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Opinion and Comments Section Two The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, May 25,1994 3 Letter to the Editor War Vet Brothers Remembered Dear Editor: May 6,1942: RCAF. F/S (P) William William Freebome Colville, R78383, age 25, from Bowmanville, Ontario, was killed in action, along with seven other other members of #11 Bomber Reconnaissance Reconnaissance Sqaudron. Lockheed Hudson Hudson aircraft #761, crashed and burned shortly after take-off from Trobay. Flight Sergeant Pilot Colville is buried buried in Plot 3, row 3, gravel 15 in Gander Gander Cemetery, Gander, Newfoundland. Newfoundland. March 16, 1944: RCAF F/O (P) Alexander Colbome Colville, J21864, age 28, from Bowmanville, Ontario was killed in action, along with six other crew members of #408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom). Avro Lancaster aircraft #LL 718 missing from night operations over Stuttgart, Germany. Flying Officer Pilot Colville has no known grave, his name is inscribed on Panel 245, Runnymede War Memorial, Englef- ield Green, Egham, Surrey, England. August 18, 1944: RCAF F/O (P) John Spencer Colville, J29167, age 24, from Bowmanville, Ontario, was killed in action, #440 Beaver Squadron. Squadron. F/P Colville was the pilot of Hawker Typhoon aircraft #MN 929, side code '18 Z and was engaged in an armed reconnaissance north-west of Orbec, France when his aircraft was hit by flak. F/O Colville bailed out but he was too low for his parachute parachute to folly open. Flying Officer Pilot Pilot Colville was buried north-east of Falaise at Sassy, France, exhumed, and reburied in Plot 19, row A, grave 6, in the Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian Canadian Militaiy Cemetery. The above brothers are survived by a sister, Catherine, residing in Kingston, Ontario, married to Hugh Mechin, from Oshawa. He played High School basketball against Sandy, when Alex coached. Hugh was also a Flying Officer in the RCAF and attached to RAF Training in England. i Their father, Alexander J. Colville passed away in 1943, aged 74. Believed Believed to be the only mother in Canada Canada to lose three pilot sons in the RCAF, Mrs. Annie Josephone Colville Colville (nee Colbome), Church St., wore the proudest decoration of three Silver Crosses, until her passing in 1985, at the age of 90 years. On Remembrance Remembrance Day, November 11, 1945, she was honoured to lay the first wreath for Canadian mothers, in Ottawa. During the 1950's, at Toronto's Toronto's CNE grounds, Ontario Park, Avro Lancaster X, FM 104 was dedicated dedicated by the then Mrs. George Stevens Stevens (Colville). Having an interest (bom and raised) in Bowmanville, recently I designed, built and donated an oak display-case in the Cockpit Lounge of the RCAFA, 416 Wing, Kingston Airport in Memory of the Colville Brothers, of which I am a member. In the near future, Catherine Mechin and the Wing Padre will dedicate it at a ceremony. The inscription reads: In Memory of Alec, Bill and Sandy Colville, RCAF They shall grow not old - We will remember them RCAFA 416 Wing, April 1994 From the poem by Laurence Bi- nyon: "They shall not grow old, As we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, Nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun And in the morning We will remember them." The Government of Canada has declared 1994/5 (the 50th Anniversary Anniversary of the ending of World War two) with the theme, "Canada Remembers" Remembers" with many programs and events taking place. What part will (Bowmanville) (Bowmanville) 'Clarington' Regional Mayor and Council have in mind? Though it has already been suggested suggested and pursued by others, to at least have a street named after these three young gentlemen, who paid the supreme sacrifice '50' years ago. Only recently, Mayor Harare has sug gested that within the next 10 years, between Scugog and Middle Rd. area (that seems to be on hold) there will be a Colville Avenue. Anyone need not travel far around Bowmanville to see that many past mayors and councillors are well- represented by the naming of Streets. Who knows, had any one of the war casualties survived and been elected, what names would adorn Bowmanville Bowmanville streets? They weren't elected, and not conscripted, but volunteered, and paid dearly for their efforts. The closest any of the stricken got was Veterans Avenue immediately after the war. There is not even a mention of the Colvilles or others in the Bowmanville Bowmanville Museum, save one news article, article, from the Toronto Daily Star, Wednesday July 17,1946, stored in a box the curator got for me. The Colville brothers were very active and sports minded, especially in rugby and basketball. Might I strongly suggest to the Mayor and Council if name changes can be made from Bowmanville Council, to Newcastle, to Clarington, why can't the name be changed from Bowmanville Bowmanville Recreation Complex, to the "Colville Recreation Complex?" Maybe some of the landscaping money money could be better used for this purpose. purpose. After all, Alec, Bill and Sandy are not only unique to Bowmanville, but to all of Canada, and all three were Pilots in the RCAF to lose their lives for others. Northern Ontario raves about Billy Bishop, but few know he was bom in Cape Breton. I hope the Legion and others take up this challenge, challenge, before another 50 years pass. Many are being reminded of the Holocaust, Holocaust, yet how often are the ones who 'stopped' it remembered? 