SDG Highlanders invite public to attend reunion celebration

 

On the weekend of June 8th and 9th, The Glens’ Association will hold their annual reunion at the Cornwall Armoury.

The Glens’ (SD&G Highlanders) Association exists to continue the regimental “esprit de corps” of those who have served and the families of those served in Canada’s Armed Forces as members of the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders. 

A highlight in the association’s activities is the sponsorship of the Annual Glens’ Reunion on the weekend closest to the anniversary of D-Day. A key part of the reunion is a special project. 

In 2011, it was the dedication of two pieces of art memorializing locations in Normandy that are special to Glens – Hell’s Corner and Abbaye D’Ardenne. 

The plan for the 2012 Reunion is the recognition of the families of the 11 Glens killed liberating Leestsen, The Netherlands, on April 4, 1945. This will involve contacting families across Canada from New Brunswick to British Columbia.

The liberation of Leesten was part of seizing control of the area around Zutphen, a strategic objective of Field Marshall Montgomery. 

In 1945, Leesten was a small rural community on the outskirts of Zutphen. Today, Leestsen is a modern sub-division of Zutphen. And, the people have not forgotten the 11 Glens. 

Today, 10 streets and one bridge are named after them. The streets are lined with maple trees. Duplicate street signs have been received at the Cornwall Armoury for presentation to as many of the families as we can locate and bring to Cornwall in June 2012. 

To date, five of the 11 families of the men killed at Leesten will be attending the reunion. 

Morrisburg’s Branch 48, Royal Canadian Legion contributed $1,000 towards the costs of supporting families returning to Cornwall for this special part of the reunion.

His Excellency Wim Greets, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada has accepted an invitation from The Glens’ Association to participate in the presentation ceremony that follows the reunion’s memorial service. 

Whenever Glens visit the Leesten area, they receive a regal reception. 

Many of the area’s politicians have witnessed this hospitality on a recent Glens Tour. They will have an opportunity to express their thanks to the Ambassador at a special reception to be held in honour of the Ambassador.

The annual memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 9th at 5 p.m. with the Leesten Signs Ceremony following at 6 p.m. 

During the memorial service, Morrisburg resident Private Carman Reddick will be remembered. Carman was killed on October 9, 1944, when the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders were fighting to liberate the western bank of the Scheldt Estuary. 

His grave site is in the Adagem Cemetery, Belgium.

The public is welcome to attend the Memorial Service and the Leesten Signs Ceremony.

 

Since you’re here…

… Thanks for reading this article. Local news is important. We hope that you continue to support local news in your community by reading The Leader, online and in print. Please consider subscribing to the print edition of the newspaper. Click here to subscribe today.

Subscribe to Email Alerts

Enter your email address to subscribe to Email Alerts and receive notifications of new posts by email whenever The Leader publishes new content on our website.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply