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Two war heroes honoured at Bronte Veterans Garden by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 3 | Thursday, June 20, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com The sacrifice of two Canadian war heroes was remembered Friday in a ceremony at the Bronte Veterans Garden on Bronte Road. Dozens of St. Dominic Catholic Elementary School students and staff joined officials from the Town, Province and Royal Canadian Legion to unveil two new benches dedicated to two local war veterans. "Today is a special day for all of us. We have come together to pay tribute to two Canadian heroes -- Private Hartley Tosh, who served in the Second World War and passed away just last year; and Private Blake Williamson, who lost his life in Afghanistan," said Grade 7 student Nicole Baiton during the presentation last Friday. "To the families of our fallen heroes, we hope that the dedication of the students of St. Dominic School, along with our generous community partners, will give you some consolation in knowing that your loss is not forgotten." For several years, Grade 7 students from St. Dominic's have been exchanging letters and posters with the families of Canada's fallen soldiers and veterans. In the most recent exchange, the Grade 7s developed a relationship with Tosh, a longtime Oakville resident who fought in Holland and Germany. Two Canadian war heroes were honoured by St. Dominic Catholic Elementary School Grade 7 students, the Town of Oakville and Oakville Legions at the Bronte Veterans Garden Friday. The late Private Hartley Tosh, a Second World War veteran and long-time Oakville resident who died in December 2012, and the late Private Blake Williamson, killed in action in October 2006 while serving in Afghanistan. Seen here at the podium is Ward 1 Councillor Ralph Robinson and St. Dominic student Nicole Baiton. photo by Reg Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) Student Faith Gruber called Tosh her hero. She met him when her class crafted cards for the Oakville Veterans Appreciation Luncheon, shortly before Remembrance Day. Tosh was unable to go to the luncheon as he'd been diagnosed with a brain tumour. "A couple of friends and I decided to make a banner and a card for him to decorate his hospital room. I decided that to honour all he did for us and Canada, I wanted to meet him and visit him so he knew someone cared and remembered the sacrifices he made," said Gruber. "When I visited Mr. Tosh, he had a big smile on his face despite his condition and he kept telling me how grateful he was that I had visited him." Gruber said Tosh inspired her to write a speech about how Remembrance Day should be a national holiday -- something for which the Town of Oakville is now considering petitioning the government. The addition of a plaque commemorating Tosh at the Bronte Veterans Garden deeply moved members of his family who were at the unveiling. "Our dad was an avid gardener so this is a fitting tribute," said Cathy Vincent, Tosh's daughter. "I must give special thanks at this time to the students of St. Dominic's who did the cards and the lovely poster when dad was in the hospital. He really enjoyed receiving the cards from you and the poster was hung in his window so he could see it all the time. Thanks especially to Faith who did visit dad and brought him presents and talked with him. It made his day. He just perked up knowing a young person would want to know his story." The St. Dominic's letter-writing campaign also brought the students into contact with Williamson's family. see Young on p.10 DURHAM FURNITURE Solid Wood Bedrooms Special Savings Now... ALL COLLECTIONS Furniture & Home Decor 217 Lakeshore Rd. E. Downtown Oakville www.swissinteriors.com 905-844-3530 Proudly Supporting Canadian Manufacturers P