It was a night to get together with old friends, have a good meal, reminisce and most importantly, honour those who have served with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
On May 6, about 40 people attended the Barrhead Royal Canadian Legion’s annual veterans dinner.
President Chuck Mortimer said while the evening was all about paying tribute to those who served in the CAF, it is something the Royal Canadian Legion tries to do every day by providing services to veterans in need.
“We do this through our Poppy Campaign. One of the requirements in the Legion is to help with the campaign,” he said, adding the main purpose of the fundraising campaign is to help veterans in whatever way they can.
For example, Mortimer said if a veteran becomes stranded in Barrhead, the local branch will help them return home.
“No questions asked, if they need help, we help,” he said.
Unfortunately, he said some of those programs are in danger because Legion membership is declining.
“Every year there are fewer and fewer of us,” Mortimer said. “That is why I want to thank all of those who have served the Legion.”
John Tiemstra, Legion member and the evening’s emcee, added and singled out Herman Barkemeyer specifically.
“Without Herman there wouldn’t be a veterans’ dinner. Every year he goes about his business, organizes it without saying a word and just gets it done,” he said. “But one of the biggest things he does is work on behalf of veterans with Veterans Affairs, trying to get them hearing aids and whatever else they need. He goes to bat for them.”
Tiemstra ended the evening reading the poem, Final Inspection, written by a United States serviceman, Sgt. Joshua Helterbran about a soldier who has passed away and is trying to gain entrance into heaven.
“Step forward now, you soldier, how should I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? And to my church be true?” Tiemstra read.
The soldier replied that he hadn’t and that, “Sometimes he had been violent, because the world is awfully rough.”
God replied: “Step forward, you marine. You’ve borne your burdens well. Walk peacefully on heaven’s streets because you’ve done your time in hell.”
