Letters to the Editor: July 27, 2024

Article content

HMCS Prevost’s battle

Regarding the article, Memorial to Honour Battle of the Atlantic fallen (July 6).

It began by noting that “Ground will be broken in the fall for a national memorial to those lost in the Battle of the Atlantic.” Subsequent wording suggests that the memorial is intended to honour those who died in this longest battle of the Second World War.

Article content

The article leaves the reader with the impression that no Battle of the Atlantic Memorial currently exists at HMCS Prevost. In fact, the Battle of the Atlantic Memorial has existed at HMCS Prevost since its creation in 2010, some 14 years ago.

In 2010, HMCS Prevost’s public affairs officer, David Lewis, presented the idea of the memorial to the commanding officer, Lt.-Cmdr. Jeff White, as a way to commemorate the centennial of the Royal Canadian Navy.

On May 2, 2010 with the assistance of the Naval Officers Association of London and extensive fundraising, the memorial was formally dedicated and registered as Canadian military memorial (No. 35042-029).

At its creation, it consisted of 25 quarter-tonne blue granite stones, about one metre in height on the grass hillside, of HMCS Prevost. Each stone is engraved with the name of the ship and the date it was lost during the Battle of the Atlantic. One stone is dedicated to the Merchant Navy.

The stones, which are likened to tombstones, face out toward the Thames River, forming a timeline of the battle with each one placed according to when the ships were lost at sea, beginning with HMCS Fraser, sunk on June 25, 1940, and ending with HMCS Esquimalt, sunk on AprilA 16, 1945.

Article content

The memorial was further developed to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017. This occurred under the guidance of commanding officer Lt.-Cmdr. Sean Batte. The development was significant with the addition of stone walkways, seating areas, landscaping, fencing, parking and stairways.

This second phase of the memorial added to the first phase has been enjoyed by many, both veterans and the public. The memorial is part of Tripadvisor and is listed as a destination for visitors to London.

Many individuals and organizations have provided funding and other support over the two previous development phases of the memorial. Much work and commitment have yielded what now exists.

While the current monument project will add much to the significance of the memorial in its third phase of development, it is essential that its existence for no less than 14 years be recognized.

Dr. Michael Hoare, Lieutenant Commander (Ret’d)

Article content

Seniors should pay up

I always feel seniors should pay an extra small tax. This is not a popular subject, especially with politicians. Here is why:

Seniors visit medical centres regularly, the ER more than any other groups. They are living longer and have used all or most of their contributions in the past. Long lives wanted!

They received some free drugs, therapy, dental, eye, ear, medical, home support services. Thanks for that!

Seniors with permits can ride city buses free at certain times. This is a welcome service!

The last days will be the one and only time to give, do, attend, partake and support, even if you lose friends. Do seniors want those valuable services?

Sheila Leber, London

Joe Rogan’s boycott

First, Joe who? Second, is he serious? Third, what a total waste of a column in the newspaper.

Anyone from a country with more guns than people, which seems to have lost the fine art of telling the truth, where politics is spewed from the pulpit, where politics trumps justice in the courts, where trying to elect a convicted felon for president seems acceptable, where respect for historic democratic values is sliding, perhaps needs to look in the mirror before whining about our Canadian values.

Article content

The country that has gone “sideways” is indeed his very own. Please, don’t come!

Cheryl Lockhart, Thamesford

Why doesn’t Windsor pediatric care matter?

Why is pediatric hospital care in Windsor not prioritized, especially when OHIP spends millions a year on emergency care of Windsor-Essex pediatric patients or when so many of us depend on LHSC for our kids?

I write this out of sheer frustration and a complete lack of faith in pediatric “health care” in Windsor. As a parent whose child almost died because of mistakes in our emergency department, confirmed by another hospital when he finally made it there after waiting for Ornge while critical, I’d like to know why any of it was allowed to happen.

I am not the only parent who has had these experiences and questions these things.

We are quite frankly at our wits’ end having to rely on London, Detroit and Toronto for emergency and ongoing care for our kids. Why is it acceptable local families have to visit LHSC roughly 425 times a month for their child’s ongoing care? Or up to six kids a month are sent to Detroit? Or up to three a month are sent to Toronto?

Kait Lowe, Windsor

Article content