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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2007 13THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 200712 ?????? ????????????????? ???? ?????????????????????? ??????????????? ????? ??????????????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????? ??? ?????? Acton Branch 36 Mill Street East Acton, Ontario L7J 1H2 Tel: (519) 853-2420 Fax: (519) 853-4009 www.scotiabank.com Please take time to remember ???????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????? ??????????????????? ??????????????? ?????????????????????? Flowers, Gifts & Home Decor 46 Mill Street, East 853-0800 Lest We Forget CALL TO RESERVE (519) 853-1550 or toll free 1-800-73TYLER (1-800-738-9537) Serving Acton, Georgetown, Rockwood, Erin, Hillsburgh and Ballinafad area. Licensed by the GTAA ?????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????? 130 Mill Street East, #103, Acton (519) 853-0079 We shall never forget Actons U.S. Marine... tions. He was also in charge of all ECM systems (Elec- tronic Counter Measures), which are used to defeat the use of remote detonated IEDs (improvised explosive device) from insurgents. On September 13, 2006 Tims unit set sail from San Diego for Kuwait. Along the way, they made stops in Hawaii, Singapore and the Maldives, where they provided humanitarian aid. After unloading their gear at the Kuwaiti Naval Base, they were escorted by the Kuwaiti Army to Camp Buerhing where they awaited orders to proceed into Iraq. On November 17, 2006 the Marines and Sailors of the 15th MEU SOC were ordered to move into Iraq to help ad- dress the security situation, seize emerging opportunities and maintain favourable mo- mentum in the fight against terrorist networks, said Tim. Tims unit was spread all over the province of Al An- bar, but he was to operate in the city of Rutbah, escorting enemy prisoners of war to the Al Asad Detention Facil- ity via helicopter as well as working as a radio operator. His unit conducted daily and nightly security patrols where they would gather INTEL from the locals using an inter- preter. They searched houses, schools, businesses, anything and everything, mostly all random. If they gathered enough information on a particular place, they could conduct a raid, where they would find things like guns, bomb making material and fake IDs. Operations lasted until they were finished. At one point I went 78 hours without sleep, that was the longest I have ever gone. Even when you lie down, its still hard to get back to sleep. To me, Iraq was the worst place I had ever seen in terms of poverty and all. When youre on patrol, you would never see kids in clean cloth- ing, there was raw sewage all over the streets, garbage everywhere, kids in bare feet with used needles scattered all around. We would hand out candy to the kids from the packages we received from family and church groups back home. Although, sometimes we were even weary of doing that because we werent sure if they had a weapon or if they were a suicide bomber. But at the same time it was nice to see a smile on their face. Im sure people would want to hear about gunshots and fighting, and thats an experience any one person has to deal with on their own, but Ill tell you what, the first time you hear shooting, its like everything goes into slow motion. When I heard them for the first time I didnt ever realize it. I kind of hesitated for a second and then mus- cle memory came into play. When I thought about it after I was like whoa. I guess the countless hours of training actually helps because I did exactly what I needed to. For two months after leav- ing Iraq, Tim suffered from insomnia and the worst night- mares hed ever had. Although I think part of that was knowing where my brother was and actually know- ing what he does. He was, and still is, in Afghanistan. I felt bad for my mom and dad; I couldnt imagine what they were going through. I dont know what else to say, and to be honest I dont want to have to re-think what I did or what happened while I was over there. Its some- thing you dont want to keep bringing up. The best way to understand it is to be in it, until then its hard. Thats part of the reason I joined during the war. Everyone talks a lot about whats going on and what is worth going to war for, but thats nothing but an opinion. When you have been over there and see all the negative and positive things that are going on, it means something. I have to tell you, listen- ing to Tim talk about his experience in Iraq brought on chills and tears. Knowing that Andrew is still in combat and that Tim will be going back makes me want to grab them out of harms way and protect them forever. It brought on new feelings for me. Being so reserved, Andrew doesnt talk much about what hes experienced. He was the first to go overseas and every time I logged on to the computer and saw Andrew on line, I breathed a sigh of relief. At that time, I didnt really know what it was like over there. Now, after hearing about Tims experience, worry will be more prominent. I cant imagine what my aunt and uncle are dealing with having both sons away. Throughout a five month tour in Iraq, Tims unit, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit SOC (Special Operation Ca- pable), suffered 110 casualties out of a total of 220 Marines and Sailors. That was five out of nine months that he was on deployment. During that time, he went to Hawaii twice, Sin- gapore, the Maldives, Kuwait and Australia. He was gone from September 13 2006 to May 30 3007. Since then, Time has contin- ued training in San Diego. He is a Sergeant (E-5), the same as his brother, Andrew. He will be heading back to Iraq in Jan- uary 2008 for seven months, his last tour before hes fin- ished with active duty. Writing this story made me relive the good times I had with Tim, and Andrew, before he enlisted. I was able to spend an evening with him while he was home on holiday this past June. I saw the man he has grown to be, instead of the teenager I knew before he left. Although I was reluctant to see him go, the pride I feel knowing that he is fighting for something he truly believes in trumps my apprehensions. No, I dont want to see him go back to Iraq, and I wish Andrew was home now in- stead of in Afghanistan. But I know that they both have such a good head on their shoulders and are going to make a dif- ference. I just have to do my best not to worry every day as the war presses on, although thats easier said than done. These two young men, who I still think of as kids, are doing more than anyone else I know. Its hard not to remember Tim as that stubborn, rebellious child who thought any risk was worth taking. I know hes still that same person only now he does it with logic that hes gained along the way, logic hes learned from his parents, Glenn and Carol, his brother Andrew and the training from the US Marine Corp. by Justina Pembleton Every year, on the Sun- day closest to November 11, the Royal Canadian Legion holds a parade for war veterans that ends at the Cenotaph on Mill Street, where they lay wreaths and flowers for the fallen sol- diers of war. This is not just an Acton tradition; this is done by all Legions, at Cenotaphs across Canada. It began in 1919, when Prime Minister Lloyd George insisted that Edwin Lutyens, as a small part of the Peace Day events, build a memorial. Th e Ceno t a ph wa s originally a wood and plaster construction, which History of Cenotaph was intended for the first anniversary of the Armistice in 1919. When it was unveiled, people spontaneously began covering the base with wreaths for the dead and missing from The Great War. Cenotaph literally means Empty Tomb in Greek. There was so much enthusiasm for the Cenotaph from the public that it was decided that it should become a permanent memorial. The permanent monument was unveiled in 1920, was made from Portland stone and bore the inscription The Glorious Dead. The service held every year at the Cenotaph is to commemorate British and Commonwealth servicemen and women who died in the two World Wars and later conflicts. The memorial service has not changed much since it was first introduced in 1921. Hymns are sung, prayers are said and a two-minute silence is observed and the playing of the last post. Official wreaths are laid at the base of the Cenotaph and the ceremony ends with past war veterans marching, out of respect for fallen comrades. Although style and size of Cenotaphs vary across Canada, an exact replica o f Lu tyens o r i g ina l stands proudly in London, Canada. Continued from Page 11