Beach Memories: Sacrifice of soldiers is remembered as Nov. 11 nears

By GENE DOMAGALA

While walking through St. John’s Norway Cemetery near our War Veterans’ section a thought came to me about Remembrance Day, which is on Monday, Nov. 11.

We recall all the different ways and Peacekeeping events that our fallen were engaged in, but there was something different and perhaps overlooked while I gazed upon the gravestones.

Then it struck me there was something there inscribed on some of the gravestones of our fallen heroes.
Words that were put there from the family and relatives and friends of the veterans.

I thought we recall the name but do not put down the written feelings or what regiment or where they worked at so I thought let’s write down some of these words or phrases on some of these gravestones.

Let us first write about the monument in the middle of the soldiers’ grave site at St. John’s Norway Cemetery.

It reads:

Designed and erected to the memory of our departed comrades resting here
By the members of BRANCHES
1-42-93-299-321-331
Comprizing zone D-G
Royal Canadian Military
SEPT 1967
We Shall Remember Them

These are some of the companies, regiments, naval and land forces that are recognized on the grave markers in the War Veterans’ section.

• Royal Regiment of Canada
• R.C.N.R . H.M.S – Carleton
• Toronto Scottish Regiment
• Canadian Women – Army Corps
• Royal Canadian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
• Queen’s Own Rifles
• R.C.A.F.
• Royal Canadian Dragoons
• Royal Canadian Signal Corps
• Veterans’ Guard of Canada
• Canadian Forestry Corps
• 42 Wing R.C.A
• Canadian Railway Troop
• Canadian Army Service Corp
• Canadian Field Artillery

These are some of the inscriptions left by friends and family members of the tombstones:

“I love you more than yesterday less than tomorrow.”
“Someday we’ll understand.”
“Peace will be this sleep.”
“To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die.”
“God be with you Daddy Dear.”
“Till we meet again, Beloved by all.”
“Thy last sleep free from care.”
“Peace Perfect Peace.”
“To rest to wake, Not again to Labour”.
“Blessed are the Peace in Heart. They shall see God.”
“He gave his life to save his comrades.”
“Until the Day breaks.”
“Soldiers now of Christ the Great King of Kings.”
“Where the dawn breaks and the shadows fly away.”
“Fondly remembered by Family in Scotland.”

These are just some of the different parts of our armed services inscriptions showing that they are being remembered by friends, relatives and family.

Let us remember they gave their time, life and honour for their country and they were and are a part of our community in the Beach and East End.

To all of you in the soldiers area, R.I.P – People of the BEACH!

A reminder that Remembrance Day services in the Beach are set for 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, at the Beach cenotaph in Kew Gardens on Queen Street East.

Beacher’s door poppies help to raise funds for local Royal Canadian Legion Branch in advance of Remembrance Day