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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, June 19', 1985 - ýAn odyssey of remembrance Ôn the 4Oth Anniversary of t'he iberai For Major Dick Roberts, an Orono resident, a recent trip to Europe featured more than the usual site-seeing of vacationing tourists. Last October, Mai. Roberts, along with twelve other veterans, four youth, representatives, several veterans association and government officiaIs travell- ed to Europe for ten days of ceremonies commuemrating the 4th anniversary of the liberation of Belgiumn. Organized by the Depart- ment Veteran, Affairs at the request of the many Belgian cities and towns liberated by the Canacians in 1944,' the voyage was an emotional one for those veterans returning to the cemnetaries, memorials, and other sites mnarking the sacrifice of their friends and conrirades during World War .11. Affiliated with the Regina Rifle Reserve Unit, Mai. Roberts accepted the Unit's invitation to participate in the pilgrammage back to Europe. "After forty, years, 1 wanted to see what it was ike in peactime," said M1aj. the veterans as they joined the marchers for the final several hundred metres of the 33-km route. At each village, the de lega- tion received a warm Roberts, however, added, -t didn't recognize much. Al destruction has been repaired and fixed. " But modemn technology and advancement has not erased the memories of those who suffered the effeets of war. Museums, cemetaries and war memorials are al symbols of a dim and distant, past. "The museums have pic- tures of bombîng, des truction and the brutality of war," Mai. Roberts said. "The sehools have museums of pic- tures of the war, se the children will not forget." "lWe visited cemetaries and found the graves of people we knew," he added, "It was very emotional." For Roberts, the trip in- cluded a number of highlights. They vîsited the town of Eede near the Leopold Canal, an area which saw some of the fiercest and deadliest fighting during the Battle of Scheldt. In a ceremony at the town memoriai, representatives of the Regina Rifles, Royal Winnipeg, Canadian Scot- welcome by crowds of peo- ple, both yeung and old, delighted te see the return of the veterans responsible for the liberation of their lowns, as evident above. POEM A haîf emipty room sits wa ting l'm here you're net Marlowe C. Dickson R. R. 2, Beeton, Ontario LOG 1IAO Untitled Moments spent quietly in thought are holidays for the soul Marlowe C. Dicksou R. R. 2, Beeton, Ontario > ~LOG 1IAO tish, and l7th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars unveiied a plaque te corn- memorate their units which helped liberate the region. In Knokke-Heist, hun- dreds of Canadian flags decorated the downtown area as 2,000 marchers turned out for the annual Canadian Liberation March o n November 1, 1984. In the face of bitter resistance, it took the Cana- dian forces nearly four Inoni- ths te cover the 33-km route between iHoofdplaat, Holland and Knokke-Heist, Belgium in 1944. Forty years later, Max Yalden, Canadian Ambassador to Belgium, and a contingent of Canadian soldiers from Lahr, Ger- many, were among the local marchers who completed the distance in under six hours. This was the eleventh annual re-enactment of the Canadian Liberation March, and the first time an officiai delega- tion of Canadian veterans was present to witness -the tribute. The veterans, in- cluding Mai. Roberts, were followed by spiritual ap- plause, as they joined the marchers for the final several metres to the War Monument before a, wreathlaying ceremony. Roberts equates many of these events withi a feeling, of euphoria similar to the feel- ings a 'rock star' vould ex- perience on stage before a crowd of screamiing fans. Ob- viously, t heCpeople o)f Belgium have nlot forgotten the efforts of miany to retain their freedomn. "The people wxere fan- tastic," Roberts said. "lUpon arriving in town, we were greeted by children waving Canadian flags, older people crying and kissing people. It wNas very over- whelming." he said, adding, "They really appreciate and remember what happened." For Roberts, the greetings' brought back good memnories of the war. "After a town was liberated, the people would laugh and cry, bring flowers, drink vodka. The chîldren of the same people, now in their 40's and 50's, reacted in the same manner," he said. Although