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World War 1 Encyclopedia: Christian, Curley
Ethelbert “Curley” Christian was one of Canada’s best known black soldiers in World War 1 - and perhaps the only Canadian to lose all four limbs and survive.
Ethelbert “Curley” Christian was one of Canada’s best known black
soldiers in World War I. He was born in Homestead, Penn., left school at
15 in 1884, became a chain-maker, and eventually settled in Selkirk,
Man. That’s where he enlisted in November 1915, with the 108th
Battalion. Once he was overseas he was transferred to the 78th
Battalion, the Winnipeg Grenadiers.
During the Battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917, a high-explosive
shell crashed down and buried Christian in a trench. All his limbs were
crushed by the dirt and he was trapped on the battlefield for two days.
After he was found, two stretcher-bearers carrying him to safety were
struck dead by enemy fire.
Christian made it to a military hospital in France but things didn’t
look good — gangrene had settled into his limbs and he was described as
“dangerously ill.” (Soldiers in the trenches were prone to gangrene,
which they contracted when contaminated soil got into their open
wounds.) He was shipped to the Bethnal Green Military Hospital in
London. First his forearms were amputated: his left at five inches below
the elbow, his right at four inches. About two weeks later, both legs
were amputated five inches below the knee. He was thought to be the only
Canadian soldier to lose all four limbs in the war and survive.
Christian’s condition steadily improved. He sailed back to Canada on
the Llandovery Castle hospital ship that September and was sent to
Euclid Hall on Jarvis St. (where the Keg Mansion is today), which had
been taken over by the military as a hospital for severely wounded
veterans.
Later, while he was at the Christie Street Veterans Hospital, he met a
young volunteer aide from Jamaica named Cleo MacPherson. They fell in
love and were married in 1920. Cleo knew that with her nursing skills,
she could take care of her husband at home, but it would be a full-time
job and she couldn’t afford it. The hospital director appealed to the
Canadian government on their behalf, and the government agreed to
provide a supplement to full-time caregivers of wounded veterans. The
Attendance Allowance is still in place today.
The ever-cheerful Christian was a lifelong advocate for wounded
veterans. When the Vimy Ridge memorial was unveiled in 1936, he and his
wife were invited to attend the ceremony in France. At the ceremony,
Christian caught the eye of King Edward and introduced him to a group of
blind veterans.
Here’s how Christian described the meeting in the Toronto Star: “Just
as he was passing he paused and pointed to me, saying, ‘Hello, I
remember you. I met you in Toronto 18 years ago,’ as he broke through
the double line of guards.’” (Edward had met with veterans in Toronto in
1919 when he was still Prince of Wales.) “He asked me how I was
feeling. Then I asked him to speak to the blind vets.”
A few years later, in 1939, Christian was at the Christie hospital
when King George VI and his wife came to visit wounded soldiers there.
“When she was told that ‘Curley’ had been in Canada many years, the
Queen replied: ‘You must feel like a real Canadian.’ To this Curley
answered: ‘I am a Canadian, ma’am.’”
Curley died in Toronto in 1954, at the age of 69. He is buried in the
veterans section at Prospect Cemetery. His son, Douglas, served in the
Navy in World War II.
Sources: Library and Archives Canada; The War Amps of Canada;
Veterans Affairs Canada
; Toronto Star archives
— Stephanie MacLellan
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COMMENT:
True Patriot Love- this old gal wonders... if our youngest and newest will ever know the incredible courage and history of this amazing and incredible young nation... called Canada... pray they do.... in the meantime.... cherish the fact that in our War Baby WWII growing up years.... honour and respect and knowledge of all things Canadian meant so much... especially those who ensured our freedom... and 2 often those who paid so dearly.... WWI and WWII were horrendous times looking around at how many we lost in our huge landscape of God's perfect nature and very small number of population.... and the raw courage and duty and selflessness devoted 2 those carrying the flag and the banner of this great Canada... True Patriot Love... thank u. thank u... God is lucky... and He knows it.
Royal Canadian Air Force
The memorial to the 50 escapers who were executed by the Gestapo in the aftermath of the Great Escape. It was built by prisoners of war in the forest outside Stalag Luft III by permission of the camp commandant, a Luftwaffe colonel, who was ashamed of the murders committed by the Gestapo.
Photo: Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) Alex Fieglar
https://www.facebook.com/rcaf1924/photos/pcb.10152741514946237/10152741514546237/?type=1&theater
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CANADA MILITARY NEWS: Disabled have great sex lives folks and always have/CHINA teaching disabled children and youth about embracing their sexuality and it's healthy/ SEXTING- what it means global articles/ PLATO - Asexual- Platonic love and friendships work and millions and millions like the honesty of asexality/ MASTERBATION is healthy folks- get used 2 it
http://nova0000scotia.blogspot.ca/2015/07/canada-military-news-disabled-have.html
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COMMENT:
True Patriot Love- this old gal wonders... if our youngest and newest will ever know the incredible courage and history of this amazing and incredible young nation... called Canada... pray they do.... in the meantime.... cherish the fact that in our War Baby WWII growing up years.... honour and respect and knowledge of all things Canadian meant so much... especially those who ensured our freedom... and 2 often those who paid so dearly.... WWI and WWII were horrendous times looking around at how many we lost in our huge landscape of God's perfect nature and very small number of population.... and the raw courage and duty and selflessness devoted 2 those carrying the flag and the banner of this great Canada... True Patriot Love... thank u. thank u... God is lucky... and He knows it.
Royal Canadian Air Force
The memorial to the 50 escapers who were executed by the Gestapo in the aftermath of the Great Escape. It was built by prisoners of war in the forest outside Stalag Luft III by permission of the camp commandant, a Luftwaffe colonel, who was ashamed of the murders committed by the Gestapo.
Photo: Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) Alex Fieglar
https://www.facebook.com/rcaf1924/photos/pcb.10152741514946237/10152741514546237/?type=1&theater
----
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CANADA MILITARY NEWS-Wheelchair Rights in Canada/ Hey Nova Scotia- Hey Canada- if ur driving and u hit and badly injure or MURDER a pedestrian in a crosswalk, highway, bicycle or bike rider on the highway SHOULDN'T U DO 10 YRS HARDTIME- instead of a ticket 4 murder?? OR HIT BY LOUSY DRUNK DRIVER... SHOULDN’T U GET LIFE???/Disability Rights in Canada March 25-2015
http://nova0000scotia.blogspot.ca/2015/03/canada-military-news-hey-nova-scotia.html
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War Amps-Operation Legacy
In the mid-1980s, War Amps Chief Executive Officer
Cliff Chadderton, along with his fellow war amputee members, became concerned
with the increasing number of Hollywood movies that depicted war in a glamorous
way.
Movies like Rambo, in which the hero emerged
unscathed and the repercussions of war were glossed over, clearly showed that
the lessons of the horrors of war were being lost, and that the younger
generation was being given the message that war had no real consequences.
