Loading....
x
richard lautens/torstar news service
Malvern student Kristen Tuer, 15, places some flowers near a wreath during the school’s Remembrance?Day ceremonies.
Clutching his old military dog tags in a tremulous hand, Robert Burgener stood at the front of Malvern Collegiate Institute’s auditorium yesterday and spoke of war.
“When you stepped on the gangplank, you knew you could not come home again until the war was over and nobody had any idea how long the war would last,” said Burgener, 83, who last stood in that room as a 17-year-old “Malvernite” shipping off to fight in the Second World War.
At the school’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony, he described how many of his classmates had never travelled beyond Wasaga Beach, let alone gone overseas.
He recalled students who married their sweethearts before leaving, only to reunite with their wives years later. Another common scenario, he said, was soldiers falling in love with women overseas, their affairs ending as soon as the young man was re-posted.
“When you stepped on the gangplank, you knew you could not come home again until the war was over and nobody had any idea how long the war would last,” said Burgener, 83, who last stood in that room as a 17-year-old “Malvernite” shipping off to fight in the Second World War.
At the school’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony, he described how many of his classmates had never travelled beyond Wasaga Beach, let alone gone overseas.
He recalled students who married their sweethearts before leaving, only to reunite with their wives years later. Another common scenario, he said, was soldiers falling in love with women overseas, their affairs ending as soon as the young man was re-posted.
|
User Comments & Ratings | Comment as guest | |
| Title: |
| Comment: |
more local stories
Worm turns on second Tory, this time over airport tequila row
OTTAWA - The worm has turned on a second Conservative cabinet minister over an airport security impasse - this one fuelled by tequila.
Paralympic closing to be a sentimental farewell to world spotlight
VANCOUVER, B.C. - One eye has been on the clock and the other has been on the clouds for the producer of the closing ceremonies for the 2010 Paralympic Games.
Owner of shop involved in Montreal shooting makes court appearance
MONTREAL - The owner of the Montreal shop that was the scene of a brazen daylight shooting appeared before a judge today, accused of breaching bail conditions.
13 stranded after ice roads turned to mud rescued, says Manitoba Mounties
WINNIPEG - Muddy ice roads that stranded dozens of drivers in the wilderness and prompted 16 northern Manitoba First Nations to declare a state of emergency are proof that permanent all-season roads are needed, the province's grand chief said Friday.
Family of missing N.B. woman reject possibility she deliberately ran off
MONCTON, N.B. - The family of Donna O'Rielly is rejecting the possibility that the missing New Brunswick woman has run off.
editor's picks
In twitosphere, are the funny, famous in it for tweets, or do they also follow?
Twitter is so many things to so many people: infomercial, backyard fence, brain dump. The funny, famous, famous for the wrong reasons or simply very useful have thousands of followers, but who do THEY follow?
The clock may be ticking on CBC's '22 minutes
HALIFAX, N.S. - Is the clock ticking on "22 Minutes"?
NBC behind him, Conan O'Brien in talks with Fox
NEW YORK - The next few months could keep Conan O'Brien very busy.
Facebook users warned about email scam
Another email scam is circulating online trying to ensnare unsuspecting Facebook users into divulging all their passwords.
Thai PM objects to blood-spilling, but open to talks
BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's prime minister said Thursday the government was ready to hold talks with protesters, who want him to call new elections, but only if they stop throwing blood, blocking government offices and remain peaceful.
Copyright 2001-2010, Free Daily News Group Inc.