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THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, NOVEMBER 7,2001 PAGE 9 CE DAY NOVEMBER 11 Sept. 11 sparks memories BY LESLEY BOVIE Staff Writer DURHAM - It's been close to 60 years since Doug Franks last heard the sounds of battle, but he found himself smack dab in the middle of a war zone earlier this month. While on a trip to Washington, he and his family stopped off at the Pentagon to sec the destruction from Sept. 1 l's terrorist attacks. It was "a pile of rubble" but enough to take the 82-year-old back to the Belgian border and the jungles of Burma, when he was a young gunner for the British Second Second Division facing off against the German and Japanese forces. "1 was hoping in my time not to see another one," says the Manchester Manchester resident. "I hope this war is over before it gets up to the kids. My one grandson just had his 20th birthday last month. I have another grandson. He's 22. "But I guess my younger brother brother was 17 and I was 19 when we joined the army." Today's youth know nothing of war, says Mr. Franks, who plans to bring home the message behind Remembrance Day for a local scouts troupe this month. The only Dunkirk veteran at Port Perry's Royal Canadian Legion Branch 419, he usually brings along his steel army helmet for just such an occasion. "I ask them how they would have liked to wear that for 24 hours a day or to have used it for a pillow," pillow," says the vet. "I try and get them to realize what was done during during the war, if it wasn't done, they most likely wouldn't be here today." Mr. Franks finds it difficult to fully describe the impacts of war. He only started talking about his experience with family after the death of his wife six years ago. "I didn't mind talking about the good things but not the gory things," he adds. He remembers struggling with dysentery and malaria, some of the reactions of which he still feels today. "Sometimes you wouldn't take your clothes off in a week. You got so used to wearing socks and boots, they would feel like a part of you," he adds. The "good things" were "you met people from all walks of life and you get to see so many things", : says Mr. Franks, who completed missions in France, England, India, Arakan, Kohima-Assam and final- dy Burma before the end of the war. ! Armed service teaches discipline discipline and Mr. Franks says that's why he wouldn't discourage any of his children or grandchildren from joining the army today. It's the reason reason his own father, who served in both the Boer War and First World War, didn't discourage him and his five brothers. But he admits he finds aspects of this new war on terrorism scary, especially anthrax, and fears it may make its way to Canada soon. Mr. Franks also sympathizes with the challenges of ground troops in Afghanistan. "Bin Laden is so slippery. He's in the mountains, he's moving place to place," he adds. Local veterans have been following following the events of Sept. 11 and the war on terrorism very closely. In fact, many Legion branches report report their televisions have been set to news stations a lot this fall. "There was a feeling of anger and sympathy for the people hit," explains Dave Barkwell, poppy chairman for Whitby's Branch 112. "They aren't saying too much but they're upset with the way things are going. They want to know how people could get away with stuff like that and they hope the United States press on through the United Nations." But it hasn't made vets question the meaning of what they went through 60 years ago, says Rory Thompson, president of Branch 419 in Port Perry. "Most of them still feel they did it for a real cause," he adds. While some Legions are quick to point out Remembrance Day falls exactly two months to the day of the attacks, most aren't acknowledging acknowledging the coincidence but instead slicking to tradition. "I think we'd like to keep things on a low profile because 'it may give some vets flashbacks," explains explains Barb Doupc, Port Perry's poppy co-chairman. But she points out this year's poppy campaign may be even more crucial because there will be servicemen and women from the war on terrorism, who will need poppy funds down the road. In Oshawa, Branch 43 is already starting