To counter this, The War Amps began NEVER
AGAIN!, producing award-winning documentaries that honour Canada’s military
heritage and at the same time show the lasting devastation and impact that war
can have both on people and the environment.
Following its success, The War Amps set out to
establish an extension of NEVER AGAIN! that would ensure that these
lessons were passed along to youth when they themselves were no longer able to
do so.
They created Operation Legacy, wherein older
members and graduates of The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program pass on the
stories of the horrors of war that they have learned while growing up and
speaking with war amputees. It is they who will carry the message on when no war
amps remain.
Operation Legacy is not about the causes,
strategies or geopolitics of war. Rather, it has a very simple aim—to tell young
people about war and how horrible it is. It tells them that in a war everyone
suffers, no matter what uniform they wear or what village or city they live
in.
Although Operation Legacy members have not
experienced war firsthand, they know what it is like to live without a limb—a
bond they share with war amputee veterans.
Among the aims and objectives of Operation
Legacy is spreading a message of hope for the future, with the
understanding that a military deterrent may be necessary to defend against an
aggressor.
Now with a membership of more than 200, Operation
Legacy has become recognized as the leading youth organization in Canada in
the area of commemoration and remembrance, with a president, vice presidents and
regional representatives in every province of Canada.
Operation Legacy members were proud to be part
of a National War Museum committee, providing input on what young Canadians
would like to see in the new Canadian War Museum. They also were invited to take
part in the ceremonies during the installation of Canada’s Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier, and have appeared before the Canadian Radio-Television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to encourage the continued showing of The
War Amps Military Heritage Documentaries.
Members of Operation Legacy take part in
remembrance ceremonies across Canada, including the annual ceremony at the
National War Memorial. They also have joined the official delegation on
pilgrimages to France, Belgium, Vimy and Holland.
In addition to taking part in displays, wreath-layings
and other commemorative events across Canada, Operation Legacy has had
a significant impact on the classroom, with members making presentations to
schools and groups. In the presentations, which are tailored to each age group,
Operation Legacy members pass the NEVER AGAIN! message to
young people and show film clips and music videos that commemorate Canada’s
military heritage while showing the true horrors of war.
A unique feature about Operation Legacy is
that it is year-round and not just focused on November 11th. Members are
available to speak to classes and groups throughout the year, and they make a
point of commemorating important anniversaries in our military history whenever
they arise.
Most recently, they noted the 65th anniversary of the
Dieppe Raid by writing letters to the editor of Canadian newspapers, making the
public aware of the documentaries and resources available from The War Amps to
commemorate it. They also present copies of the documentaries to their school
and town libraries to ensure that these productions are available at no cost in
their communities.
Operation Legacy President Adele Fifield says
that they are realistic in their goals. “We know that our program can’t
single-handedly stop war, but by passing on this message, we are planting a
seed. The young people in the classroom today are the leaders of tomorrow, and
hopefully this education about war now will have an impact with the future
decision-makers,” she said.
Teaching younger generations about the true horrors of
war is part of The War Amps legacy. Through Operation Legacy, older
members of CHAMP will continue the Association’s tradition of “amputees helping
amputees” and will pass the NEVER AGAIN! message to future generations,
long after no war veterans remain.
Teachers wishing to arrange an Operation
Legacy presentation can contact The War Amps National Headquarters at
1-800-465-2677 or e-mail operationlegacy@waramps.ca.
In addition, resources such as The War Amps Military
Heritage Documentary Series, posters, music videos, bookmarks and more can be
ordered free of charge at the same numbers. More information, including a
documentary listing, can be found on The War Amps Web site at www.waramps.ca/military.
http://www.canadianteachermagazine.com/archives/ctm_global_awareness/fall07_war_amps.shtml
http://www.canadianteachermagazine.com/archives/ctm_global_awareness/fall07_war_amps.shtml
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MADD steals from The War Amps' playbook | Canada |...
www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/01/26/17047021.htmlCachedOTTAWA - In a controversial move slammed as "desperate" and "shameful," MADD Canada will soon launch a lost key-tag project styled after the signature program The War ...and- I am a member of The War Amps Operation Legacy, which consists of young members and graduates of the Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program who are dedicated to preserving and ...
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How War Amps of Canada Is Changing the Lives of Amputees
Posted: Updated:
By Kim Hughes | www.samaritanmag.com
Among other horrors, the recent Boston Marathon terrorist bombings put amputation in the spotlight, with American war veterans quickly dispatched to counsel the 15 people who lost limbs in the awful explosions of April 15, 2013. Those veterans -- themselves amputees -- represented a passage to recovery and restored normalcy for the victims, something the War Amps of Canada knows all about.
Now 95-years-old and with some 1.5 million lost keys returned to their rightful owners as part of the registered charitable organization's famed Key Tag fundraising method, War Amps has likewise deployed veterans to help countless thousands who've lost limbs to disease, accident and congenital defects, guiding them towards better lives.
Info stated on the War Amps website neatly summarizes its work: "A philosophy of 'amputees helping amputees' has been the hallmark of the War Amps since 1918, when the organization was founded by amputee war veterans returning home from the First World War.
"Counselling, self-help and practical assistance -- along with the desire to preserve Canada's military heritage -- are common threads that have been retained in the modern-day organization that developed from their efforts. Today the Association continues to serve war amputees, and all Canadian amputees, including children."
And indeed it does, notably through its child amputee -- or CHAMP -- programs and associated Playsafe and Drivesafe programs created to help identify and avoid preventable accidents through awareness. Given that birth defects represent the majority of absent or partially formed limbs, according to War Amps, their counseling and assistance work with kids is especially significant. And that's only part of the outreach.
"We provide a huge amount of financial assistance to amputees," offers Rob Larman, director of Playsafe/Drivesafe who first came to War Amps in 1978 as a 14-year-old client who'd lost a leg jumping a train.
While Larman says the War Amps "don't track percentages because the reasons people come to us vary so much," he confirms that "the leading cause of amputation is congenital birth defect or various syndromes that can happen [in fetal development]. Then you run into medical issues -- diseases like meningitis or cancer. Next up is accidents."
The cost for a prosthesis is in the thousands. Larman continues: "It's hard to discuss financials because I can't give you an estimated cost of an artificial limb. It varies. It could be a very standard appliance of $8,000 to $10,000. But when you start adding various components -- maybe an ankle rotator -- the costs soar. The Ontario Assistive Devices Program covers 75 per cent of a standard artificial limb, so a base model without any bells and whistles.
"The War Amps steps in and covers the 25 per cent not covered by the government in addition to hidden costs associated with being fitted with an artificial limb. Not everyone lives next door to a prosthetic facility; sometimes there is travel involved, hotel and meals are needed and we cover that as well."
