MEMORIALS

in

BRITISH COLUMBIA

STANLEY PARK

Click Here to see the photographs

This is an account of the ceremony for the dedication of the granite monument which the British Columbia Branch of the Burma Star Association erected in Stanley Park, Vancouver on May 10th. 1994.  

Scenario – by Gordon Slark  

May 10th, 1994, started with an overcast sky. It was Dedication Day for the BC Branch, Burma Star Association. There was a bunion feeling of a possible shower.  

By mid morning, at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park, some activity began in the south corner of that large, flat, grassy crescent, where a newly arrived, 8-10 cubic foot, polished, granite stone sat. A small canopied truck disgorged a small, quiet generator, wires, speakers and microphone and soon came a rental truck to deliver chairs. Coming in quick order, an HMCS Discovery bus pulled in from Tsawwassen with a contingent of veterans and wives from Vancouver Island, and at least one van dropped off a musical group of veterans wearing naval band uniforms. Then a mixture of people came on the scene.  Many wearing blue blazers adorned with WWII medals of involvement, some wearing berets, some bush helmets. Many members had their wives and/or friends accompanying them and our Honorary Member, Bob Stewart brought his wife, mother and two sisters to this special occasion.  

At 1330 the Vancouver Naval Veterans Drum & Bugle Band came to attention, the Colour Guard formed up with the Canadian Flag, Union Jack, BC Branch Standard and the Victoria Branch Standard in that order. They positioned themselves behind the memorial stone facing the audience. Our Number One Burma Star Member, Sir Bernard Chacksfield and his wife Lady Elizabeth arrived at 1350 hours.  

The overcast had gone, the sky was blue, the sun gave the heat we welcomed and the quietness was disrupted, almost appropriately, with many overhead flights of commuter aircraft to Vancouver's Coal Harbour.  

President Paul B.Adams began our dedication service at 1400 hours. His presentation follows next. Sir Bernard's comments, prior to the unveiling, were from an impromptu 3 x 5 card. We also have Bryan Colwell's dedication/prayer to sum up our service.  

What a wonderful setting for this special occasion in remembrance of our S.E.A.C.'s fallen comrades.  

Gord

************  

President’s Presentation:  

Sir Bernard Chacksfield, Lady Elizabeth, Honoured Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.  

This is a proud day for the British Columbia Branch of the Burma Star Association. Through the efforts of Branch members who worked to obtain the funds, we are here to dedicate this monument to the men and women of the Commonwealth who served in Burma and the Far East during World War II.  

We thank the Vancouver Parks Board for allowing us this site. Here the monument looks over English Bay to the Pacific Ocean, across which, far away, lies Asia and the land of Burma. It is an ideal site. There is none better in the city.  

The events we commemorate happened a long time ago, when we were young. But their memory is fresh in our minds. We will never forget the heat, the torrential rains, the mud, the leeches, and all the other good things we encountered. We will never forget the constant danger, or our valiant comrades who did not make it back.  

Sir Bernard, we thank you and Lady Elizabeth for being with us on this day. Would you please take the microphone and proceed with the unveiling.  

Paul B. Adams

May 10, 1994

************  

Reflective Thought - (A Dedication)

By our Padre the Rev. Bryan Colwell.  

O God of battles and Spirit of Peace, as we dedicate this stone in the memory of all the Commonwealth and other Forces who served and died in the Burma campaign we find our hearts filling up and flooding over with memories and thanks and prayers.  

We remember those who died; they were part of our number; they shared with us the boredom, the deprivation, the occasional humour and the stark terrors of war. Some died by accident; some of sicknesses, endemic in a land which is filled with threats to health; some died suddenly; some while waiting alone, wounded and far from home awaiting a terrible death from the enemy. Some survived, but suffered an early death because of what they had suffered.  

We remember them all, and thank You for the lives which they laid down as gifts to help win a victory against tyranny and oppression.  

We thank You for their loved ones, who waited in vain for their return, and then carried on, without the ones who had shared their lives, their hopes and their dreams. Help us to continue to support them, in remembrance of the past. And we thank you for the memories of all of our number who have died since the war.  

We thank You, also, for the realization which has come to us that You were always with us, even when we did not realize the fact. You loved us all - even before we were born; and Your purpose was, and is, that we be the people You intended us to be - we who enlisted to serve - we men and a few women with a longing for justice and peace, for an end to hunger, ignorance, dire poverty, the pollution of the environment, and war. We - working with You to help You create the world You long to see - a world filled with right relationships and with people who have a joy for serving. You have heard us - and we are hourly grateful to You and are constraining to serve You.  

Our prayer is that all Your people in the world - not merely from the Commonwealth, including those from Asia (the vast majority of those who served in Burma), from Europe, Africa, the Americas, the Antipodes, and islands of the Seas) - from everywhere -  will learn to live as one great Family intertwined in right relationships. Our further prayer is that You will help us to forgive our enemies, past and present, lest we become bitter and hard, walking with unforgiveness weighing us down, its burden hard and crushing.  

And, finally, let the memory of those who died be an example to us, that we be true to their best dreams and that we, being faithful unto death, may with our departed friends receive at last the crown You offer us as You say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servants; you have been faithful in a few things; enter into the joy of Your Lord. This is our prayer, God.  Amen.  

given by Bryan Colwell,

May 10th, 1994  

 

 

 

 

 

 This Memorial in Stanley Park was erected to face West across the Pacific to the lands where so many of our comrades died.

Click on picture for closer view
Looking from the monument to the North Shore Mountains which lie across Vancouver Harbour

 

Click on picture for closer view

 
A close up of the granite memorial in Stanley Park, Vancouver.  Vancouver's Stanley Park is world famous and heavily traveled by tourists and the local population alike.

Click on picture for closer view