CAPTION: Larry Gladney, left, and John Hawkins lay a wreath in front of the newly unveiled Forestry Unit Memorial in Clarenville during the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit reunion ceremonies Sept. 8. Pat Healey photo
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This is a feature on the NOFU Memorial monument being unveiled in The Packet as it happened on Sept 8.
A proud day for Foresters
Monument unveiled during reunion
called 'a great asset' to community
By PAT HEALEY, the Packet
A monument to honour the 34 men of the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit who died in World War II was unveiled during a 'proud' day for Foresters at the Unit's reunion last weekend in Clarenville.
Josh Goobie, who headed up the monument project, said the monument brought the recognition the foresters and the 3rd Inverness Battalion, which he was a part of, had been seeking since 1941.
"I felt that it was long overdue for the boys that didn't come home," Mr. Goobie said. "I thought that was the least we could do was get a monument."
Mr. Goobie said the business sector within Clarenville was very supportive of the project, which started about three years ago.
Trinity North PC MHA Ross Wiseman said it was after a meeting with Josh Goobie and Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit president Larry Gladney, that he realized what sacrifices these young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians made for their country.
"I didn't really have a true appreciation for what the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit had actually been involved with," Mr. Wiseman said following the monument's unveiling ceremony. "I met with Larry and Josh and they gave me a real lesson in history. You couldn't help but walk away from that discussion with those two fellas and not been moved by it.
"I didn't know where I could get the money, but I made a commitment then that as soon as I could get my hands on the five of six thousand dollars that they were looking for that I'd make sure I'd have it for them."
Four months after his meeting with the two Forestry veterans, Mr. Wiseman succeeded in getting government funding for the project.
Harold March, chaplain for Legion Branch 27, said the monument will help set Clarenville apart from places like Grand Falls-Windsor and St. John's.
"I thought it was a real good job. I'm looking forward to seeing the Foresters back here again, I'm sure they will be," Mr. March said. "I think it will make a difference in our November 11 parade."
He said he hopes the monument will allow the stories of what the Foresters, who were 15 and 16 years old, sacrificed without hesitation to protect the free world.
"I'd hope people will be asking questions about it and wondering who the Foresters were," Mr. March explained. "They then would ask questions and get the answers from information in the libraries or the Foresters themselves.
"It's a great asset to the community."
Clifford Pike, who is maintaining a Web site on the Forestry Unit, thought the monument was a great dedication to those who fought, like his now deceased father. The web site can be located at www.mgl.ca/~cpike/NOFU.html.
"I think it's a great dedication to those fellas," Mr. Pike, of Guelph, ON., said. "I think it's been a long time coming.
"There's a second one in Grand Falls-Windsor, and it's beautiful, just like this one."
Veteran Ralph Russell called the monument ceremony 'very good'.
Edgar Fifield was attending on behalf of his father, Edgar Sr. Mr. Fifield's dad survived the war itself, but passed away years later.
"It was a very interesting ceremony. I've never seen one before," Mr. Fifield said. "It's about time we knew exactly what the Forestry did over there. It's never been explained clearly what they actually did.
"I think a lot of people learned things today that they didn't know. "
Mr. Wiseman commended both Mr. Goobie and Mr. Gladney on a job well done. He said the push by the two for the monument has been a real lesson for himself.
"These guys did a great job," he said. "It's monuments like this that will help us all remember the kind of contribution they made."
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Here is a feature story from the Aug. 22 issue of Norwester. Enjoy.
Strong reaction
Disabilities campaign brings message to Springdale
By PAT HEALEY, the nor'wester
SPRINGDALE -A coast-to-coast disabilities awareness campaign brought a mixed reaction during its stop in Springdale to meet and greet and present a workshop as part of the Raising Awareness of Abilities of People Living With Disabilities tour.
The On Wings, Like Eagles Tour stopped for a workshop at Grace United Church Aug. 17, attracting approximately 30 people. It is expected they will end their tour on Aug. 27 when they reach Cape Spear.
The team cycled to Badger and returned for a "great" supper. They were to resume the tour at Badger early Saturday Aug. 18.
Stephanie McClellan, who has a pair of disabilities herself, was making the workshop as her goal is to bring more awareness that disabled people can do things for themselves.
"We all do things differently," Ms. McClellan said. "We're trying to re-define what people are."
During the tour, Ms. McClellan is joined by Carmen Palmer, Joel Corapi, Ben Anible, Michael Hey, and good friend Sharon Young.
On May 30, 1999 the team embarked on this challenging endeavour in Vancouver and were able to keep the schedule that had been set out, rolling into Ottawa on August 28. En route, Ms. McClellan and her team presented their message to 1,354 people directly through 46 workshops or formal speaking engagements. TV and press coverage carried the On Wings Like Eagles story to countless other Canadians.
Ms. McClellan's efforts in inspiring others were recognized by the Canadian Foundation for Persons with Physical Disabilities in February 2000 when she was named one of three recipients of the King Clancy Award. This award is presented annually to honour the community spirit of the late Toronto Maple Leaf hockey legend.
In Springdale, as part of the presentation, there was a 15 minute church worship service where those attending were assigned, and attended the church service with, a disability.
During the service, there were distractions as those role-playing Tourettes sufferers yelled out "Shoots Score" or "Good Morning", while others had dyslexia and others wandered about.
After the service, there was a discussion about the feelings of having a disability which raised at least one negative reaction.
Springdale resident Ed Smith was upset that the worship service may have been making "a mockery" of what the tour is all about (bringing awareness to problems faced by those with disabilities) as many were giggling and laughing when one of those symptoms cropped up during the service.
"It's one thing to pay lip service, but it's another to live it," Mr. Smith said. "It was a very powerful thing."
Ms. McClellan said she was happy to see people express their feelings towards the service, even if it was negative.
"That's one of the biggest challenges. You know you're only going to have a disability for 15 minutes," she added.
Ms. Palmer said the service was a learning experience.
"I think we learned something, but at a very heavy price . . .," she said during the discussion.
Ms. McClellan said at stops across Canada the reaction has been 'wonderful'.
"It's been a fabulous reaction," she told the nor'wester. "We've been welcomed graciously and hosted well. We've also had many interesting discussions and dialogues...."
"We've been able to realize our dream by getting to each place and seeing the work that is already being done there. We're finding it to be a success."
Ms. McClellan pointed out the reaction in Springdale has been the best so far.
"We're trying to bring awareness to this," she said. "I think children are getting a better understanding of integrating people with a disability. But, kids can't change the world like that unless their taught."
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