It is no overstatement to say that Larman's entire life would have been different had it not been for War Amps, which receives no government grants, thus relying on the above-mentioned Key Tags and Address Label Service and private donations for its survival. (The site claims it never exceeds 10 percent on administrative costs and doesn't employ professional fundraisers.)
When Larman claims the War Amps have helped enhance the lives of "literally tens of thousands of amputees," since its formation in 1918, he's speaking both professionally and personally.
War Amps' Rob Larman, director of Playsafe/Drivesafe, lost his leg at age 14 jumping a train. Here he is at the 2012 Atlantic CHAMP Seminar in Halifax with Drayden Sweeney, talking about the old mahogany leg and how the technology of artificial limbs has advanced over the years."I remember my parents struggling with how they were going to afford an artificial limb but the War Amps took me under their wing and alleviated so much burden from my family," Larman tells Samaritanmag. "But more importantly, it eliminated the negativity, my embarrassment about being an amputee.
"I remember a veteran coming into the hospital to see me and saying, 'You know, you're going to be okay.' I looked him up and down and said, 'How dare you tell me I am going to be okay.' He rolled up his pant leg and showed me his artificial leg. I felt terrible, but I realized, 'Wow, I didn't even know he was an amputee when he walked in. If he can walk like that, so can I.'
"When I lost my leg the CHAMP program was just becoming established. Its first seminar [seminars are annual family and amputee networking opportunities and support get-togethers] was 1981 in Burlington, Ontario, and at that time, we had 50 children from across Canada. Now, we hold six regional seminars across the country with at least 100 children at each seminar.
"That doesn't show the exact numbers of people we assist financially and beyond, but we are bringing 100 children from a specific region together to discuss living with artificial limbs and helping families and teens deal with these issues throughout the course of a weekend."
The War Amps also operates an innovative program called Matching Mothers: "We can take a family with years of experience dealing with amputation," Larman explains, "and match them with another family facing the same sort of difficulties." The families trade notes and support.
But while children amputees are a huge part of the War Amps efforts, civilian adults and modern veterans also benefit from the org's advocacy efforts. For instance, War Amps offers information on tax credits available to amputees, psychological and sociological support and legal advice for those involved in litigation.
And the connection to war veterans remains very much in view. In addition to his role as Playsafe director and org spokesperson, Larman is also vice-president of the War Amps Operation Legacy, which is dedicated to passing military heritage on to Canada's youth.
"Let's face it: disability used to be in the closet and swept under the rug," he says. "But that was part of our message: just because you are disabled doesn't mean you are unabled. People with artificial limbs can lead very healthy, successful lives."
* Samaritanmag.com is an online magazine covering the good deeds of individuals, charities and businesses.
War Veterans
War Veterans Canadian humorist Stephen Leacock wrote of war veterans in 1938: "When the war ends they are welcomed home under arches of flowers with all the girls leaping for their necks, and within six months they are expected to vanish into thin air, keep out of the public house and give no trouble." The comment, made with another war imminent, summed up Canada's rather shabby treatment of veterans of the Great War of 1914-18. Canadians made amends after World War II with generous rehabilitation programs, generally recognized as the best in the world, though with oversights such as long-delayed grants for Prisoners of War.
Canada has had war veterans since 1759 when 6 militia battalions took part in the unsuccessful defence of Québec. The brunt of the fighting in the War of 1812 was done by British regulars, but Canadian militiamen were employed, as they were later in the 1837 uprisings in Lower and Upper Canada (see Rebellions of 1837) and in the Fenian raids on Canada in 1864, 1866 and 1870. The militia of the Northwest Field Force fought against Louis Riel in the 1885 North-West Rebellion - a widow of a force member was still receiving a pension in 1987 - and Canada contributed voyageurs to the Nile Expedition in 1885 and contingents to the South African War of 1899-1902. Canada was heavily engaged in the 2 world wars and sent land, sea and air contingents to the Korean War 1950-53 for United Nations action.
A favourite method of rewarding veterans in Canada has been the land grant, or scrip. Veterans of the Fenian raids were given 160-acre grants on the Canadian prairies. In 1931, 160 surviving members of the North-West Mounted Police who had served in the 1885 Northwest Field Force were awarded $300 each in lieu of scrip to which they had been entitled but had never received.
Canada expends nearly $1.5 billion a year in war pensions, mainly for survivors' disabilities. The number of veterans in Canada was about 708 000 in 1987, of whom 32 300 are women and about 11 000 merchant seamen. The veteran population is expected to decline to 206 000 by the turn of the century and to fewer than 200 by 2031, barring future wars. At 1 June 1987, the average age of surviving WWI veterans was 90 and of WWII veterans 67. Recipients of allowances for "burned-out" veterans included 2 from the S African War, 1989 from WWI, 45 522 from WWII and 2354 from the Korean War. Total number of recipients of these allowances was 83 872, including widows and orphans. Another 142 167, including dependants, were receiving pensions for war disabilities. Of these, more than 95 000 were veterans, or nearly 1 in 7 for all surviving veterans.
The first and second world wars came so close together that veterans of the first recognized what had gone wrong with rehabilitation plans for them (financing for soldier settlement on farms was niggardly) and corrected them for veterans of the second. Nearly all legislative proposals, including the 1943 suggestion for creation of a veterans affairs department, came from veterans themselves. It helped that scores of MPs, including those in the Cabinet, were veterans. As a result, 50 000 WWII veterans attended university, while 96,000 other veterans received benefits for farming, fishing, small holdings and businesses, and housing.
Chief veterans' advocate is the Royal Canadian Legion, founded in 1926 through amalgamation of 10 veterans' groups, 50 independent regimental societies and 790 other units, 20 000 members in all. Today the legion numbers more than 600 000 in 1800 branches, having replenished its ranks by taking in spouses, sons and daughters, and associate members. In its early days, the legion was the spur for veterans' legislation and a leading voice for national public broadcasting, Canadian film, Canadian history textbooks and public housing. It has always looked after its own, especially in hard times, but now assists a much wider community as the biggest service organization in Canada.
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War Amps And Canadian Forces Partner To Help CF Personnel Who Have Suffered From Amputation
News release from the War Amps:EDMONTON, Nov. 26, 2013 /CNW/ – The War Amps is pleased to be entering into a collaborative partnership with The Department of National Defence (Canadian Forces Health Services Group) to share knowledge and expertise that will enhance the care of Canadian Armed Forces personnel that have suffered from amputation.
The formal announcement of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between The War Amps and DND took place this morning in the Ballroom of Edmonton’s Westin Hotel during the 4th Annual Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research Forum. The three-day forum brings together top researchers, academics, military personnel, veterans and family members, with focus on the physical and mental health of Canada’s veterans.
“This Memorandum formalizes the commitment of The War Amps in addressing the needs of the Traditional veteran and Modern-Day amputee,” said Brian Forbes, Chairman of The War Amps Executive Committee.
