Monthly Archives: December 2022

❄︎ News & Events for the Bay Area Canadian Community ❄︎

An item from one of our fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.


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War Santa and the Ukrainian wish list

An item from the Legion Magazine.


Front Lines
Stephen J thorne

War Santa

War Santa and the Ukrainian wish list

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

Working out of his home in Texas, a former United States Air Force sergeant is making a list and checking it twice. He calls himself War Santa and he already knows who’s naughty and who’s nice.

Working anonymously, War Santa exploits the knowledge and connections he made working in military intelligence to procure equipment and deliver it to Ukrainian soldiers, Americans and other foreign fighters in Ukraine.

Since March, he’s shipped or hand-delivered nearly US$130,000 in high-end drones, night-vision devices, encrypted radios, winter clothes, uniforms, helmets, body armour and more to special-forces units, demining teams and artillery units, along with Ukraine’s leading intelligence agency and 92nd Mechanized Brigade, a former rifle division that purged its Soviet honours and heritage in 2015.

Polish volunteers provide vital assistance in getting some of the more sensitive military supplies through the Polish-Ukrainian border.

 

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Silk Scarves
Military Milestones

 Bundesarchiv,Bild 146-1988-028-25A/CC-BY-SA 3.0/Wikimedia Commons

The Nazi mass murders of Canadian troops in WW II

STORY BY SHARON ADAMS

On Dec. 28, 1945, Major-General Kurt Meyer was found guilty of war crimes for the massacre of 18 Canadians at Abbaye D’Ardenne in Normandy, France, shortly after D-Day in 1944.

Meyer commanded the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, arch-enemy of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division as it advanced inland from Juno Beach on June 7, 1944. Meyer had instructed his troops to retaliate against the Allies for the bombing of German cities.

The bulk of the 12th Panzer Division were Hitler Youth members aged 17-19. These fanatical teens were led by battle-hardened older officers who had fought with the 1st SS Panzer Division on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union and were inured to brutality. Old or young, these Nazis were not averse to murdering prisoners of war.

In 1943, correspondent John Hetherington reported on the “bestial young Nazi fanatics” captured in Italy. He recounted tales of PoWs who were taken to camps in Crete, Greece, being tortured by Hitler Youth guards.

 

 

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Your CWGC newsletter is ready for you 📰

A newsletter from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that may be of interest to members.


Welcome to the CWGC’s latest newsletter

Looking back at 2022 • Book a talk • Research your past 
Collage of images from across the Commission in 2022.
The CWGC in 2022
What a year it’s been for the Commission! Across a very busy twelve months, we celebrated our success during May’s War Graves Week, commemorated at Christmas with an iconic Carol service, and much, much more. Recap 2022 with the CWGC here.
Best of 2022
A CWGC volunteer speakers gives a talk to history fans at a cemetery.
Book a talk
With the new year beckoning, our team are anxious to get out and about and share our amazing work with you! Interested in organising a free talk from us for your organisation? Book now before our diary slots fill up.
Book A Talk
A collage of headshots of various servicemen and women from the First World War.
Uncover your history
Explore our bitesize guides on how to help you research our casualties. What stories will you uncover? Use our powerful search tools to find out!
Start your research
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Copyright © 2022 Commonwealth War Graves Commission, All rights reserved.

Who We Are  |  Our Work  |  Resources  |  Get Involved  |  FAQs

Our mailing address:
2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7DX

www.cwgc.org

Thank you! You Made National Wreaths Across America Day Possible.

An item from the Wreaths Across America organization about the events across the country last weekend.


MMHeader

 Dear Michael Barbour,

 

In the video below, please watch a message of thanks from Wreaths Across America’s Executive Director Karen Worcester.

MissionMattersThanksFor2022

American Pride on Display at This Year’s National Wreaths Across America Day Event

ChildPLacesWreat

On Saturday, December 17th, more than 2.7 million sponsored veterans’ wreaths were placed by volunteers at 3,702 participating locations across the country.

Listen Live: Wreaths Across America Radio

Along with the informational and inspiring content, Wreaths Across America Radio plays a variety of music with the roots firmly planted in patriotism with a country music thread running through the core of the stream.

wreaths radio icons (1)

Get Involved with Wreaths Across America

TombGuardsWreaths

Help support volunteers in your community!

 

Find a location near you or sign up as a Sponsorship Group in 2023.

Last Chance: Shop 2022 Merchandise

Don’t miss the chance to add the Wreaths Across America 2022 theme “Find A Way To Serve” merchandise to your collection!

 

Click on the button below to shop clothing, coasters, and more.

2022 WAA Hoodie

Make sure to follow Wreaths Across America official channels on social media for the most up-to-the-minute news on the mission throughout the year:

Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram

Wreaths Across America, PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623, United States, 877-385-9504

Best Wishes to You and Yours This Holiday Season

Note the information about the McDonald windows exhibition and the fact that it ends on 23 December.


December 19, 2022

Dear Friends of the Interfaith Center at the Presidio,

Season’s Greetings to you and yours as we invite you to continue our work in making the Bay Area a more understanding and civil place for people from all faith traditions.

The ICP’s mission of religious collaboration for social justice has never been more urgent. Confronting the rise in hate speech and violent incidents targeting Asians, Jews, and Muslims, we have been working with Bay Area Interfaith Leaders in developing Public Service Announcements under the banner of “We All Belong.” Filming is under way and the announcements will begin to appear during the first quarter of the New Year.

The McDonald Peace Windows is winding up a very successful four-month exhibition at the War Memorial Veterans Building in San Francisco’s Civic Center. We continue to move forward with our Capital Campaign to renovate the Chapel and create a permanent gallery for the Windows. Even though the last couple of Covid years have had a notably negative impact on fundraising for all Non-Profits like ours, we faithfully continue to press forward by keeping our eye on the prize.

We continue to fill the Chapel with music through our popular interfaith monthly concert series which has never missed a beat even through – and coming out of – the Covid years.

The ICP’s commitment to Veterans remains strong and effective. We hosted the Presidio Memorial Day observance, the Blessing of the Fleet interfaith service, and we worthily honored our Veterans on November 11th. All were hailed for their inspiration by the attending public.

We continue to host regular monthly Bay Area Interfaith Leaders conferences where we explored and shared the best practices of Bay Area Interfaith Councils. One of the achievements of these collaborations has been the adoption of the Charter for Compassion’s principles as a means of measuring the effectiveness of each Council’s work. We formally declared the Bay Area to be a Compassionate Region.

Regretfully, the national conversation remains divisive, and the challenges remain daunting. Thankfully, however, there is also a rising tide of solidarity, good will and social conscience. We depend on friends like you to share our vision and to support our ultimate mission – to bring cooperation, justice and understanding throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

We invite you to donate to the ICP by mailing your donation to P.O. Box 29055, San Francisco, CA 94129 or making your donation on our website https://www.interfaithpresidio.org/donate.html

Many blessings to you and yours!

Reverend Gerald P. Caprio

Executive Director and Board Chair

 

The Interfaith Center at the Presidio links the power of interreligious cooperation by welcoming, serving, and celebrating the diverse wisdom and faith traditions of the Bay Area.

Follow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/interfaithpresidio/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/icpresidio

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRtRu7-ZHtKHeiANUqHgw-Q/featured

P.O. Box 29055  • San Francisco, CA 94129 • 415-561-3930 (office)

415-515-5681 (cell)  • www.interfaithpresidio.org

Email: presidiointerfaith@gmail.com