Letter from Jack Amo re: 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Scottish Regiment

The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) Centennial Committee 715 Bay Street, Victoria, BC V8T 1R1

6 August 2012

To whom it may concern:

What do you know about Veterans? Are you aware of the fact the Canadian soldiers earned the respect of other countries during WWI when they took the hill and held it at Vimy Ridge? Are you aware of the fact that Canadian soldiers were responsible for liberating many Dutch people during WWII? Are you aware of the respect the people of the Netherlands have for the soldiers from Canada?

Do you know what “D-day, Market Garden, VE-day or VJ-day are? Do you know where Ypres, St Julien, Putot-en-Bessin, Wagenborgen, Juno Beach or the Leopold Canal are? Until 2000 I had very little knowledge of what these were or if they were places to visit. I know that after the opportunity to tour with 47 other people, 17 of who were veterans of the Second World War with the Canadian Scottish Regiment, I knew more and did understand more. We visited small villages, towns and cities in the Netherlands, Belgium, Normandy and other parts of France. I’m not saying my education of what happened in either WWI or WWII is by any stretch of the imagination complete but I am saying we need to put a much bigger effort into teaching our youth of the sacrifices that were made so many years ago. To understand why the Dutch people think not only that our soldiers were brave and wonderful and in many cases gave the ultimate so that freedom and not terror were for everyone world wide. The Dutch people as a nation “will never forget” what was done for them. They teach their children from the time they are old enough to understand that without these men that came and suffered through many hardships, fierce battles, being wounded or worse being taken prisoner of war they wouldn’t be living the way they do today.

It is often hard for our veterans to discuss what happened and sometimes when they do they do so with glistening eyes and breaks in their voices as they remember their friends, family and comrades that they left behind. They try to explain how fierce the battles sometimes were and yes how scared they were, but it was their job and they carried on.

I know there is so much more to learn and so little time to learn it from those that were there and I would be more than thrilled to tour again with the veterans of the Canadian Scottish Regiment. To go with them and relive some of their memories both the good and the bad.

Victoria is home to the headquarters of The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) and still have a militia unit that sends soldiers on peace keeping missions wherever Canada goes and whenever they are needed and the headquarters for the Canadian Scottish Regimental Association. They have a fairly active association of over 400 made up of about 100 WWII Veterans as well as, retired and serving members of the current unit and families of those that have passed away.

My reason for relating all of this information is to ask for support to help us celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s). We are holding various events through out the year culminating in a celebration weekend 19 to 21 Oct 2012. We are anticipating 400 to 700 attendees for the weekend celebrations from across Canada, the USA and Europe.

We currently have 12 ex members of The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) as well as 8 citizens from The Netherlands registered. I am asking for your help to put items in the registration packages, items such as pens, lapel pins, decals, etc advertising your locale.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me by phone or e-mail, if you have questions I can't answer I will be happy to have a member of the executive contact you.

Thank you for your consideration.

Jack Amo Registration Committee Chairperson j.amo@shaw.ca 250-474-1480