“There is no higher obligation on Canada and the veterans’ community than the responsibility to address the needs and requirements of seriously disabled veterans and their families. This partnership provides a tremendous opportunity to share our knowledge and we look forward to actively working with Canadian Forces Health Services in attaining this objective.”
He notes that The War Amps, which is marking its 95th anniversary of assisting amputee veterans this year, is uniquely positioned to understand the challenges that Canadian Armed Forces personnel face as they adjust to life as an amputee.
The Director of The War Amps National Amputee Centre, Karen Valley, who took part in the announcement, agreed: “The War Amps has a wealth of information regarding amputation, artificial limbs and related topics which we are excited to share with the Canadian Armed Forces. Just as importantly, we can provide the reassurance through both support and tangible examples that it is completely possible to live a full and positive life with amputations.”
“The Canadian Armed Forces and The War Amps have worked together in the past, but this Memorandum of Understanding formalizes our mutual commitment to share knowledge and experience in order to enhance the quality of life of persons who have suffered amputations,” said Brigadier-General Jean-Robert Bernier, Surgeon General. “By fostering this partnership, The War Amps of Canada and the Canadian Forces Health Services Group will work together to help make Canada a global leader in prosthetic development and care in the interests of our clients and patients.”
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History
Padre Sidney Lambert, who founded The Amputations Association after the First World War and who guided the organization for over 50 years, and H. Clifford Chadderton, CC, O.Ont., OStJ, CLJ, CAE, DCL, LLD, who benefited from Padre Lambert's efforts and who has been Chief Executive Officer since 1965. Together they epitomize the history, traditions and strengths of The War Amps.
Recognized by the public as the organization that helps people recover their lost keys, The War Amps has had as its hallmark, for more than 85 years, the unique philosophy of amputees helping other amputees.
Founded by national charter in 1920 as The Amputations Association of The Great War, a fraternal society was envisioned that would be able to provide direction for its members while also seeing to their needs. Counselling, self-help and practical assistance were emphasized.
The organization's first President was Lieutenant Colonel Sidney Lambert, an Army Padre who had lost his leg in action in France during the First World War. He saw the need for an organization that would assist amputees. During his tenure, he laid the groundwork for each ensuing generation of amputees and shaped the philosophy that, with courage and determination, amputees could succeed in life.
It was during his stay in Toronto's old College Street Veteran's Hospital that he first conceived of the idea of a national association to help solve the problems of all "men and women who have lost a limb or limbs or complete eyesight whilst giving their service to Canada, the British Empire, and the Allies in the Great War."
He helped galvanize his comrades in the early years. Later, he spearheaded a drive to set up a sheltered workshop where war amputees could work for competitive wages, while providing a service that would generate funds for the organization. The name of the Association was changed to The War Amputations of Canada, and as disabled veterans returned from the Second World War, the organization provided information, fellowship and employment opportunities to all of its members.
In 1946 the Key Tag Service was launched as a means of providing employment for war amputees. Since then, the service has grown into a computerized program that has returned almost a million sets of lost keys to their owners, but always is dedicated to providing employment for Canadian amputees and people with other disabilities.
The Civilian Liaison Program began in 1953 in order that war amputees could share their knowledge with others who are missing limbs from causes other than war. Later, the program was divided into two, one for adults and a separate program for children.
H. Clifford Chadderton, who lost his right leg during the Second World War, became the Chief Executive Officer of the organization in 1965. The War Amps had been there to assist him in rebuilding his life as an amputee, and, in return, for more than 40 years, he has tirelessly served the needs of Canadian amputees, both young and old.
With Chadderton at the helm, the organization grew dramatically and has become known around the world for its innovative programs and ideas. Realizing that war amputees were being well served by existing programs and that in the future their needs would decrease, he turned the organization's attention to child amputees and in 1975 started the Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program. The program is as unique as the children enrolled in it. The organization tries to reach all amputee children and their families as soon after an amputation as possible, providing artificial limbs, education and counselling to help the children cope with their amputations.
The War Amps holds regional CHAMP Seminars annually across Canada, bringing together child amputees to meet their peers and learn about artificial limbs and new developments. The organization has produced many award-winning videos and documentaries, which can be borrowed free-of-charge or purchased at a cost-recovery price, encouraging amputees of all ages to live their lives to the fullest. To set a good example, Chadderton learned how to downhill ski at the age of 66 years.
Throughout his tenure with The War Amps, Chadderton has maintained a very high profile in the veterans community. As Chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA), he is called upon regularly by the media to comment on veterans issues of both national and international significance.
Clifford Chadderton has a long list of credits to his struggle for veterans rights. One achievement was seeing compensation granted to Canada's Merchant Navy veterans. On February 1, 2000, after Chadderton's long-standing campaign pursuing a payment in lieu of benefits for them, the Canadian government granted compensation of $50 million to eligible Merchant Navy veterans or surviving spouses for war-related service. Since then, the total ex gratia Merchant Navy Special Benefit has grown to $104.5 million, concluding the payment for qualified veterans or surviving spouses.
Chadderton has also seen justice served for Canada's Hong Kong veterans. Cliff led the fight for compensation since 1987, both at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, and before the Canadian government in Ottawa. The December 11, 1998 announcement by the government stated that Canada would award a lump sum payment of $24,000 to each surviving member of the Hong Kong Force and to the widows as well.
The War Amps also has many other programs. The organization's SAFETY WALK Program encourages parents to take their children on a walk to inspect potentially dangerous sites in their neighbourhood. PLAYSAFE, a project aimed at cautioning Canadian youngsters of the dangers while at play, is a kids-to-kids approach to child safety awareness. DRIVESAFE was developed to promote safe driving and to prevent serious injuries due to accidents. MATCHING MOTHERS, initiated in 1984, matches parents whose children have similar amputations from similar causes for support, counselling and information. JUMPSTART focuses on the benefits of computers and early computer training, with the ultimate goal being future employment and independence for children missing multiple limbs. The Association also provides financial assistance for artificial limbs and specialty limbs and devices not covered by government or private health plans.
The National Amputee Centre, formed in 1999, serves Canadian amputees with the latest information on artificial limbs and all aspects of amputation. Adele Fifield, Director of the National Amputee Centre, brings to the centre a wealth of knowledge gained through many years of working with amputees and her own personal experience as an amputee. The centre provides information on the latest products through attendance at Canadian and international prosthetic conferences and funds test-fittings of new prosthetic components to obtain feedback from amputees on their benefits. A comprehensive library of information and resources is available to amputees including newsletters for adult and child amputees. NAC News - a quarterly publication for Canadian prosthetists and prosthetic technicians shares information on amputation and War Amps programs.
The CHAMP JUMPSTART Training Facility is a specialized computer training workshop that provides excellent employment opportunities for amputees. Courses are individually tailored for each student in the different facets of computer work, classroom and practical experience.
