Monthly Archives: September 2024

A message from Prince Jordan concerning CAPNSF – San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco

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Information about an up-coming remembrance event in the Bay Area.

Wreaths Across America

Thank You
Thank you for Sponsoring Wreaths and Volunteering for National Wreaths Across America Day. I am this year’s Location Coordinator for CAPNSF – San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco, and I am writing with information about our ceremony scheduled for December 14, 2024 (Wreath Placement Immediately Following Ceremony).

We are excited to announce that we are just 120 days away from our annual program and wreath laying ceremony, which will be held at the San Francisco National Cemetery. The Wreaths Across America San Francisco Team, in partnership with the American Legion Salesian Post 599, is honored to continue this cherished tradition to REMEMBER the fallen, HONOR those who serve, and TEACH our children the value of Freedom.

We invite you to join us for this special event and to volunteer with us. Following the wreath placement, light refreshments will be served for all attendees.

I will keep you updated with more details in the coming weeks as we finalize this year’s program. Thank you once again for your unwavering support. We look forward to seeing you there.

Thank you very much for supporting CAPNSF – San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco. Please click More Information for more about our mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach.

Prince Jordan & Hanley Chan
Location Coordinators
CAPNSF – San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco

The Battle of Britain Service by The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 25 (San Francisco Bay Area)

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A newsletter from the Interfaith Center at the Presidio announcing our upcoming service.

Interfaith Center at the Presidio

Unleashing the Power of

Interreligious Cooperation

The Battle of Britain Service

by The Royal Canadian Legion,

Branch 25 (San Francisco Bay Area)

The Battle of Britain was formally held from July 10th to October 31st, 1940. According to Veterans Affairs Canada:

Many Canadians served in the squadrons of Spitfires and Hurricanes which repulsed the Luftwaffe in the summer of 1940. No. 1 Fighter Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), equipped with modern eight-gun fighters, became the first RCAF unit to engage enemy planes in battle when it met a formation of German bombers over southern England on August 26, 1940. It shot down three of them and damaged four others with the loss of one pilot and one plane. Its next meeting with the enemy was not as fortunate as it was attacked out of the sun by Messerschmitts and lost three planes. By mid-October the squadron had accounted for 31 enemy aircraft destroyed and probably 43 more destroyed or damaged. It lost 16 Hurricanes; three pilots had been killed.

The Canadians flew with the Royal Air Force during that difficult period. No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron RAF, which had been formed in 1939 from some of the many Canadians who flew directly with the Royal Air Force, was now reinforced with Veterans from the French campaign and joined in the battle. On August 30, nine of its planes met a hundred enemy aircraft over Essex. Attacking from above, the squadron claimed 12 victories and escaped unscathed.

Canadians also shared in repulsing the Luftwaffe’s last major daylight attack. On September 27, 303 Squadron RAF and 1 Squadron RCAF attacked the first wave of enemy bombers. Seven, possibly eight enemy planes were destroyed, and another seven damaged. The Royal Canadian Air Force thus received its baptism of fire.

For several decades the Royal Canadian Air Force Association 900 Wing San Francisco (otherwise known as the “Golden Bear Wing”) hosted a Battle of Britain service at the Presidio Chapel in San Francisco. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the RCAF, join Branch 25 (San Francisco) of the Royal Canadian Legion and Rana Sarkar (Consul General of Canada in San Francisco) for the 2024 Battle of Britain service.

Sunday, 15 September 2024 at 11am

Presidio Chapel – 130 Fisher Loop, San Francisco, CA 94129

If you are unable to attend the service in person, it will be live streamed on the day of the event. To register to watch the service online, please visit https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_S3GLUF7JQDWESFbZfVa5hw

 

For questions please contact:

Michael Barbour

President, Branch 25 (San Francisco)

Royal Canadian Legion

mkbarbour@gmail.com

https://royalcanadianlegionus25.com/

Sunday, 15 September 2024 at 11am

Presidio Chapel

130 Fisher Loop, San Francisco, CA 94129

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

presidiointerfaith@gmail.com

www.interfaithpresidio.org

Rare birds: The Canada Aviation and Space Museum’s WW I collection

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An item from the Legion Magazine.
Front Lines
Front Lines

The Canada Aviation and Space Museum’s First World War aircraft collection is considered among the best in the world. It includes multiple one-of-a-kind and rare period planes. [Stephen J. Thorne/LM]

Rare birds: The Canada Aviation and Space Museum’s WW I collection

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

Just a decade after the Wright brothers achieved history’s first powered flight, the airplane had become a weapon of war and the focus of an arms race.

