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6 - Orono Weekly 'limes, Wednesday, November 11, 1998 Canada's Veteransrevisit Christmas in Ortona, Italy In December of 1943, our brave Canadian soldiers fought in Uic battie to liberate Ortona, Italy., These young soidiers of many regiments and from ail across Canada valiantly faced a crack German army bent on folow- ing Uic Fuehrer's order of "no retreat." The battie in Ortona was Uic hardest strect-by-street, housc-by-house fighting of thc campaign to liberate ltaiy. Our Canadian soldiers movcd forward - by-fiches, feet and then miles - until thcy pushed thc Gerrnans out of Italy. In winning Uic battie, the Canadians won a pro- found respect from their opponients that oniy they could truly describe. On Christmas Day, 1943, Canada's soldiers, puled from Uic front line in smali groups, sat down in a sheil- damagcd church in Ortona to have Christmas -dinner. Our brave hcrocs sat humbiy at ,makcshift tables, drank out of tin cups, and ate their meagre dinners fromn metal boxes. During this brief reprieve, Canadian soidiers ccrtainiy paused to reflect on family and mortal soul and 11mb before Uicy returncd to Uic front uines. Soidiers on boUi sides suffcrcd loss oflife immediatciy before, during and after this Uime of peace and reflection. The battie of Ortona did notinvolve a reprieve for Christmas, s0 once Uic meal was donc, Our soldiers wcnt back out to con- tinue their fierce battie. 1Fifty-five years later, a vet- crans group, organized by Mr. Edmund Grifflits, wiUi mcm- bers from cach regiment Uiat fought at Ortona, wiil share a reconciliation dinner wiUi Uic German Arrny veterans. This group's simple yet hcartfclt proposai involves sending 30 veterans back to Ortona to retake their Christmas din- ner of 1943. Our veterans wil meet wlth their former German focs and bring CIO- sure to wartimc memories Uiat cannot be erascd.' This summer, in my capac- lty as a conccrned Canadian and the officiai Opposition Critic for Veterans Affairs, 1 askcd Canadians to con- tribute to a fund to send Uic veterans to Ortona. 1 then cmbarked on a trip across Canada to maise support. The response fromn Canadians across this great land 'was ovcrwhelming. Radio personalities and ijour- nalists fromn across Canada took up the cause. Thousands of average Canadians - from ail walks of life - donated what thcy could. Our $100,000 flindraislng goal was achicved on September 25th, as a resuit of the efforts of Canadians from coast to coast. In their gcncrosity, thcy showed our veterans Uhir compassion, carlng, and appreciation of past valiant efforts. "Lest we forget" shouid not be an expression solely reserved for November 1 lUih of cach ycar. lnstcad, it shouid rcflcct a fundamental TAKETIME TO REMEMBER belief that îs adhered to every single day. Canadians of future generations must neyer forget the sacrifices endured by Canada's veter- ans, casualities of war, and their familles. Ilime lias not healed the wounds of our vet- crans. Thcy stili grieve for long lost friends, and ponder why the price of peace is s0 higi. The 1998 Ortona cam- paign lias providcd Canadians with an opportu- nity to demonstrate their appreciation for thc courage and sacrifice of our Canadian soldiers. Peter Goldring, M.P. Officiai Opposition Critic for Veterans Affairs Outrage over susp-iclious deaths of f ive war veterans Ontario Command of The Royal_ Canadian Legion is expressing its outragc over Uic suspicious deaUis of five war veterans at the Sunnybrook HealUi Sciences Centre to Veterans Affairs Canada and the Ontario Ministry of HcalUi. The veter- ans organization is angered by the fact that neither Veterans Affairs nor the provincial govemrment min- istxy has supported a cail for an independent public inquiry. Thc fîve veterans dicd in thrcc incidents over Uic past 18 monUlis. The failure of Uic federal and provincial depart- ments responsible to cali for, the lnquiry lias Canada's, largest veterans organizatioti secing red. "Our confidence iteicabil- ity of Sunnybrook to provide a safe and caring environment for veteranslias been com- plctcly croded," says Legion Provincial President Ron Scriven of Thoioe, Ontario. Provincial Veterans Services Committce Chairman Jlm Margerum, of Ottawa, co- author of Uic protest to Uic governments, says that the Legion is also "dismayed that family members who have questloned Uic quality of care have been dismissed as chronic complainers."' Veterans Affairs Canada lias passed control of veter- ans care to the provinces under a series of transfer agreements, except for Uic facility at S aint Anne De Beilevue, Quebec. The Leglon is passing a iist of dcmands that it wants înstitutcd toicegovemnment agencies. It wants qulck action. taken to ensure the safcty of Uic veterans and Uic high standard of care and quality of life Canada's veter- ans deserve says Mr. Scriven. The dcmands arc: a. An inqu est by-a local coroner on ail accidentai dcaths over the past two years; b. A public iniquiry into Uic safcty and quality of care pro- vided at Uic George Hees and Klgour Wings of Sunniybrook,,; c. A comprehensive audit of the funding provided for veterans' care to Sunnybrook over the past 10 ycars by Veteranis Affairs, Canada and. Uic Ontario Ministxy of Health to ensure Uiat monies have been used for the health and safcty of veterans, as speci- fied in Uic funding provisions of Uic Transfer Agreements; d. Severance of the long- tcrm care units from Sunnybrook and 'the estab- lishment of a separate board of directors, appointed by vet- crans' organizations in co. operation wîth Veterans Affairs Canada and the Ontario Ministry of HealUi: c. The appointmcnt of an independent ombudsman to Ref lections on f reedom Last Saturday afiemnoon as 1 was cutting wood at the back of my place, 1 had just stopped for a moment of reflection and rest (a requirement when working outside) when 1 experienced one of the most memorable dramas I've ever had the plea- sure to witness. The distant whine of a chain saw The chilled autumn air, the fra- grance ofwood smoke The firosted breath of a -patient mare hauling logs. overse Uic complaint resolu- tion process, -similar to the model which cxists at Saint Anne de Bellevue in Quebec; and f. An end to Uic practice of serving rc-Uirrmaiiscd food at- ail contract facilities provid- lng care to veterans, and a returri to Uic preparation of meais on Uic premises. The Royal Canadian Legion was formed to ensure veter- ans care and the sustain- The western sky pure cerulean The forest floor flooded with golden light, only the autumn sun provides The eastern sky ominous, snow laden. The now na/ced trees iliumimat- ed in gold gilt, Golden etchings on a- graphite backdrop. I stood awe struck, absorbed by the beauty surrounding me. Then it began to snow. Crystalline dust from the floor of heaven. I was in a cathedral, my place ofworship, and I thanked God._ Later that weekend 1 also thanked those men and women who gave their lives, giving me the frecdom to e njoy mine. Daniel G Banting ment of leveis established. in this case, Ontario Command is taking issue with Uic care provided by Uic province, and intends to press the federal governmcnt wlth al its strength to ensure no veteran is endangered due to the transfer of care to the province. 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