Mai. Roberts trîed te contact friends from the war, he had little success. "Friends that 1 had stayed with during the war are al dead now. I tried to find them and their failiies, but couldn't," he sýaid. Mai. Roberts wýas twenty years old when he enlitd, in the army. He went overseas in 1941. After spen-ding ,,two years retraining in England, he and his troops left for D-day. Roberts was a major at twenty-three. He remained in Europe un- tii V-E day and his adven- tures took him through France, Belgium, Holland and right into Germany. "I was one of the fexs that lived through the whole thing. When peace was declared, 1 was scout- patrolling in, Germany,," he Durham hosts new, stud-ents On Thursday, June 20, Durham College is holding its annual Orientation Day for students beginning their first year next faîl. The purpose of this event is to help the new students adjust to college life and meet fellow students.> The day begins with coffee and donuts at 9:30 a.m., followed by presentations by members of administration and faculty. Those par- ticipating include President, Mel Garland; Applied Arts Director, Woody Manery; Student Affairs Officer, Dick Snowden; Athletic Complex Manager, Dave Stewart; Stu- dent Administrative Council President, Kim Poole; and Student Athletic Association President, Sue Smith. Divi- sional Directors will be in- troduced. The Sports Administration Summner Works Students are organi7ing a barbecue for al the Appiied Arts students 'from 12:30 p.m. to 1:.30 p.m. te help the students get ac- quainted. For the first time an of- ficiai delegation was present to wý,itness thie llth annual Canadian Liberation March on November 1, 1984. Spirited applause followed Major Dick Roberts of ceremonies commemnorating Orono Joins the delegation the 4th anniversary of the that traveled to Europe for Liberation of Belgium. tiîon of said. We weren't try be heros, we were just to stayalive." He recalled a storyc he was- cut off from h toon while on an a( patrol in October, Afiter rejoining, his un week later, his CO toi he could take two days rest since he was reported mnissing ini Forty-eight hours later Roberts returned to ap he hardly recognizc dozen of his friends ha killed attempting to ct LeQpold Canal. "I have been with their said . Not only did the tri to Europe cause memc lost friends and comn return, Roberts was re of famiily death as wel Roberts was unabie company bis comrades return trip home at the the war. At the time( departure, Robert scheduled to witness trial of Ma. Genena méyer. Kurtmeyer was Dear MrLMfil, ,fiust wanted te thank you for ail your help. That col1o) iy ou mnixed was jllst perfect for our exterler walls. You and YKEM made ail the difference. PA1INT &SjALE From d99 Also oni sale: * *~SS'II Alkyd Goss h-I , L-~ By Jennifer Garland Commemorates 4Oth dinniversary ORONO NURSERY SOHOOL JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN; WVE OFFER A MORNING ENRICHMENT PROGRAMME FOR 2 - 5 YEAR OLD CHILDREN OPTIONAL READING PROGRAMME OUALIFIED STrAFF - LICENSED PREMISES REGISTER NOW FOR SEPTEM BER 983-5402 a.m. - 987-4012 pa.. we made our name i hardware Rolph (Dominion) Hardware Main Street, Orono- Phone 983-5207 ... ...... . . . . ..... . . .... . ...... m Belgium ying to ed of shooting Canadian ýt trying soldiers. During the trial, Kurtmeyer accused Canadian of how soldiers of shooting German his pla- soldiers at the location where dvance Mai. Roberts was posted. 1944. Clarence Campbell, currently nit one President of the National Dld him H-ockey League. was the " off to young lawyer in charge-of the already trial. It was lÏater concluded action. that Robert's presençe at the r, Dick trial was unnecessary. platoon However, two days following ed. A t he re tunrn o f his batallon, his iad been father died suddenly. Roberts, ross the neyer had a change to say should good-bye. , he For many flot directly af- fected by the war, it is easy to ip back forget and negleet the iories of sacrifices and suffering of rades to others. For those that sur- eminded vive, the memories live on. It ll. is to individuals like Mai. [e to ac- Roberts we owe thanks for ýs on the the personai risks and ie end of sacrifices taken to proteet the of their freedomn we enjoy today. ts was 111 would've hated to see sat the the Germans win. It would al Kurt- have changed Our lives," a accus- Mai. Roberts concluded. 1 a