'Does Bowmanville Remember? - How soon do we forget? no wonder the new generation have little respect for this country, flag or anthem. Sincerely Bill Calver Kingston, Ontario. ^^ The End of an Era^^ While it may seem strange, I mourn the passing of Jackie Onassis, the widow of a U.S. president. I remember the day President John Kennedy was shot. I was five years old and at home with my mother. That was the day 'America' seemed more real to this Canadian. America was the place on the map that went beyond this country's boundaries, boundaries, and while I did not really think about it then, the memory of what I saw lingers on. My mother and I watched the parade, parade, we saw the scene, in the car, we wondered what was happening. When I heard'about Jackie's death on Friday morning, I was saddened. 1 am sure I am not the only one. Let's face it, the woman put up with a lot of stuff when John Kennedy was out sowing his wild oats. How many other women could have handled it the way she did in public? She handled it in the way people expected of her. She did not create a scene, she did not cry out loud, she demurred. It was a time before women's rights activists changed the way many women perceived themselves. We can only imagine the words that must have been said in private. Widowed in 1963, she married Aristotle Onassis five years later in 1968. People wondered why she got married to a fellow who was extremely extremely older than she. However, if you think about it, John Kennedy was more than a decade decade older than she when they tied the knot. A photo of Jackie with her friend Maurice Tempelsman shows he is definitely definitely older than she. She must have liked older men. There's no crime in that. Jackie was placed on a pedestal by the Americans the same way we once viewed Queen Elizabeth and her gang. Jackie's image was untamishable. She was gentle and graceful. She was someone who many American women looked up to during a time when America was a good place to live. Her reign came before the Vietnam War, the flower children and drugs. It came before the civil rights movement in the southern states, before Kent State University. While people did not know much about her, they knew everything they needed to know. Her life was tabloid material, while she seem above it all. Two months before she lost her husband, she lost her third child three days after he was bom. She was a high-profile single mother before single mothers were acknowledged acknowledged as existing. Her family represented the so- called good life that all Americans strove for after the Second World War. I think many women identified with what she went through. I think my mother did. After all, my mother and she were bom in the same year and while their lives were far from being parallel, Jackie was someone who exuded class, and something extra. My mother and her friends liked Jackie. She had a hidden quality that made her special -- that touched millions of people. On Thursday night, May 19 at 10:15, America lost its last reminder of an innocent era. On Thursday afternoon I received a phone call from someone I know telling me of how the legislature vote on the same-sex couples rights bill went The call sparked conversation within the newsroom. While not every (me in the office agrees with me about same-sex couples couples having equal billing with heterosexuals, heterosexuals, it does not deter us from discussing discussing it. Also, last week I received a personal personal letter from a woman who told me about someone in her life "coming out" to her last year. She said she and her husband had been devastated, since they had been two of those "holier than thou" people. people. Her letter touched my heart. By now, everyone in Durham East Continued on Page 4 by Rick James The Best, Best, Best, Best, Best... For some people, it's dragging your fingernails fingernails across a chalkboard. For others, the squeaking of styrofoam gives them the willies. For me, it's that carpet commercial commercial on CHEX TV where the owner and his infant daughter, claim Ontario Carpet Supermart is "The