In Military Service Of The Country

 Continuing where I left off yesterday, this is in the area of the Museum focusing on commemoration.

A number of newspaper articles and photographs focuses on the Second World War story of a fallen flight of Canadians, whose remains were recovered decades later and buried with honours in the Netherlands.

A corridor leading to Regeneration Hall features a rotating series of displays or art. At the time of my visit, the series was done in collaboration with the Niagara Military Museum, focusing on the contributions of black Canadians to the military over time, even while working for equality at home.

Richard Pierpoint was a slave at the time of the American Revolution. He joined the Loyalist Butler's Rangers, fought throughout, and went north into Canada after that war, later serving in the War of 1812.

Anywhere from twenty thousand to fifty thousand Canadians headed south to fight in the Civil War- overwhelmingly for the Union. Among them were black men for whom the fight was personal. William Chandler was one of them. He survived the war, returning home, and many of his descendants still live in the Niagara area today.

James Grant and John Bright both saw service in the First World War.

Gerry Bell and Everett Dawson both saw action in the Second World War.

Sisters Connie and Kathleen Brown were among the Canadian women who served in the Second World War.

Four brothers, the Johnsons, served in the military; Douglas and Clarence in the Second World War.

Beverly joined up afterwards and made a career of it. His brother David saw action in Korea. All four of them survived.

Two members of the Nicholson family of St. Catherines served. Phyllis was with the Royal Canadian Women's Medical Corps. Bill Hokan made a career out of military service.

Sergeant Stephen Thomas did two tours in Afghanistan. Edward Smith spent his career as an officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force.