Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Good man!
Soldier's wreath-laying gesture brings happy tear to family of deceased war vets
10 hours ago
Sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness are as worthy of note as the huge sacrifices made by Canada's war veterans.
Such is the story of two now-deceased Second World War vets; their children, scattered around Ontario, who want not to forget; an employee at a flower shop in the hamlet of Deep River, Ont.; and her husband, a peacekeeper based at nearby CFB Petawawa, Ont.
For decades after the Second World War, Moe Blimkie, who served as a flight scheduler with the Royal Canadian Air Force in England and Germany, and the Scottish gal who became his wife, Elsie, who served with the Royal Air Force as a truck driver in England, would mark Remembrance Day by laying a wreath at the cenotaph in Chalk River, Ont.
"They were both very, very proud of what they did," said daughter Cindy Jolley, 45, of Kincardine, Ont.
After his wife died in 1997, Blimkie would lay two wreaths each year - one at the cenotaph, one at her grave. But he died last year, at age 84, and their act of paying tribute to the country's soldiers fell to his four sons and two daughters.
"We wanted to try to carry on that tradition," Jolley said.
Last year, the first Remembrance Day without their parents, eldest daughter Sandra Koster, 60, of St. Catharines, Ont., managed to buy a wreath from the local legion, which she sent up for brother Rick Blimkie to lay.
This year the legion was unable to help and her brother was away, so Koster - affectionately known in family circles as "the Commander" - called Pinecrest Florist in Deep River, about two hours northwest of Ottawa, to ask if they could deliver a floral tribute to the gravesite.
"It was a military Remembrance Day thing," said Karen Murgatroyd, 37, who works at the flower shop and happened to take Koster's order.
"I thought that was very sweet that she wanted to do that for her parents."
When Murgatroyd got home that evening, she mentioned the request to her husband, Master Cpl. Steve Murgatroyd, a peacekeeper with 3 Royal Canadian Regiment, based in Petawawa, who has served in Bosnia and Afghanistan.
"These people were very involved in the war and in the legion," said Murgatroyd, whose father is retired from the navy.
"I just thought it was really sad - all (they) wanted was a wreath."
It didn't take long for her soldier husband, who helped escort Canada's Unknown Soldier from Vimy Ridge in France to the War Memorial in Ottawa seven years ago, to volunteer his services.
"I thought, 'Wow, two World War 2 vets and nobody's going to place a wreath on their grave,"' Murgatroyd's husband, 36, said from his base.
"I said . . . 'I'll stand in, in uniform, and I'll lay the wreath. It's the least I can do.' "
So the Murgatroyds met Sunday at Chalk River, found the cemetery, and conducted a quiet, impromptu wreath-laying ceremony, complete with formal salute, while Murgatroyd snapped a few pictures to send to the Blimkie family.
The card reads: "We remember . . . with love from your kids and their families."
Steve Murgatroyd, whose grandparents were also Second World War veterans, said he was "very proud" to help out.
"Regardless of whether you know them or not, service members are service members - we're all family."
For the Blimkie children, the small gesture from complete strangers is one that looms large, a story to be passed on to their own children - one that will keep the memory of their family's sacrifices alive for another generation.
"Mom and dad will be smiling," Koster said.
"It certainly brought a tear to my eye," Jolley said. "It's just a simple act of kindness. It's really nice to be able to pass things like that on because that's what it's all about."
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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