Best, Best, Best, Best, Best." Since CHEX TV is the local Hockey Night in Canada affiliate, if you want to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs, you have to put up with him, and several other brutal brutal commercials. The station specializes in making the worst car dealer commercials this side of Buffalo. On a more positive note, Don Cherry's "Thanks, I needed that" aftershave commercials commercials offer at least a bit of humor to help offset the Best, Best, Best guy. „ But, from a pure advertising value standpoint, which one is better? I had no trouble remembering the name of the carpet carpet store, but I had to think whether Don Cherry's aftershave was Skin Bracer or Aqua Velva. Some of the most popular award winning winning commercials of ail time were actually very poor at delivering the message to the consumer. For example, you still hear people people say, "Where's the Beef?" But, can you remember which fast food joint that commercial commercial was promoting? Was it Wendy's, Harvey's, or Burger King? One of my favorites is the singing cow. "How can I tell you, how much I love you, Moo, moo, moo." Great commercial, but was the steak sauce Heinz, HP, or Lee and Perrin's? Some of the most successful at delivering delivering the message are, "Kawasaki lets the good times roll." Or how about, "You deserve deserve a break today...at McDonald's.' We also have the cola wars of "It's the real thing...Coke is," versus "It's the Pepsi generation." So, going back to Mr. Best, Best Best, his commercial is very effective at catching catching your attention and delivering its message. message. Therefore, the commercial has served its primary function. The question is, would I buy carpet from a guy who runs ads like that? Not a chance, chance, chance,chance, chance. Gentlemen, and lady, start your engines As qualifying for the Indy 500 wraps up this week-end, supporters of women's issues issues will be interested to hear that driver Lyn St. James has sped her way around the track in the 6th fastest time. She will even start the race ahead of reigning champion Nigel Mansell. Although many consider it a fluke that put her there, watch on race day to see how she does. I predict she will finish in the top ten. Two years ago, Canadian Scott Goodyear started from last place on the starting grid and came within a lug nut of winning the $1,000,000 prize. In what has always been a male-dominated male-dominated sport, it's great to see her compete against names like Unser and Andretti on a level playing field, without any employment employment equity provisions. Can you imagine if Lyn St. James were to race at the Toronto Indy this July? No doubt the NDP government would step in and say, under our new employment equity equity laws, since you're a woman, you get to start two laps ahead of everyone else. Judging by her competitive nature, Lyn St. James would bury a tire iron in Bob Rae's teeth if he even suggested it. he went on to become become the best in the world. Because of his own experience, he suggested suggested anyone can overcome a disability by concentrating on what they do best, and seeking help for those areas that cause problems. Sounds like sâge advice from someone who's faced enough curves in life's fast lane. •••••••• A, B, C, D, E, F, G... While on the subject of racing, I saw an interview on CBC Newsworld with former world driving champion Jackie Stewart. Considered to be one of the best drivers of all time, he revealed another side of his personality that very few people know about. Surprisingly, he can barely read and write. In fact, even now, he's unable to recite recite the alphabet. The famous racer has been popular on the talk show circuit since the death of Ayrton Senna. During this most recent interview, interview, he explained how he was taunted and teased during his younger days because because of his learning disability. Fortunately, he persevered and steered towards towards auto racing. Despite the disability, Handyman Tips While building a shed with Dave the brother-in-law, he offered a handy little tip that do-it-yourselfers might find useful this summer. For anyone who has ever used a tape measure, no doubt you've estimated something something to be 24 and 3/8" plus one little line. That's the novice's way of doing it, compared compared to the system outlined below. Rather than measuring in l/4s and l/8s, measure everything in l/16ths. For example, example, 1/2" becomes 8. Or 5/8ths plus one little little line becomes 11. If you want to get really really fancy, a 2 foot, 3 and 5/8" plus one little little line board becomes 2-3-11. It takes a little getting used to, but it makes adding and subtracting very easy for odd size cuts. I'm just getting too handy for my own good. Now, if I could just stop hitting my fingernails with the hammer. 4