Legion recognizes queen’s far-reaching legacy

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This article was published 19/09/2022 (1155 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lightning, thunder and drizzle didn’t deter members of a local legion from bidding goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her funeral.

Members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #3 executive gathered Monday morning in the veterans section of the Brandon Municipal Cemetery where they held a ceremony that included laying a wreath, a moment of silence and singing of “God Save the King” in honour of the new monarch, Charles III.

Branch president Fred Pritchard noted it was their duty as members of the Royal Canadian Legion to mark the queen’s death.

But, like other legion members at the ceremony, he also had personal reasons to honour the late monarch.

For Pritchard, the ceremony paid tribute to a queen whose 70-year reign has earned admiration and who “exudes leadership.”

“It’s the least we could do, for paying respect,” Pritchard said.

Richard McDonald has ties to the queen through his British background and the military.

His Canadian father was a serviceman during the Second World War and met McDonald’s mother while in her home country of England.

McDonald was born in England, and when he was a boy, he and his mother joined his father in Canada. He later served with 14th Canadian Hussars, and was a commanding officer of local cadets for four years.

“She is our leader, and she is the commander of the Forces,” McDonald said of the queen.

As queen, Elizabeth II was commander-in-chief of the Canadian Armed Forces — although, the execution of the duties for that position are delegated to the Governor General of Canada, as the representative of the monarch.

But respect for Elizabeth II extends beyond the United Kingdom, to include countries that have turbulent histories with Britain.

Paul Mount was born in Dublin, Ireland and served with that country’s army for 17 years, which included time in Lebanon as a United Nations peacekeeper.

“I have known the queen all my life,” Mount said, noting Elizabeth II’s image was on English bank notes that still circulated in Ireland even after it gained its independence from Britain in 1922. “I think she has been a wonderful symbol of England.”

While Ireland, as a former British colony, has a complex relationship with England, Mount said many Irish people don’t feel any ill will toward Elizabeth II. In 2011, she received a warm welcome when she made the first official visit to Ireland by a British monarch in 100 years.

“She was treated like our queen,” Mount said.

Erich Stumme’s view of the Queen is another example of her ability to win fans beyond the Commonwealth.

Stumme served 35 years with the German armed forces and was stationed at Canadian Forces Base Shilo from 1986 to 1990. He returned to Canada after retiring from the German military in 2006.

“Even in Germany, the Queen is a symbol, a good symbol standing for many good things,” Stumme said. “She also was part of my whole life. She became queen when I was three years old.”

» ihitchen@brandonsun.com