Monthly Archives: October 2024

Blessing of the Fleet Interfaith Service at the Presidio Chapel

Note this event related to the San Francisco Fleet Week that is upcoming. As a reminder, the Royal Canadian Navy will be represented at San Francisco Fleet Week.

The Consulate General of Canada is pleased to support the Royal Canadian Navy’s participation in San Francisco Fleet Week 2024. Public tours of the HMCS Regina will be offered at San Francisco Pier 15/17 on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13, from 10:00 am – 3:30 pm on both days. All tours are free of charge, available on a first-come, first-served basis. More details, including the ship tour guidelines and code of conduct, are available via the San Francisco Fleet Week website and app at https://fleetweeksf.org/events/ship-tours/

Interfaith Center

at the Presidio

Unleashing the Power of

Interreligious Cooperation

The service will be livestreamed at this link

P.O. Box 29055, San Francisco, CA 94129

(415) 561-3930 (office) * (415) 686-2639 (cell)

www.interfaithpresidio.org * mailto: presidiointerfaith@gmail.com

Stolen Churchill portrait coming home

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An item from the Legion Magazine.

Yousuf Karsh’s Churchill portrait was shot in two minutes in an antechamber off the House of Commons on Dec. 31, 1941. [Yousuf Karsh]

Stolen Churchill portrait coming home

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

An original print of one of the world’s most famous photographs, stolen during the COVID pandemic, is on its way back to the Ottawa hotel that photographer Yousuf Karsh called home for 19 years.

Pinched from the reading lounge of the Fairmont Château Laurier some time between Christmas Day 2021 and Jan. 6, 2022, and replaced with a fake, the portrait of Britain’s wartime prime minister, Winston Churchill, was found in a private collection in Italy in September 2024.

A 43-year-old man from Powassan, Ont., was arrested in April 2024 and charged with multiple offences associated with the picture’s disappearance, including theft, forgery and trafficking in stolen property. His name is under a publication ban.

ATTENTION CANADIAN MILITARY FAMILIES : Did you or a family member receive VAC disability benefits between 2003 and 2023?

On 17 January 2024 the Federal Court approved a settlement in a class action involving alleged underpayment of certain disability pension benefits administered by Veterans Affairs Canada (“VAC”) payable to members or former members of the Canadian Armed Forces (“CAF”) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (“RCMP”) and their spouses, commonlaw partners, survivors, other related individuals, and estates (the “Settlement”).

If you received any of the disability-related benefits listed below at any time between 2003 and 2023, you may be entitled to compensation under the Settlement. As the executor, estate trustee, administrator, or family member of a deceased class member who collected VAC-administered disability benefits, you may also be able to claim on behalf of the estate.

Zeppelin L.31 readies for launch. [Wikimedia]

Night of the Tempest: A British-Canadian pilot versus German Zeppelin L.31

STORY BY ALEX BOWERS

Shortly before midnight on Oct. 1, 1916, Second Lieutenant Wulstan Tempest, soaring through English skies in a B.E.2c biplane, spotted his looming target.

At more than 14,000 feet (4,267 metres), the German Zeppelin Luftschiff 31—or L.31—looked like it rained death from the heavens, however hellish that prospect seemed. But now, of course, it was the 25-year-old pilot’s turn to wreak havoc upon the airship, crewed by 19 and, with its onboard machine guns, far from defenceless.

Tempest remained undeterred. He would be the oncoming storm.

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[REMINDER] Royal Canadian Navy at San Francisco Fleet Week

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The Consulate General of Canada is pleased to support the Royal Canadian Navy’s participation in San Francisco Fleet Week 2024. Public tours of the HMCS Regina will be offered at San Francisco Pier 15/17 on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13, from 10:00 am – 3:30 pm on both days. All tours are free of charge, available on a first-come, first-served basis. More details, including the ship tour guidelines and code of conduct, are available via the San Francisco Fleet Week website and app at https://fleetweeksf.org/events/ship-tours/

Live With Purpose. This Month, We’re Highlighting Their Concern For The Future.

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An item from the Wreaths Across America organization.

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The chill of Fall has arrived in the air here in Maine. Things are getting busy at the national headquarters as our volunteers step up their efforts to prepare for National Wreaths Across America Day 2024. But they know our mission is year-round, as demonstrated by our “Live With Purpose” series.

This month’s presentation is focused on their concern for the future and inspired by the family of Captain Eric A. Jones, who died in service to our country in 2009, and their commitment to continuing his life mission.

This December, when we take our families to place wreaths on the graves of those who have served, we have the opportunity to honor them not only by remembering them but also by sharing their stories with the children. The lessons we can share with our children about selflessness, service and responsibility affect their lives and shape the future of family, community and country.

We can best help shape the future – their future by helping them understand that freedom comes at great cost and with great responsibility.

With gratitude,
Karen Worcester

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Live with Purpose: Their Concern for the Future

The 8th attribute of a veteran’s wreath is “their concern for the future.” This month, we were honored to meet and inspired by the family of Capt. Eric A. Jones, who died in service to our country in 2009. Their commitment to continuing his life mission through the non-profit Heroes in Transition is truly inspiring. You can support this great program and WAA by sponsoring a veteran’s wreath through their Sponsorship Group.

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Wreaths Across America’s Website Update

We’re excited to announce major updates to Wreaths Across America’s website:

Our streamlined checkout process lets you honor a hometown hero or loved one with just a few clicks.
During checkout, you can make a grave-specific request or choose other customization options for your wreath—sponsorship has never been easier!
With our new live preview features for Honor Cards and Remember Wall posts, you have complete control over meaningful tributes.
You can easily support our year-round programs, like the Teach Program, Mobile Education Exhibit, Wreaths Radio, Remembrance Tree Tagging, and more.

Visit Our Website

You’re Invited: TEACH Webinar

Join us on Tuesday, October 15th from 4pm-5pm ET for a TEACH Webinar co-hosted by Wreaths Across America and the Library of Congress Veterans History Project.

If you can’t attend live, you should still register in order to receive the webinar recording.

Wreaths Across America Radio Round Table

Join us for an upcoming round table featuring nonprofits Hero’s Bridge and Veteran’s Last Patrol. This discussion will air on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 1 PM ET.