to see a difference in the number of wreaths being ordered for their Remembrance Ceremonies. Ceremonies. Based on early orders, poppy chairman Marilyn Roach says she expects about twice as many to be laid at the Memorial Park Cenotaph this year. "People are more aware of what is going this year," she adds. That's what members of the Uxbridge branch arc hoping. While they aren't "going out of their way" to point to Sept. 11, poppy chairman chairman Blair Kelly says he expects the subject will be just what they need to impress the importance of remembering past sacrifices when they visit local schools. "Children and younger adults, when they look at veterans, they see old war-mongers," he explains. "But some of these fellas could be them and today the world is not different than it was in 1939 or 1914." Clarington Remembrance services CLARINGTON - Remembrance Day Services will be held in Newtonville, Newcastle and Bowmanville this week. Bowmanville Royal Canadian Legion Branch 178 will hold services at the Newtonville cenotaph, Hwy. 2 and Newtonville Road, on Friday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. and will include the Newtonville Newtonville school children. Bowmanville's service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11 at the Bowmanville cenotaph, located located at the Clarington Municipal Administrative Centre, 40 Temperance Temperance St. In Newcastle, the service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the cenotaph at the Newcastle Community Hall, 20 King St.W. WREATHS CARL FERENCZJ Statesman photo DURHAM - Manchester resident Doug Franks with a photograph of himself taken in uniform during the Second World War. m are available from Branch 178 Royal Canadian Legion for laying at the cenotaph on Sunday, November 11th for information, call Steve Oke, Marie Brooks 905-623-9032 Lest We Forget. Nov. 11, 2001 It is a time to remember and be thankful for all those who have served, so that we can live in freedom. OToofe MPP-Durham Ontario Canada (905)697-1501 1-800-661-2433 Fax (905)697-1506 E-maihjohn_otooIe@ont.oIa.org ( itiMiiuvrivN Otlicc• 75 km*! Si Bowmamillc.Oni. UC IN4 ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 178 BOWMANVILLE REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICES Fri. Nov. 9/01 Newtonville Cenotaph 11:00 A.M. Sat. Nov. 10/01 Armistice Dinner Sun. Nov. 11/01 Newcastle Cenotaph 11:00 A.M. Sun. Nov. 11/01 Bowmanville Cenotaph The parade will form up the in the legion parking lot at 10:15 A.M. parade will move off at 10:30 A.M. to the cenotaph. All welcome to march in these parades. THOSE , WHO SERVED "... at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. " McGregor I.D.A. Drugs 5 King St. W. 623-5792 Bowmanville HIGH FLIGHT OH! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings: Simzuard I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, zvhile zoith silent lifting mind I've trod The high un trespassed sanctity of space Put out my hand and touched the face of God. Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Royal Canadian Air Force Killed in England, December 11,1941, age 19 Proudly sponsored by Macintosh Chrysler Dodge Limited 331 Park Rd. S. 728-4638 Oshawa ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION a BRANCH 178 BOWMANVILLE POPPY TRUST FUND October 1,2000 - September 30,2001 A. Balance of Poppy Trust Fund as of October 2000 B. Income from Campaign and All Other Sources SUBTOTAL $15,612.89 $33,279.92 $48,892.81 C. Campaign Expenses 1) Poppies and Wreaths $10,442.32 2) Promotional Material $1,244.19 3) Other Local Expenses $601.80 SUBTOTAL EXPENSES $12,288.31 D. Disbursements 1) Grants to Exservice Personnel $283.34 2) Bursary Donations category 2 Breakdown $20,000.00 A. Royal Canadian Legion Provincial Command Charitable Foundation $6,000.00 B. Bursary Fund $1,500.00 C. Bowmanville Community Care (Meals On Wheels and Foot Care) $5,000.00 D. Lakeridge Hospital Oshawa 2001 Foundation (Oncology Keeping the Pace) $2,500.00 E. Hospital Trust Bus $3,000.00 F. District "F" Hospital Fund $2,000.00 3) All Other Expenditures as Authorized by Poppy Manual $1,388.19 SUBTOTAL DISBURSEMENTS $21,671.53 E. TOTAL EXPENSES AND DISBURSEMENTS $33.959.84 F. Balance of Poppy Trust Fund as of September 30,2001 $14,932.97