially surrendered unconditionally and hostilities ceased across the continent. This day has enduring historical importance, symbolizing both the relief and the reflection that followed years of conflict.Ceremonies at the Lethbridge Eternal Flame at Mountain View Cemetery often serve as moments to pause and remember this pivotal chapter in world history. Community leaders, veterans’ organizations, and families gather to honor the service and sacrifice of all who played a role in bringing about peace. “It is imperative that we remember and commemorate these events, so that those Canadians who paid the supreme sacrifice are honored and that so much suffering was not in vain,” said Dave Martin, president of the General Stewart Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion in Lethbridge.VE Day is more prominently commemorated in European countries than in North America, particularly in those nations that were overrun and occupied by Nazi Germany during the war. While countries like Canada and the U.S. do mark the occasion, the scale and depth of the observances often reflect each society’s experience of the war and its aftermath.For many in the Lethbridge community, the day carries personal meaning. Dutch-Canadian Henry Heinen, who was a child when the Netherlands was liberated by Allied forces, later immigrated to Canada with his family. Like many who lived through occupation, he has passed on his experiences to younger generations. “I’ve told my kids, grandkids and now my great-grandkids to make sure that they appreciate what it means to be free,” said Heinen. “This country has been great for many immigrants and also has given us a second opportunity to contribute to Canada”.In Europe, VE Day is often observed as a national holiday or with large-scale events—parades, remembrance ceremonies, and displays of patriotism. In North America, commemorations can be more modest, but the significance remains profound.“Today we remember the courage of those who served, and the resilience of those who waited, and the lives forever changed by the Second World War,” said Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen during a recent remembrance ceremony. “We honour the veterans who returned home and we solemnly remember those who did not”.Lethbridge contributed greatly to the Canadian war effort, with local individuals enlisting, Camp 133 serving as a prisoner-of-war camp, and the city acting as a training base for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.During the war, over 1 million Canadians served in uniform. Approximately 42,042 Canadian service members died, more than 54,000 were wounded, and nearly 9,000 were taken prisoner. The collective memory of these sacrifices continues to be honoured by Canadians and by communities like Lethbridge.The Lethbridge Veterans Association and Food Bank (VAFB) opened their doors the first week in November 2023 with help from its parent unit in Calgary. The Veterans Association caters to all Veterans, if they have passed basic training and have been honorably discharged. This also includes Veterans from other allied countries and any Police/Fireman who have completed a tour in aid of our military.Lethbridge Veterans Association Food Bank And Resource CenterAbove: Members of the VAFB Association clean military markers in Mountainview Cemetery.SUBMITTED PHOTOAttendees at a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Mountain View Ceremony that included veterans, their families and city officials.EIGHTY YEARS AFTER VE DAY
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 Lethbridge Herald page – [email protected] sutton group - lethbridgeWith gratitude,we thank all who haveserved and continue to serve.Your bravery protects the freedoms we cherish -we remember and salute you thisRemembrance Day.LEST WE FORGETRemembranceDayBackground of military service of Private Charles Rufus Clarke.Courtesy of Steve Erskine, Researcher The Green Howards MuseumCharles was born on 21st April 1940 at Cockfield in County Durham, the youngest of four sons of John W. Clarke and Flora Clarke (Nee Linsley). According to his entry in the 1939 Register (a short census) he was, at the time, living at 24 Cumberland Crescent in Billingham, a suburb of Middlesbrough.He was a member of the 5th Battalion of the Green Howards with the Service Number - 4395864. This was a Territorial Battalion, recruited mainly in the Middlesbrough area. Charles sailed for the middle east with the 5th Battalion, from Liverpool on 23rd April 1941. He fought with the Battalion through the western desert campaign until, on 6th June 1942 he was listed as Missing in action. He was subsequently confirmed to be a Prisoner of War. The action in which he was captured centred on the position of Got el Ualeb. In essence this was a last-ditch stand. Men of the 4th and 5th Battalions were ordered to stand as long as they could, their efforts would allow more men to get away to allied lines. Both Battalions were decimated in this action, so much so that, when survivors returned to the UK they were posted to other