The organization is also laying the groundwork for the time when war amputees will no longer be able to run the affairs of the Association. The Association plans to carry on under the name The War Amps. Through Operation Legacy, older members of CHAMP will continue The War Amps tradition of amputees helping amputees, and pass the NEVER AGAIN! message of the horrors of war to future generations. For many years to come, The War Amps will continue to provide many valuable services to its members, to other disabled persons, and to the Canadian public.
Youngsters enrolled in CHAMP represent a new generation of amputees benefiting from the Association's programs. JUMPSTART focuses on computer training as an aid to schoolwork, with the ultimate goal being future employment and independence for children missing multiple limbs.
War Amps CE0, Cliff Chadderton, with a member of the Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program.
http://www.waramps.ca/about/history.html
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Logos
Our two logos symbolize the mission of this Association.
The CHAMP logo represents the special connection between war amputees and child amputees across Canada. Standing in front of the National War Memorial, a war amputee veteran is flanked by two child amputees. The veteran represents the heritage of The War Amps, while the children represent its future. The bond between the generations is strong. War amputee veterans, like Cliff Chadderton, have developed a high level of expertise in amputation, prosthetics and rehabilitation. They pass on this knowledge to the children in the CHAMP Program. Our tradition of "amputees helping amputees" continues. |
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The NEVER AGAIN! logo is the "reverse arms" illustration. It is an
international symbol of the tragedy of war. It represents a soldier's rifle
planted into the ground with a helmet placed on top. In wartime, this
traditionally marked the temporary grave of a fallen soldier until he could be
given a proper burial. This powerful image is not only used on Remembrance Day,
but year-round as a reminder of the horrors of war. NEVER AGAIN!
Our logos are trademarked. They may not be used by third parties without written permission from us. ---------------- A philosophy of "amputees helping amputees" has been the hallmark of The War Amps since 1918, when the organization was founded by amputee war veterans returning home from the First World War. Counselling, self-help and practical assistance – along with the desire to preserve Canada's military heritage – are common threads that have been retained in the modern-day organization that developed from their efforts. Today, the Association continues to serve war amputees, and all Canadian amputees, including children. Our aims and objectives:
----------------- God bless our troops, then,,,, now... always Standing Strong & True (For Tomorrow) Official Music Video (HD) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuNeV0fMflw -------------------- Our MissionA philosophy of "amputees helping amputees" has been the hallmark of The War Amps from 1918, when the organization was founded by amputee war veterans, until the present. Counselling, self-help, and practical assistance - along with appreciation of the history of this country - are common threads that have been retained more than 90 years later in the modern day organization that developed from their efforts.Our Aims & Objectives are to: improve the quality of life for all amputees, encourage child amputees to develop a positive approach to living with amputation through comprehensive support programs, educate amputees with the latest information on artificial limbs and all aspects of amputation, and to provide employment for amputees and raise awareness about issues as diverse as the experiences and abilities of amputees, child safety and Canada's military heritage. About Our CharityThe War Amps is a Canadian nation-wide registered charitable organization operated under the direction of war amputees.In 1946, the Key Tag Service was launched as a sheltered workshop where war amputees could not only work for competitive wages, but also provide a service to Canadians that would generate funds for the organization. The Address Label Service was introduced in 1972 to provide year-round employment for the disabled staff at the Key Tag Service. The War Amps is able to operate its many programs, such as the CHAMP (Child Amputee) Program, PLAYSAFE and DRIVESAFE, solely through donations from the public to the Key Tag and Address Label Service. The War Amps does not: use professional fundraisers; receive government grants; solicit by phone or door-to-door; sell or trade your name/address; spend more than 10% on administration; tie up funds in long-term investments. For more information please visit www.waramps.ca. ---- Cliff Chadderton of War Amps dies at 94Chadderton advocated for vets and child amputeesCliff Chadderton, who served as chief executive officer of The War Amps until 2009, has died. He was 94. The War Amps announced Chadderton's death in a statement and said he was recognized both nationally and internationally as an influential developer of innovative programs and services for war, civilian and child amputees, and as founder of The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program. The statement did not say exactly when or where Chadderton died. "Canada has lost a great man but his legacy will live on in the many people whose lives he has touched," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a written statement. Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs, said Chadderton's passing is "deeply sad" for all Canadians. "We have lost not only a friend of the veterans' community, but a strong advocate for those who have served and sacrificed-and a truly great Canadian," Fantino said. "Through his leadership, compassion and determination, Cliff lifted up those in need of hope, served as a mentor to fellow amputees of all ages and set an example for Canadians everywhere. "He touched a countless number of lives, both directly and indirectly, through his belief that all veterans and disabled persons must be treated with respect and given every opportunity to contribute and demonstrate their talents and skills." Chadderton was a D-Day veteran and lost part of his right leg in October 1944 while in command of a company of The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, battling for the Scheldt Estuary in Belgium and Holland. Following the war, he held several positions in The War Amps before his appointment as executive secretary (later chief executive officer) of the Association in 1965. He was also Chairman and, at the time of his passing, Honorary Chairman, of the National Council of Veteran Associations. Among other awards, Chadderton was a Companion of the Order of Canada and a member of the Order of Ontario. -------------- donate .waramps.ca
“Eight years ago, we learned that our
daughter, Ella, would be born missing her right hand. We had no idea
what to expect. How would she do things? What problems would she face?
An email to The War Amps got a very quick response and Ella was registered in the Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program
before she was even born! When we found out the cost of artificial
limbs, we thought we might not be able to have them for Ella. Learning
of The War Amps financial assistance for artificial limbs was a pleasant
surprise. Ella started at 3 months with her first artificial arm. Now
she has two – a myoelectric arm for everyday and a lightweight one for
swimming and dance that she can put attachments on for things like
gymnastics and paddling a kayak.Before Ella was born, we had no idea what was in store for us. The War Amps has been there to help since day one, through the whole process of learning that we had a child with an amputation and what that meant. Now we don’t worry at all. We know she’s going to be fine.” - Melissa and Steven WAR AMPS OF CANADA- ELLA'S STORY U TUBE https://www.youtube.com/user/warampsofcanada ----------------- Vancouver boy, 5, featured in Canadian War Amps brochureWar Amps
VANCOUVER -- Like most kids who recently started kindergarten, Matteo Pellizzari is social, interested in everything, and just wants to play trucks with his buddies.
