Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada)
RCAF HALIFAX LW170 Recovery
(424 Squadron)
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Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada)
RCAF HALIFAX LW170 Recovery (424 Squadron) |
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LW170 Recovery Phase I
Progress Reports
Halifax 57 Rescue
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Progress Report No.15 November 7, 2006 Registered Charity 84586 5740 RR0001
This is the special time of year when all Canadians who value the Freedom and peace that we have in this great land of ours, and are willing to protect it, think of those men and women who have paid with life and limb to ensure these keystones of a free democratic nation. Our citizens display a unique red poppy over their hearts and pay tribute by the ceremony of Remembrance Day on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of each year.
If only myself and my comrades in this dedicated group could convince the leaders and powerful people of Canada, the United States, and Great Britain that we need their support to find and return to all the people our world’s greatest poppy, RCAF Halifax LW170. Imagine a poppy so large and so important, symbolic of the most intense and concentrated sacrifice in our nation’s history, and you will see our RCAF Halifax standing proud above all else.
This writers sees a kinship and parallel of Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada) with our modern military forces. In recent years we have tried to do our best with minimal funding and have slogged on doing good work for our country because we believe in our country and each other. We believe in the past excellence and sacrifice of our veterans and these examples help us to carry on into the future against all odds. The Torch is still held high.
But it is difficult to carry on, and sometimes in the early morning or late at night we ponder and worry on how we will make it, based on the support we have been given. When you go to those people who have the power and resources to help in our mission we hear only hollow words without substance or finance. Great and successful missions require support of a kind that goes beyond theory and salutary goodwill. We must find those who will support us beyond words and this will come from those who have true vision and intestinal fortitude.
“Iron does not become steel until it goes through fire”, so let this be our time when the heat is on and we must make the best of our hardships. There will come a time and a place when we will look back and say “we made it together !”
In exercising my right of free speech given to me by those we will honour on November 11th I would like to pass on to you a wonderful poem. Written in the dark days of 1943, when Victory was not assured but promises would be kept unto the ultimate sacrifice of so many, this poem by Leo Marks is a haunting tribute to those who fought and died for all of us.
DECEMBER 1943
The life that I have Is all that I have And the life that I have Is yours.
The love that I have Of the life that I have Is yours and yours and yours.
A sleep I shall have A rest I shall have Yet death will be but a pause.
For the peace of my years In the long green grass Will be yours and yours and yours.
“Press on regardless…”
Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada) www.57rescuecanada.com
ON TO BUSINESS, These are the Hali-Facts:
During the time of the annual celebration at the Nanton Museum on August 26 Directors Karl Kjarsgaard and Jim Blondeau were able to make renewed acquaintance with all our supporters of the Halifax Project who are also supporters of the Nanton Museum and their great Bomber Command Memorial.
We were especially pleased to meet with Minister David Coutts of the Alberta Cabinet who attended and was a guest speaker at this function. The Minister continues to be a most stalwart supporter of all our endeavors including the Halifax Project.
Jim Blondeau and Minister Coutts talked about the importance of passing on our great RCAF heritage and sacrifice to all Canadians and the world, especially the young people of our nation. David Coutts graciously consented to a video interview at the Museum with Jim and he was able to record Minister Coutt’s comments about the saving our air force history and other important issues. These videos will be used in future developments for the Halifax Project and promoting the Nanton Museum’s aims as we proceed into the future on our joint projects.
Once again Father Harry Schmuck, mid-upper Halifax gunner, joined us from Ontario on his third pilgrimage to Nanton. His presence and eloquent addition of Grace before the luncheon was greatly appreciated. The fact that he represents both the RCAF veterans and the Almighty in one package is a wonderful addition to all of those gatherings he attends with us. (See the photo below of Father Harry with Karl and Jim in front of The Wall)
Jim Blondeau, Director, multi-media expert, and creator of the great musical ballad “The Wall at Nanton” performed his musical tribute twice for the audiences attending on August 26. There were many misty eyes after the luncheon as he performed the song for all the audience. Not only this but Jim’s tribute song about our RCAF Americans, personified by the song about Tom Withers Jr., called “American Eagle and the Proud Maple Leaf , was also played, with Jim’s great musical video on the big screen enhancing this Canada-USA tribute of the RCAF. Well done, Jim, for all your efforts on our behalf
We have been able to keep the momentum going for the Halifax Project with political support of our MP’s, Senators, MLA’s, and high level officials. Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada) directors has been able to open several lines of communication with all these officials and this will help us as we proceed in our efforts for the fund raising to start the Halifax Project in the summer of 2007.
Dag Ammerud of Norway, our brilliant salvage master who raised Halifax NA337 in 1995, has just contacted us with some very good news. Dag has acquired a large sonar vessel to do deep water sonar searches ( operational to 3000 Meters! ) for several jobs he has planned. He has offered to meet with us in London in December to plan for a search of Halifax LW170 next summer. This could be very good news for our future plans as Dag, along with his vessel and team, could be an efficient company to work with to find LW170. These are very positive developments that Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada) had not planned on last year and it is a wonderful opportunity to complete Phase 1 of the Halifax Project. On the next Progress report we will have more information on this new technology offer by Dag Ammerud.
I would especially like to thank all the Royal Canadian Legion branches and their executive for supporting us by the wise selection of our great Halifax print “INVINCIBLE ITEM”. Well over 30 branches of The Legion have heeded our call for support by purchasing our Halifax print. We hope to hear from many more Legions from across the country who want a quality print of our famous bomber, RCAF Halifax LW170.
Director Chris Charland attended the annual Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association (CAPA) conference in Greenwood, Nova Scotia in October. Chris has highly recommended that we should join this progressive organization for all the valuable contacts and restoration information available through CAPA. We will be reporting back to you on these developing contacts for Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada)
Please note that the digital encyclopedia of the Handley Page Halifax, “HALIFAX B. Mk.III EXPLORED”, produced by our friends Flyingzone Publications has just been released. This CD-ROM has got to be THE definitive source on the Halifax with over 2000 pages and diagrams on our good old Hallie. For those of you who wish to see more than the image of the cover brochure of “Halifax B.Mk. III Explored” (shown below) go to the Flyingzone Publications website at www.flyingzonedirect.com for more details.
Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada) will be selling these Halifax CD-ROMs for Flyingzone Publications in North America in the very near future (by Nov.15) so for you Canadian and U.S. customers standby for a sales sheet with prices and order addresses on our website on this new digital source of Halifax information. This CD is highly recommended.
We cannot think of a more unique and better Christmas gift for Halifax veterans and fans that either (or both ! ) a print of “INVINCIBLE ITEM” and a copy of the CD “HALIFAX EXPLORED”. This would be the ultimate “Hallibag” bundle for Christmas.
There are several very positive developments for both Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada) and our partners, the Nanton Lancaster Society, as we move forward in the coming months of 2006 and 2007. Please check our official website at www.57rescuecanada.com for all the latest events and happenings during these exciting and formative times.
Warmest regards to all our members and supporters from the Directors of Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada)
Sincerely, Karl Kjarsgaard Project Manager 212 - 2980 Colonial Road Sarsfield, ON K0A 3E0 Halifax 57 Rescue (Canada) phone 613 835 1748 email: 57rescuecanada@rogers.com
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