FEAR GOD HONOUR THE QUEEN

January 30, 1911 an important day in Naval History. The Canadian Naval Service recieved its "Royal Designation" and became,

THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY

FINALLY-- FINALLY-- FINALLY

After 43 years the Government of Canada has decided to reinstate the "ROYAL" designation to the navy and air force.

THANK YOU PRIME MINISTER HARPER and MINISTER OF DEFENCE  MACKAY

SHIPS SUNK IN MAY 

H.M.C.S. VALLEYFIELD

SUNK MAY 7, 1944

125 CREWMEN LOST



                            A REMEMBRANCE MESSAGE 

BY REVREND CANONWILLIAM THOMASPADRE BURL-OAK NAVAL VETERANSSUNDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2009AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR OF THE ELEVENTH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH, 1918, TIME STOOD STILL FOR A MOMENT, 91 YEARS LATER IN THE MIDST OF THIS WEEK OF THE VETERAN, IT STANDS STILL AGAIN.OF THOSE CANADIANS WHO FOUGHT IN THAT WAR, ONLY ONE, JACK BABCOCK AGE 109 REMAINS. WHEN HE DIES AS WE ALL MUST, NO ONE WILL BE LEFT TO TELL THE STORY OF THE HORROR AND GALLANTRY OF WAR.WHATEVER HAS NOT BEEN RECORDED BY NOW WILL BE LOST TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR ARE ALL NOW IN THEIR 80'S, THE DECADE OF LIFE BEYOND WHICH VERY FEW CONTINUE.THERE IS LITTLE TIME LEFT TO RECORD THEIR EXPERIENCE BEFORE IT TOO IS LOST.THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN KOREA ARE IN THEIR 70'S AND THEIR STORIES TOO NEED TO BE SHARED BEFORE THEY TOO ARE LOST. AND WITH EACH LOSS, AS WITH EACH LIFE THAT WAS LAID DOWN TO PRESERVE THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY, OUR COMMON LIFE SUFFERS AND IS DIMINISHED.AND SO WE GATHER THIS DAY TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN DEFENSE OF THIS COUNTRY, AND ITS ALLIES TO REMEMBER WHAT OUR FREEDOM COST THEM, AND WHAT WE HAVE LOST.A WORD TO YOU CADETS GATHERED HERE TODAY. YOU ARE ONLY A YEAR OR TWO YOUNGER THAN THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO DIED DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR, AND YOU ARE THE LAST GENERATION WHO WILL HAVE HAD THE OPPOTUNITY TO  PERSONALLY MEET, AND THANK A VATERAN OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, AND TO HEAR THEIR STORIES.IN ANOTHER COUPLE OF DECADES YOU WILL BE THE LIVING MEMORY OF WHY WE CONTINUE TO HOLD REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICES.AND SO I URGE ALL OF YOU THIS DAY, TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS YOU CAN WITH THOSE FEW SURVIVING VETERANS, TO HEAR AND SHARE THEIR STORIES AND TO HONOUR THEM AND THEIR FALLEN COMRADES.FOR AS THE PHILOSOPHER GEORGE SANTAYANA SAID, THOSE WHO FORGET THEIR HISTORY, ARE DESTINED TO REPEAT IT. MAY WE BE SPARED THAT FATE.   

Burl-Oak Naval Veterans is an association of ex Naval veterans From the R.C.N. R.N. R.C.N.R. R.N.R. R.C.N.V.R. R.N.V.R. and Allied Naval Forces and those that have served in The Royal Canadian Navy in the post war years.We meet every Wednesday at Noon for lunch at Branch 60 Royal Canadian Legion Burlington.The meetings are informal and usually involve Plenty of "Jack  speak" and good natured ribbing between the branches."We even let the Stokers join in".

WILLIAM E. DREW

FOUNDER

and

COMMODORE

BURL-OAK

NAVAL

VETERANS