Battalions – neither the 4th or 5th Battalion was ever reconstituted. Initially Charles was sent to Prigone de Guerra (PG) 49, an Italian PoW camp at Fontanelatto, just North-West of the city of Parma in northern Italy. He was then sent to PG 73 at Fossoli di Carpi to the east of Parma. When Italy sought an Armistice in 1943, PoWs were transferred to camps in Germany and Austria. In Charles case he was sent to Stalag IV(B) and IV(F) part of the same camp complex at Mühlberg, east of Leipzig in Germany.Once repatriated Charles chose to remain in military service and he was transferred to the Royal Artillery on 21st August 1945 with the new service number 22809968. Consequently, Mr. Miller transported the urn to the Executive Director of the LPF, who oversaw the internment of Mr. Clarke’s remains at the National Field of Honour in Point- Claire Québec and provided with a military grave marker. Sadly, Mr. Clarkes’ wife Betty died in 2013 and many of the Clarke’s relatives have also passed away.The LPF is delighted to present Certificates of Appreciation to Eugene Wilson and MartinBrothers Funeral Services for their roles in enabling the LPF to honour Private Rufus Clarke for his service with a dignified burial and military marker. His access to records has providedOne of the goals of the LPF is to increase awareness of its mission and to secure donations in order to address the accumulation of markers waiting to be installed at unmarked graves across Canada. Canadians can honour their military legacy by donating at the individual, organization or corporate level to help recognize these heroes who would otherwise remain forgotten. Volunteer researchers have made great strides in identifying numerous unmarked Veterans graves across Canada and internationally. About the Last Post FundThe Last Post Fund is a not-for-profit organisation established since 1909. Its mission is to ensure that no Veteran is denied a dignified funeral, burial and gravestone, due to insufficient funds at the time of death. The Fund’s mandate is to deliver, free of charge, the Veterans Affairs Canada Funeral and Burial Program, which provides funeral, burial and grave marking benefits for eligible Canadian and Allied Veterans. The Unmarked Grave Program provides military markers for unmarked Veterans’ graves after 5 years. In March 2019, the Indigenous Veterans Initiative was launched in an effort to commemorate and honour the memory of Indigenous Veterans, many of whom are believed to lie in unmarked graves. Toll-Free: 1 (800) 465-7113 [email protected] Veteran’s Ashes Found in Lethbridge Landfill Receive Honoured BurialGrave marker with Canadian flag of Charles Clarke in the National Field of Honour section PA grave 16386Warrant Officer Glenn Miller (Retired), Director of the Alberta/Northwest Territories Branch of the Last Post Fund (LPF), formally honoured on behalf of the National President of the LPF those involved in discovering and identifying an urn containing the remains of a Second World War Veteran. Their actions were critical to recognizing and honouring this Veteran with a dignified burial and marker.In January of 2025, Eugene Wilson, an employee of Environmental 360 Solutions working at the Lethbridge landfill identified at what he first thought was a unique sculpture at the waste recycling facility. The item contained three brass dolphins against a blue wave background, measuring about 12 inches in height. Eugene’s initial action was to check for the artist’s name by turning it over and looking at the base of the sculpture. Instead, he discovered, much to his amazement, that it was an urn, to which was still affixed the label by Martin Brothers Funeral Services at time of cremation. The contents were the ashes of Mr. Charles Rufus Clarke, who was cremated on 9 March 1995.Eugene comes from long line of relatives who served in the military from the Six Nations during the war of 1812-1814 and both World Wars. He strongly felt he had to then inform his supervisor of his discovery. The urn was hand-carried to Martin Brothers Funeral Chapel and entrusted over them.Martin Brothers’ records indicated that Mr. Clarke’s wife, Betty, had selected the urn of dolphins and that an annotation written beside her name stated “LAST POST,” indicating that Mr. Clarke could be a potential Veteran. Martin Brothers, in turn, contacted Glenn Miller of the LPF Alberta/Northwest Territories Branch. Further research conducted by the LPF National Office subsequently confirmed that Mr. Clarke had indeed served in the Second World War as a Private with the 5th Battalion, Green Howards Regiment, of the British Army.Miller reached out to the Green Howards museum looking for any information that could help shed light about his service. They were very helpful and quick to respond with some background and a picture of cap badge used during wartime. This information and insight of Private Clarke’s remarkable service helped bring a human dimension of his service during and after the war. “They shall not grow 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.”
