Commemorate and Remember

Vimy Day

with

The Royal Canadian Legion

San Francisco Bay Area Branch 25

on

Thursday, 5 April 2012

Noon Luncheon

with a

No Host Bar

at

The Englander in San Leandro

101 Parrott Street

Your Branch Presidency

President Dennis B. Edmondson

and

Vice President Wayne Padgett

are

looking forward to seeing you then!

Guest Speaker

Fred Rutledge

including

Awards Presentation

RCL – Commemorate and Remember Vimy Day 2012 <– Click link to download invitation.

An old flyer for the annual dinner and dance in remembrance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge from 2006.  For those unfamiliar, Vimy Ridge is often described as the birth of Canada as a nation- and two good sources describing the battle can be found from the Vimy Foundation and  Veterans Affairs Canada.

Click on image for larger version

These images were a part of a newsletter, but I don’t know which one – as only these two pages were shared.  Many familiar names among the attendees in these pictures.

Click on the image for a larger version.

Hors d’oeuvres by the caterers and the opening of the bay by Comrade Sam Cramb started the festivities for the evening.  President Howard Caveil officially opened the meeting and recognized the special guests, include Navy Cadets representative Major Al Cook, USMC, and his wife Kimberley.  The playing of the three National Anthems was followed by an exceptional dinner.

Port wine toasts were made to the Queen and the US President, followed by additional toasts – including the passing of the Queen Mum and for all troops currently in Harms Way.  Comrade Robert Flory gave an excellent dissertation from his father’s diary covering Frank Flory’s younger days beginning pre-WWI.  Those in the audience were captivated by the details and showed their appreciation at the conclusion of the report.

Branch 25 Piper Fred Rutledge played a medley of pipe favourites, “wi’ nay a sour note in the batch.”  We appreciate Fred playing for us as his current schedule is very busy (Fred is a Lt. Col. in the US Army Reserve).

Other speakers included Branch 25 Vice President Arthur Park and Royal British Legion Commander Danny Mander.  Door prize winners were Tina Edgcumbe and Roger Weed.  President Howard Cavill thanked all who helped put the program together, and to all who attended.

Chaplin Sam Cramb closed the evening events.