Royal Canadian Legion Western Zone, USA

Robert Edmonds MBE, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for 57 years was recently awarded The Palm Leaf to the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) in early 2023. Robert has served multiple times in every executive position in the Western Zone as well as his Covina Branch 22. His accomplishments and service to the community, the youth and the Legion are many and impressive. This is the highest award possible for a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Branch 156 member Larry Dalphy presented a check for $6000 from the Branch to Jeri Wilson of the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. These funds will be used to develop unique cancer treatment protocols for children. Although pediatric cancer is considered rare, approximately 15,000 children a year in the United States are diagnosed with cancer.  In the US, pediatric patients make up 10% of the new diagnoses, yet the NIH only designates 3.8% of the cancer research budget to pediatric patients

A Book of Remembrance was dedicated at the Remembrance Service held on November 13th at the Covina, California Episcopal Church. Shown are two of the pages, first the title page and then one with some names of those that made the ultimate sacrifice. Names can be added for free and donations are accepted if you contact the church.

Section One of the book lists the name of the family Member/Relation and or a personally known Friend that made the Ultimate Sacrifice in All Wars and Conflicts. Please provide the Name, the Service Unit and the War or the Conflict. (No costs or charges apply for these listings). Although contributions will be gratefully accepted.

Section Two lists the names of our family Members/Relations and personal friends that served in the Military Forces of our various Allied Nations and have passed away. “We Will Remember Them” Please provide the name and the Service Unit. (No costs or charges apply for these listings). Although contributions will be gratefully accepted.

The Third Section lists all Donors and Contributors. If you would like to make a donation/contribution and be listed please make your check payable to Holy Trinity Church, and note on the memo line, “Remembrance Plaque/Book”. Send your check. c/o Robert B. Edmonds, MBE. 3637 N. Danehurst Avenue, Covina, CA 91724-3406 If a cash contribution is best for you then please process through your RCL Branch/The Western Zone and we will forward to the Church.

This is worth seeing: https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/09/the-fallen-9000/

A Remembrance Day Service will be held on Sunday 13th November at 4:00 pm at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 100 N. Third Avenue in Covina California. All interested people are welcome and encouraged to attend. We Will Remember Them.

We are excited to learn that the Scottish Fest Highland Games are scheduled to be held in Costa Mesa this May on the 28th and 29th. The Royal Canadian Legion is planning to have a booth again, as we have done in years past. Please stop by and say hello to the nice Legion members and maybe even join this great organization.

Details for the Scottish Fest can be found at https://www.scottishfest.com/

You may be interested in a story.

My wife Donna and I were on a small three week long group tour of Sicily with about 10 other people in early October of this year.  One of the places we all visited was the Army War Museum in Catania.  Among the many display cases in the museum was one showing artifacts and uniforms of the Canadian forces that came ashore at their sector of the beach in 1943 with a current Canadian flag prominently visible in the case.

It seemed anachronistic to me that a flag that was adopted by Canada in 1965 would be displayed with other artifacts that were contemporary to 1943 when the Red Ensign was the flag that the troops marched under.  I contacted the museum authorities and asked if they would display a Red Ensign if I could provide them with one.  After a few email exchanges with the museum I received an email from a Canadian who was responsible for the display and explained to me why the current Canadian flag was in the display case then said he would also display a Red Ensign if I could find a used one for him.  He wanted a used one so it would look appropriate with the other used items in the display.

He explained that the reason for the present Canadian flag is because people today do not recognize the unique Canadian contribution to the war effort since we are usually swept up with the Americans or the British and the Red Ensign looks rather British.  The current flag is distinctly recognized as Canadian and clearly distinguishes the Canadians from any other country.

When my wife and I returned from our vacation I sent emails requesting a donation of a used Red Ensign out to each of the Branches in the US Western Zone, the Ontario Command headquarters and to The Legion Magazine.  Within a few weeks I had received a flag in the mail that was sent from Dominion Command in Ottawa.  Somehow my email to the Ontario Command was forwarded to someone at Dominion Command who took down the Red Ensign that was flying and mailed it off to me.

I have now mailed this flag to the responsible Canadian who will be leaving for Catania in February 2022.  He promised he would install this flag in the display case along with the current Canadian flag.

If you should ever visit the Catania museum please look for the Canadian display and smile knowingly about the used Red Ensign in there.

Doug

I would like to obtain an old Red Ensign flag. It should be about 3′ by 6′ and is needed for a display at the Catania, Sicily Military Museum. If anyone is willing to donate such a flag then please contact Doug.Lock@verizon.net. Thanks in advance.

With the total participation and support of The Royal Canadian Legion and the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Covina, CA, we have completed phase one of our Remembrance project with the installation and the dedication on Sunday 7 November 2021 of our new large bronze “Lest We Forget” Plaque.

Phase two is already underway as we now compile the names for a specially bound, Remembrance and Donor Book.

Section One of the book will list the name of the family Member/Relation and or a personally known Friend that made the Ultimate Sacrifice in All Wars and Conflicts. Please provide the Name, the Service Unit and the War or the Conflict. (No costs or charges apply for these listings). Although contributions will be gratefully accepted.

Section Two will list the names of our family Members/Relations and personal friends that served in the Military Forces of our various Allied Nations and have passed away. “We Will Remember Them” Please provide the name and the Service Unit. (No costs or charges apply for these listings). Although contributions will be gratefully accepted.

The Third Section will list all Donors and Contributors. If you would like to make a donation/contribution and be listed please make your check payable to Holy Trinity Church, and note on the memo line, “Remembrance Plaque/Book”. Send your check. c/o Robert B. Edmonds, MBE. 3637 N. Danehurst Avenue, Covina, CA 91724-3406 If a cash contribution is best for you then please process through your RCL Branch/The Western Zone and we will forward onto the Church.

A Memorial Plaque to honor and remember all who have served has been placed near the entrance of the Covina Episcopal Church. This plaque was dedicated during the evening service on Sunday November the 7th.

A ceramic Remembrance Day Poppy was placed on the alter at the beginning of the service. This poppy is one of the 888,246 poppies that were displayed at the Tower of London as part of the 2014 Remembrance Day Observance of the 100th anniversary of the beginning of WW I.