By Mike Cohen

As we prepare to close the book on the year 2019, allow us to look back to November an extraordinary Remembance Day ceremony held at the  Veteran’s Memorial Park, C # 19, Field of Honour, Baron de Hirsch Cemetery and coordinated once again by Larry Rosenthal.

Participants included Rabbi Asher Jacobson, Rabbi Reuben J. Poupko.  Lt. Col Alain Cohen,  Janice Rosen from the Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives, Harvey Levine and Ya’acov Bauerof  B’nai Brith Canada, Côte Saint-Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein,  Dorothy Zalcman from the Montreal Holocaust Museum, Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA President Rick Rubin,  Frederick Kisch Branch #97 President Allan J. Levine and Bugler,  Corporal  Justin Forte.

“I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the men  and women of our Canadian Armed Forces,” commented Rosenthal. “We recognize your strength of character. You are an inspiration to us. You keep us safe. We honour those who made the supreme sacrifice in the prime of their lives for democracy, freedom and justice. We need to do our share to assure that they did not die in vain. We need to pay homage…. performing acts of kindness in their names to perpetuate their memories. They fought and died for us.

“We remember those who served in  World War I, World War II  and the Korean War We also recognize the 158 warriors who lost their lives in Afghanistan. Purposely I try to stay away from the detail of the various military Campaign as the number of loses are staggering and difficult to cope with. For example, on D-Day, 14,000 Canadian troops went ashore. On that very day, 359 lost their lives. B the end of the Campaign there were more than 5,000 fatalities. That also meant there were 5,000 broken -hearted families left behind with shattered dreams, and many tars. We must do what they cannot. We must recognize …we must appreciate what they fought for and too many died for.”

Rosenthal then told the story of his brother, The late Gunner William Gunner Rosenthal OBM  who was killed in action on July 25,1943 “A young man wanted to stop fascism from coming to our shores he wanted to keep his family safe,” Rosenthal said. “Prior to his enlistment, he had worked for the Canadian Press. He had been an editor of the Fortnightly Review.He perished for his caus and he is buried near Mount Etna, Sicily not far from his last battle. He was 21 years young.”

Rosenthal wishes to advise everyone that the next  Erev Yom Tov Memorial Service will take place on Sunday, August 30, 10:30 am, at the same location.