He also loves to run, swim, bike and cross-country ski, but, unlike his friends at school, he does all those activities using a pair of prosthetic legs. The five-year-old Vancouver boy has already been in a War Amps commercial, and now his photo is featured in the fall issue of the War Amps brochure and its website. The brochure accompanies the address labels to be mailed to B.C. households starting on Monday. Matteo has been a double-leg amputee from the knee down since he was one-year-old, but it hasn’t stopped him from doing anything, says his mom Katherine Pellizzari. “He’s so confident, so spirited,” she said, adding that Matteo loves his new kindergarten class. The kids at the small Catholic school he attends ask him a lot of questions, but no one has been mean to him, she said. When Katherine was pregnant, she and husband Gino Pellizzari found out their baby boy was missing both of his fibulas, the outer bone of the lower leg. Matteo is the Pellizzari’s second child after older sister Isabella, 10. He was born in 2007 with a rare condition called bilateral fibular hemimelia, and had only two toes on one foot and three on the other. “It was so traumatic, there was a lot of fear,” his mother said. The family endured waiting through an agonizing seven-hour surgery to remove Matteo’s lower legs. They knew that if Matteo didn’t have the operation he would suffer through multiple surgeries throughout his childhood and would still never walk properly. The Pellizzaris didn’t want their son to have a life without mobility and so they made the “very clear decision” to fit him with prosthetic limbs, thanks in part to help from the War Amps, said Katherine. The War Amps Child Amputee Program, or CHAMP, provides financial assistance for artificial limbs, counselling and support. Katherine said the program has allowed Matteo to have different sets of prosthetic legs for different activities, such as a pair designed specifically for swimming. He also attends camps set up by the War Amps where he has met a lot of other children with similar challenges. Before the surgery, Katherine said they had a casting made of Matteo’s legs and feet so they could show him one day, to help him understand the decision made on his behalf. Two months after the surgery, Matteo was fitted with prosthetics, and then just seven months later he took his first steps at 19 months. The family was on vacation at the time in Parksville when he just got up and started walking. “It was really pretty special,” said Katherine. “He’s just such a determined little boy. He never gives up.” South African gold medal Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius (“the Blade Runner”) was also born with bilateral fibular hemimelia. Matteo would like to meet his hero one day, and his mom is already trying to make that happen. She said they’ve been in email contact with Pistorius and hope to meet up with him eventually. ticrawford@vancouversun.com ------------- War Amps presses Government to do the right thing for Canada's Thalidomide victims
OTTAWA, Dec. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - The War Amps is urging the Government to adopt the specific terms and provisions of a proposal put forward by the Thalidomide Victims Association of Canada in relation to ensuring ongoing financial support for life which would allow them to "survive and age with dignity."
The proposal asks that Canada provide victims of this catastrophic drug with increased financial assistance on par with what has been put in place by governments in other countries. The War Amps is encouraged by developments on Parliament Hill last week, where the Government has indicated that it is prepared to consider further compensation. A motion is before the House of Commons to this effect, which appears to have all party support, and is set to be voted on today. "The essential question that remains is whether the Government's ultimate position as to financial aid will be sufficiently responsive so as to address the current and future needs of these thalidomide victims," said Brian Forbes, Chairman of The War Amps Executive Committee. "These courageous individuals have reached the stage of life where they are coping with higher degrees of incapacity, the impact of aging, increased pain, inability to continue to work and the potential loss of parental support, amongst other urgent needs, and are indeed facing what they have described as a crisis," he added. "There is no doubt that the Government should be held accountable at a minimum on moral and humanitarian grounds for its failure to exercise due diligence in the licensing of thalidomide, and its negligence in not recognizing in a timely manner the tragic consequences of the drug," Mr. Forbes said. The War Amps has had a long association with this issue, having established the original Thalidomide Task Force in 1987, led by the late Cliff Chadderton and made up of experts in the medical, legal and financial fields, including Dr. Gustave Gingras, internationally renowned specialist in rehabilitative medicine, together with representation from the Thalidomide Victims Association. The Task Force in 1989 delivered a comprehensive two-volume report to the Parliament of Canada outlining the special needs of the victims at that time. In conjunction with the claim, The War Amps also made a submission to the UN Human Rights Committee stating that Canada had failed to protect the interests of its thalidomide victims in contravention of international human rights standards dealing with children and the disabled, and that compensation was warranted on the grounds that the victims had suffered a gross violation of their human rights. These efforts resulted in a 1991 ex-gratia payment by the Government of $8.5 million, however The War Amps and the Task Force took the position that the door was not closed to further compensation once the future needs and financial requirements of the thalidomide victims were identified. "We regarded that this payment was simply the initial stage of the Canadian Government fulfilling its responsibility for originally licensing the drug and failing to withdraw it for three months after it was known to be linked to severe birth defects, and indeed already withdrawn or banned outright by other countries," said Mr. Forbes a founding member of the Task Force and Legal Counsel to The War Amps on the claim. "We were very much mindful that the thalidomide victims were dealing with an unpredictable future, and that in subsequent years would face additional complications that would require further Government involvement. It is readily apparent that this time has arrived." The responsibility of the Federal Government to provide compensation for the victims of thalidomide was in fact admitted in a statement made to a Special Committee of the House of Commons on January 29, 1963, by the Minister of National Health and Welfare, the Honourable J. Waldo Monteith, who stated: "It is our job to ensure that these victims are cared for in the best possible manner... [and] their needs are met to the fullest possible extent we can devise..." The War Amps continues to take the position, as originally set out in the Thalidomide Task Force Report, that the Canadian Government must satisfy this fundamental commitment in its current consideration as to its response with regard to a long-term and viable financial solution to address the serious needs of the thalidomide victims. It has been noted that other countries with significant numbers of thalidomide victims have stepped forward to provide generous lifetime financial support in recent years, including Britain, in which victims receive an average of more than $88,000 annually, and Germany, where pensions can reach more than $110,000 per year. "It is time for the Canadian Government to stand behind its 50-year-old commitment and to do the right thing as well for Canada's thalidomide victims," said Mr. Forbes. SOURCE War Amps For further information: For more information, please contact Communications at 1 877 60MEDIA or email communications@waramps.ca.
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War Amps offers Canadian military heritage DVDs
Bradford West Gwillimbury Topic
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
The War Amps Child Amputee Program and its Operation Legacy, a group of committed young people who are dedicated to preserving Canada’s military heritage, is highlighting this anniversary by making the public aware of The Canadian Army Newsreels being released on DVD by The War Amps.
In co-operation with Library and Archives Canada, The War Amps is making the complete set of The Canadian Army Newsreels available to the public for the first time, as part of its Military Heritage Series.
Featuring more than 20 hours of footage, this six-DVD set contains 106 newsreels filmed and produced by the Canadian Army Film Unit.
Army cameramen documented the Canadian troops in training and on the front lines.
They scooped the world on major events including the invasion of Sicily and D-Day.
Members of Operation Legacy are donating The Canadian Army Newsreels to their local libraries to help spread the message of remembrance to communities across Canada.
A vignette about the Canadian Army Film Unit and samples of the newsreels can be viewed on The War Amps YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/warampsofcanada or at waramps.ca.
The newsreels and all documentaries in The War Amps Canadian Military Heritage Series are available at a cost-recovery price by calling 1-800-250-3030 or visiting www.waramps.ca .