Warplanes started out as rudimentary aircraft with open cockpits and limited instrumentation. Pilots, quite literally, flew by the seat of their pants—without parachutes.

The aviation industry was in rapid growth, in constant evolution, improving designs and performance.

READ MORE
Vintage War Posters
Military Milestones
Military Milestones

Jules Paivio, the last Canadian veteran of the Spanish Civil War, was granted honourary citizenship by Spain in 2012. [TheBeretProject]

My son in Spain: Canada’s last combat veteran of the Spanish Civil War

STORY BY ALEX BOWERS

What began beside a family cabin in Sudbury, Ont., appeared to be ending against the bullet-ridden wall of a faraway Spanish farmhouse.

Jules Paivio, a 20-year-old Finnish Canadian of the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion (the Mac-Paps), watched on as his Italian captors, aligned with the enemy’s Nationalist forces, prepared a firing squad. Together with other prisoners, the 15th International Brigade volunteer pondered his fate.

His birthday was at the end of the month—on April 30, 1938—but he couldn’t imagine living to see it. Such was the brutality of the Spanish Civil War.

READ MORE

Member Benefit Partner
Chip Reverse Mortgage

Canadian homeowners aged 55+ can access up to 55% of their home’s value without having to sell. As a proud partner of the Royal Canadian Legion, HomeEquity Bank offers Legion members $500 cash back* upon funding their CHIP Reverse Mortgage. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3ln5vfo

 
Email sent to: mkbarbour@gmail.com

Canvet Publications Ltd.
86 Aird Place |
Kanata, Ontario | K2L 0A1 | Canada |
1-844-602-5737 | 613-591-0116 | magazine@legion.ca

Notice: Battle of Britain Service 2024

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The Battle of Britain was formally held from July 10th to October 31st, 1940.  According to Veterans Affairs Canada:

Many Canadians served in the squadrons of Spitfires and Hurricanes which repulsed the Luftwaffe in the summer of 1940. No. 1 Fighter Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), equipped with modern eight-gun fighters, became the first RCAF unit to engage enemy planes in battle when it met a formation of German bombers over southern England on August 26, 1940. It shot down three of them and damaged four others with the loss of one pilot and one plane. Its next meeting with the enemy was not as fortunate as it was attacked out of the sun by Messerschmitts and lost three planes. By mid-October the squadron had accounted for 31 enemy aircraft destroyed and probably 43 more destroyed or damaged. It lost 16 Hurricanes; thre pilots had been killed.

The Canadians flew with the Royal Air Force during that difficult period. No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron RAF, which had been formed in 1939 from some of the many Canadians who flew directly with the Royal Air Force, was now reinforced with Veterans from the French campaign and joined in the battle. On August 30, nine of its planes met a hundred enemy aircraft over Essex. Attacking from above, the squadron claimed 12 victories and escaped unscathed.

Canadians also shared in repulsing the Luftwaffe’s last major daylight attack. On September 27, 303 Squadron RAF and 1 Squadron RCAF attacked the first wave of enemy bombers. Seven, possibly eight enemy planes were destroyed, and another seven damaged. The Royal Canadian Air Force thus received its baptism of fire.

For several decades the Royal Canadian Air Force Association 900 Wing San Francisco (otherwise known as the “Golden Bear Wing”) hosted a Battle of Britain service at the Presidio Chapel in San Francisco.  In honour of the 100th anniversary of the RCAF, join Branch 25 (San Francisco) of the Royal Canadian Legion and Rana Sarkar (Consul General of Canada in San Francisco) for the 2024 Battle of Britain service.

Sunday, 15 September 2024 at 11am
Presidio Chapel – 130 Fisher Loop, San Francisco, CA 94129

If you are unable to attend the service in person, we will do our best to stream the service on the day of the event.  To register to watch the service online, please visit https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_S3GLUF7JQDWESFbZfVa5hw