Army Navy Air Force Unit 255 remembers

Jim Friesen, a veteran since 1963, and Bruce Wilson, president of Army Navy Air Force Unit 255. 

Chris Abbott

Editor

November 11 will mark the 100th Remembrance Day ceremony at the historic Norfolk War Memorial Carillon Tower on Norfolk Street.

“The ceremony is very well done and it’s usually a good crowd,” said Bruce Wilson, president of the Army Navy Air Force Unit 255 in Simcoe. “It’s good to see the kids out. It should be acknowledged by the schools – a lot of students, even high school students, don’t know what it’s all about.

“I do it for me and for the veterans. In my heart, it makes me feel good.”

People will gather at the Carillon Tower for a 10:30 a.m. ceremony.

“We all go to the Carillon Tower at 10:30-10:40 a.m.,” said Wilson. “We have a short march, although it’s getting smaller each year… us, the Legion, the cadets, the 69th Battery (56th Field Regiment), and some of the schools lay wreaths. The last few years we’ve had fly-overs. They usually fire the cannon, twice.”

“I loved to march with the bagpipes playing behind you. You get into the swing of the walk and it just feels so good.”

After the Remembrance Day service, many people head over to the Royal Canadian Legion, Simcoe Brach 79 (200 West Street) for a light lunch and camaraderie.

“Then we come back here (Army Navy Air Force Unit 255 at 53 Water Street) at 3 p.m. and we put out the biggest spread you’ll see… for whoever comes,” said Wilson, who does a lot of the cooking. “This year we’ll have homemade chili, chicken soup, salads, cold cuts and buns, cheese, vegetables… We’re kind of the last (Remembrance Day) stop here – people will stay 3-4 hours.

“What is does is it shows people what we’re all about,” Wilson said, proud of the 22-year-old building on Water Street.

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Wilson said one of his ‘bucket-list goals,’ someday, is to ride in a Lancaster Bomber, based in Hamilton.

“I would just like to feel it. Just the experience, the sound. I love it when they’re taking off. We were in St. Thomas two years ago, and the (WWII) planes were landing and taking off there. I pulled over and watched. You hear those engines kick in… the power. That’s a big plane.”