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War Amps Key Tags
Canada War Amps PSA
War Amps Key Tags
-------------- War Amps re-release documentary on 'Canada's Forgotten War'
Carleton Place Almonte Canadian Gazette
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April marks the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong - one of the most significant battles fought by the Canadians in the Korean War.
As a member of The War Amps Operation Legacy, a group of committed young people who are dedicated to preserving Canada's military heritage, I would like to highlight this anniversary.
On April 24-25, 1951, the 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry engaged in the Battle of Kapyong. From their stand on Hill 677, the Patricia's managed to hold their positions and re-open the supply route despite tremendous odds and bitter fighting. The Canadian action at Kapyong stopped the Chinese advance in this sector of the front for the rest of the war and earned the battalion the U.S. Presidential Citation for valour.
Canada sent 26,791 soldiers to battle in Korea. More than 1,200 were seriously wounded and another 516 never came home.
After the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953, the Canadians returned home amid little fanfare. There were no bands playing, and no parades. In fact, the Korean War had very little impact on Canadians, except, of course, those who fought in it or who lost loved ones.
To mark this anniversary, The War Amps has re-released its documentary Korea: Canada's Forgotten War to regular and specialty TV channels. Part of The War Amps Military Heritage Series, it is also available at a cost-recovery price of $12 by calling 1 800 250-3030 or visiting waramps.ca.
Sincerely,
Jamie Lunn, 23
Operation Legacy Member,
Ottawa, Ont.
Advances in prosthetic limbs driven by the horrors of warThe first time Jody Mitic ran five kilometres on his carbon-fibre feet he couldn’t wait for it to end. It was like watching his two-year-old run. “She can run, kinda,” said Mitic, a retired master sniper who lost both legs below the knee when he stepped on a landmine in Afghanistan in 2007. “Every now and then she’ll just fall over for no reason because she hasn’t figured exactly how to move her legs and feet together. That’s kind of how I felt when I was running.” When Mitic runs he uses J-shaped blades similar to those used by sprinter Oscar Pistorius (the “Blade Runner” now on trial for the shooting death of his girlfriend.) Mitic has run half-marathons and competed in The Amazing Race Canada. Extraordinary advances in prosthetic limbs have made it possible for amputees to do the once unimaginable — advances that have been largely driven by the horrors of war. Legs and knees have advanced from heavy, unwieldy wooden “peg legs” with no moving parts to microprocessor or computer-controlled knees and ankles that can read a person’s gait. Metal hands and hooks have evolved to computer-controlled hands that can close and grip objects as delicate as an egg without cracking it, all using muscle signals from the residual stump. In the past it was all about making artificial limbs look real. “The younger generation is preferring to make it their own,” said Karen Valley, director of the War Amps National Amputee Centre who was born missing her left arm below the elbow. “A lot are going without their covers. They’re happy to show off the mechanics.” Some vets have their regimental logo painted on their prostheses. FIRST WORLD WAR Demand for artificial limbs exploded with the First World War. In Canada alone, of the more than 172,000 Canadians who reported wounds during the war, 3,461 had a limb amputated, according to the Canadian War Museum. Many amputations were caused by infections and gangrene that festered in gunshot and shrapnel wounds. Machine guns caused new and horrific damage. “They were in hand-to-hand combats, often in muddy and dirty environments. They didn’t have the same kind of quick evacuation techniques or antibiotics,” said Valley. The wounded had to be taken from the battlefield by stretcher-bearers “and moved by a combination of people, horse cart, and, later on by motorized ambulancedown the line,’’ according to the British Library. By the time they reached medical help, arms and legs had to be cut off in order to save lives. MODERN WARFARE With today’s advanced warfare as well as improvised explosive devices designed to do maximum damage, “there are a lot more spontaneous amputations,” said Valley, of the War Amps, which started in 1918, originally as the Amputation Association of the Great War. With newer veterans many amputees are bilateral — two legs lost. “The most common after Afghanistan is the landmine injuries — both legs and often above the knee,” said Dr. Amanda Mayo, a physiatrist with the amputee program at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. “They’re just more severe injuries, with greater amounts of limb loss.” TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES Today, advances in robotic technology is pushing the field closer to prosthetics that function as close to the real thing as possible, perhaps even better. Last year, scientists at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago announced the world’s first “thought-controlled” bionic leg — which uses tiny electrical signals from redirected nerves and “decodes” the movement amputees are trying to make, and signals the leg to respond accordingly. Already on the market are knees with microprocessors and sensors “that are figuring out way in advance what the amputee is trying to do,” said Mark Agro, president and CEO of Otto Bock Canada, the German-based company and Paralympic sponsor. Terry Fox ran on Otto Bock components that were simple, unsophisticated hinges, Agro said. “Today, if Terry was running, he’d be running on one of our microprocessor knees constructed of carbon-fibre and electronics that measure his speed — whether he’s walking quickly or running, whether he was slowing down. And it would dial into the knee what the amputee needs.” They are not inexpensive. A microprocessor knee can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000. ARTIFICIAL TOUCH In February, a Swiss and Italian team of researchers announced they had restored the sense of touch to a hand amputee by surgically wiring a sensory-enhanced artificial hand to the nerves in the man’s upper arm. “I could feel things that I hadn’t been able to feel in over nine years,” amputee Dennis Aabo Sorensen, who lost his hand in a fireworks accident nine years ago, told The Associated Press. “It was the closest I have had to feeling like a normal hand.” Most amputations today are due to diabetes or circulatory problems, as well as traumas such as burns or car crashes. For warriors who have had legs blown off, the healing process is difficult. “Early on they can be a little bit hostile. They can have difficulty accepting the state where they’re at,” said Todd Waite, a certified prosthetist at Hamilton Health Sciences Centre. “But once they get to the acceptance stage of what their body is, they’re a great group to work with. They’re very goal-oriented — their ability to overcome these types of things is incredible.” skirkey@postmedia.com Twitter.com/sharon_kirkey http://o.canada.com/health/advances-in-prosthetic-limbs-have-come-a-long-way-since-the-great-war ----------- War Stories Wars have touched the lives of people of all ages, all races, all social classes. Mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, and sweethearts were killed in action, were wounded, and many of those who returned were forever changed. Those who stayed on the homefront also served - in factories, in voluntary service organizations, wherever they were needed. Not every war or homefront veteran had the same experience, but all were affected, one way or another. We're proud to pay tribute to the courageous war and homefront veterans who reflect on their war experiences. In very personal and unforgettable interviews, you will learn about war from those who actually survived it. By focusing on their recollections and personal experiences, we can gain a unique perspective on the realities of war. You'll be amazed by what they saw, did, and had to endure! Hero awarded five medals: The story of Everett George Dixon who served as gunner in four European countries during World War 2. A tail air gunman's journey across Europe: Blair MacSwain lived through battles in the air. Life on the homefront: Doris Matheson experienced the war as a young woman living in Iris, PEI. Frightening panorama in the sea: As a young seaman, Gerald Lannigan belonged to a naval group that destroyed 17 Nazi German ships. North Nova Scotia Highlander killed in battle: Private Charles John Acorn was 18 when he enlisted. Heroism to save a captured friend: The account of Peder Hansen as told by his grandson John Polk of Caledonia, PEI. Families of young men held ransom: Klaas Brink witnessed his family threatened by the Nazis. From aerial photography to tracking satellites: Mort Lyons was a RCAF aerial photographer before going to work tracking satellites. More stories will be shared as they arrive. Stories from veterans or their family members are welcome! Links Veterans Affairs Canada Air Force Association of Canada Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans in Canada Queen's Own Rifles of Canada The War Amps of Canada The Royal Canadian Legion RCAF 424 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion - Nova Scotia Highlanders South Saskatchewan Regiment The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment of Canada 422 Squadron R.C.A.F. http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/warstories.htm ----------- War Amps re-releases "Boys of Kelvin High" documentary in honour of Winnipeg school's 100th anniversary
WINNIPEG, May 18, 2012 /CNW/ - In honour of Kelvin High's 100th anniversary, The War Amps is re-releasing its two-part documentary The Boys of Kelvin High to community channels in Manitoba. Part of The War Amps internationally award-winning Military Heritage
Documentary Series, this film was dedicated to the Canadians who
volunteered for one of the most dangerous occupations of the war -
Bomber Command.