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 Lethbridge Herald page – D3Lest We ForgetOn behalf of the Management, Staff, and MembershipIitstsaahpi awahkaotsiiyiiksiI’niiksi apamoohtsiWhere soldiers ar e buried, acrossthe ocean,Iitohkanaikstoihtsiiyaawa.row on row.Pisatssaisskiistsiitawaawattohpapokaii’yiThe flowers (poppies) blowSitokoohtsi awoysstaakssiiksi.between the crossesIihtsskskoi’pi nitsitstsiihpinnaani.that mark our burial places.Kii spoohtsi, pi’kssiiksi,saakiaawaaksistooyinihkiyi.Aipottaayaawa.And in the sky, birds (larks) are still bravely singing. They are flying.Maatohtoohtowawaiksaawaisskonakssini saainisoohtsiWe didn’t hear them amid theshooting below.Niistonnaana anniksao’kianniiksisska I’nitaikska.We are the ones who were killed.Maatomaisamowaninoohkattsipaitapiiyihpinnaan.Not long ago we also lived.Ninoohkattoohtohki’pinnaanotaoo’tamisskapssi naato’siwa.We also felt the rising of the sun.Nimattsini’pinnaanotaiisttahkapssi naato’siwa.We too saw the setting of the sun.Nitaakomimmihtaahpinnaan.Ninoohkattakomimmotspinnaan.We loved. We were lovedKiannohkanita’tamitaihtsiihpinnaanand now we lieI’niiksi itaihtsaahpi.where the dead are buried.Noohkakohkootsiimokanitaawaawahkaotsiimannaaniksi.Argue with our foe.No’tsinnaanistsi aii’sistsikooyi.Our hands are tired.Nitsitapaapiksi’pinnaanisstsaana’kima’tsisi.We throw you the torch.Ma’tsika. Niitoohkspinnika.Take it. Hold it high.Ikkamomatskaohsakkinnaaniki,niistonnaanaka nitaii’nittspinnaanaka.If you give up on us who are killedNimaataakso’kaahpinnaana.we shall not sleepKiiwahtao pisatssaisskiistsiitaisaisskiiyieven though flowers (poppies) growAwahkaotsiiyiiksi I’niiksiiitstsaahpi apamoohtsi.where soldiers are buried across the ocean.Lethbridge has been and continues to be a wonderful place to live, raise a family and achieve economic prosperity. The “Salute Our Veterans Program” is an exciting opportunity to celebrate, educate, and acknowledge the sacrifices that our service personnel, both past and present, have made so that we can live in peace and enjoy the freedoms we have today.This project is a two part program. “Veterans Banners” will be strategically placed on authorized city light poles in areas with historical military significance and secondly a “Virtual Banner Website” will be created that allows the showing of each banner and tells the story of each veteran. Banners will typically be displayed each year from 1 October through Remembrance Day.The program is an initiative of the Royal Canadian Legion General Stewart Branch No. 4,Lethbridge’s 702 Wing Royal Canadian Air Association, and supported by the City of Lethbridge. In addition, without the assistance of various corporate and individual sponsorships and donations this program would not be possible. This initiative is truly a community effort.Lethbridge Salutes Veterans: Honouring Service Through Banners and CommunityStanley Dean was born March 20th, 1922 in Readlyn, Saskatchewan. He had three older sisters and two younger brothers. He was called up at age 17. Stan served with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) in the 2nd Canadian Division. The RHLI fought through the Battle of Normandy, the Netherlands (including the Battle of the Scheldt) and into Germany. He returned after serving four years, married and had one daughter. Stan was an active member of the Legion for many years and was heavily involved in many activities supporting veterans.Besides his medals for war time service, he was recognized by France for his efforts helping to liberate France. He was appointed the rank of Chevalier (Knight) Legion of Honor, or the National Order of the Legion of Honor. It is French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte on May 19, 1802. The Legion of Honor is the highest decoration in France.National Indigenous monument Ottawa.Stanley DeanIHTAISSKSINI’PA
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 Lethbridge Herald page – D4403-380-4900 –1-877-562-53063602 2nd AVE SOUTH, LETHBRIDGEin the Lethbridge AutomallSHOP 24/7 @LETHBRIDGEHYUNDAI.COMAt the going down of thesun and in the morning,we will remember them.Lest We Forget