Legion past president Chris Yerburgh tells Davin Graham a story about each of his medals during a presentation to pupils at South Okanagan Adventist Christian School last week.
Lyonel Doherty photo
Pupils from South Okanagan Adventist Christian School could be the next W5 news panel.
The kids asked a lot of questions last week during a Remembrance Day presentation by the Oliver Legion’s Colour Party.
The students stood at nearly rapt attention during the formal ceremony, and sat quietly while veterans spoke about their war-time duties. Not one pupil had to be reminded to stay still and listen.
Not surprisingly, the first question related to all of the medals that veterans were wearing. Legion past-president Chris Yerburgh explained what each of his dozen medals signified.
“What was the worst food you ever ate (in the army)?” one boy asked.
Yerburgh was quick to answer, recalling the awful taste of powdered eggs, brussels sprouts, and the worst sausages on the planet Earth.
“I don’t like them (brussels sprouts),” the boy said emphatically.
Another pupil asked the veterans what was their favourite vehicle to ride in during the war.
Sergeant-at-Arms Jim Stewart said his favourite was the Leopard tank. This prompted Davin Graham’s eyes to light up. But when Padre Ray Turner admitted he burned out two tanks in the war, another boy exclaimed, “You burned them!?”
Members of the Oliver Legion were touched when students from South Okanagan Adventist Christian School made them a big card and individual pins for Remembrance Day. The legion performed a special ceremony at the school to spread the word of remembrance.
Lyonel Doherty photo
Colour Party member Larry Chalmers said he spent three years in Churchill and never saw one polar bear.
Before the group left, the students presented each legion member with his/her own Remembrance Day pin that they made in class.
The class also presented the Colour Party with a large card in the form of a poster.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