Cliff Chadderton, a graduate of Kelvin High, was an infantry commander in the Second World War, and joined The War Amps after losing a leg during the Battle of the Scheldt. After making the shocking discovery that more than 50 of his classmates from Kelvin High alone were killed while serving in Bomber Command, he knew that story had to be told. The documentary tells the remarkable story of the volunteers who flew in bombers through enemy territory night after night. Against great adversity, they pressed on in a relentless drive to defeat Hitler's Nazi regime. Throughout the narrative, there are accounts of the sacrifices of Mr. Chadderton's fellow students at Kelvin High who were killed in Bomber Command, just a little more than 19 years of age. As part of Kelvin High's 100th anniversary commemoration, the school will be screening The Boys of Kelvin High on May 26 at 12:00 p.m., in its theatre. For more information, please visit Kelvin High's 100th anniversary website: kelvin100.com. Also, in conjunction with the anniversary, The War Amps is releasing a short video honouring nine Kelvin High students killed in Bomber Command, which features footage from the documentary. The film can be viewed on The War Amps YouTube channel: youtube.com/warampsofcanada Like all War Amps productions, The Boys of Kelvin High was funded by corporate donations and is available at a cost recovery price of $14 by calling 1 800 250-3030 or visiting waramps.ca. For further information: For more information, please contact Communications at 1-877-60MEDIA or email communications@waramps.ca. ---- War Amps champ proves prosthetic, athletic prowess; Perth Lions Club donates $500 to War Amps Canada
James Jordan is a man who isn't afraid to admit that he carries a hand bag.
He calls it that because it has a bunch of prosthetic hands in it.
"Ha-ha-ha, amputee humour," said Jordan,
looking out at the members of the Perth Lions Club, meeting at the Perth
fairgrounds on Monday, March 17, as he began unpacking a bag full of
prosthetic hands on the stage overlooking the dinner crowd.
For Jordan, the bag contained his passport
to keeping an active lifestyle, but it doesn't come without its own set
of challenges for the safety events coordinator of the War Amps of
Canada's national headquarters in Ottawa. Explaining the suction
function of one of the prosthetics, Jordan, who was born without his
left arm below his elbow at birth, said that "if I'm playing sports, I
can't have it flying off, and, believe me, it's happened before."
He demonstrated his abilities on stage by
doing push ups, and taking practice hockey shots - something he has been
doing since he was in Grade 7, though he actually prefers not to use a
prosthetic limb to hold his hockey stick since "that's just how I played
street hockey as a kid. I find it's way better."
Back then, he would spend two hours each
afternoon shooting the puck at his dad's garage, working on his
technique, perfecting an "amazing slapshot," though the garage door was
worse for wear, ending up with 10 holes in it before he was told to
shoot at the side of the house.
But while the door suffered, Jordan's
self-esteem grew, as he learned to adapt and work with what he had left,
though the CHAMPS (Child Amputee) program. For anyone with an
amputation, he urged the Lions to remember that "he's able to do
anything. He just may have to do it differently."
From the age of six-monthsold, he has been a
member of the War Amps of Canada, who provide financial and other
assistance to children with amputated limbs. He remembers going to
conferences put on by the War Amps for children and "it was quite the
moving experience to meet other amputees like myself...you are not
alone. To be able to have a forum to meet other amputees and share tips
was an amazing experience."
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the
start of the First World War, which is fitting since the War Amps were
started up for servicemen returning from the trenches of the western
front who had lost limbs and, in the early days, their eyesight.
By the time the Second World War had ended
in 1945, the First World War veterans were waiting on the docks to meet
the returning wounded off of the boats. "They greeted them at the dock,"
said Jordan. "They had 20 years experience," navigating a world without
limbs. "They wanted to give back to Canadians," as well as their fellow
amputees.
By 1946, the War Amps' famous key tag
service began, providing a fundraising vehicle for the charity, which
does not receive any government funding, and also job opportunities for
wounded veterans. Since then, 1.5 million sets of keys have been
returned, either by good Samaritans dropping them into a nearby mailbox,
or by calling the 1-800 number on the tag.
"Your information is 100 per cent
confidential," and not sold to outside sources, with only a "handful of
people" having access to the database of names and addresses. He added
that since "key fobs are very expensive," the program has become even
more valuable.
Less than 10 per cent of the funds raised
are used to cover administrative costs, with the remaining money going
to cover "whatever the government doesn't cover, they cover about half,"
the cost of a limb.
"This arm," he said, waving his myoelectric
arm, "costs $25,000. That's quite a lot of money. A lot of families
wouldn't have a penny to put towards that."
Another cost that they assist with are
recreational limbs, like the ones he uses for hockey, since "the
government does not cover the cost of recreational limbs," which can
cost between $1,000 and $10,000.
He also has a silicon hand, which is good for "looking pretty," if he is going out somewhere fancy.
Even though he has lived with his disability
his whole life, having worked as a counselor at a summer camp for kids
with amputations, where "I'm a role model for them," whenever he meets
with War Amps kids now, "they still help me every time I see them."
The War Amps also provide emotional support
and peer counseling. While children under the age of 18 are
automatically covered, "we are slowly filling in the gaps for adult
amputees," since, after 18, people are expected to have some manner of
private health coverage, though they will help out where they can.
At the end of the meeting, the Lions voted
unanimously to donate $500 to the War Amps of Canada, for which Jordan -
hockey stick in hand, with his coat on, looking like an average guy on
his way to play hockey - was most appreciative.
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