Canadian Duo Honor Service and Sacrifice of American Allies
SUDBURY, ON, Oct. 9, 2018 /CNW/ - Two Canadians, who have launched a personally funded mission to commemorate the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces, have delivered a collection of military memorabilia into the care of U.S. Defense Attaché Colonel William J. Rowell.
The presentation was made as part of the Service and Sacrifice Initiative founded by Canadian Armed Forces Members Honorary Colonel Kevin McCormick and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Motyl. The project was developed in 2016 as a formal mechanism by which to locate historic U.S. military pieces and repatriate them with family members, military museums, educational platforms and communities. Both McCormick and Motyl have donated their personal time and funds to support the project and have amassed, through auctions, private sales and other markets, hundreds of pieces of historic items representing all branches of the U.S. military and geographic regions across the nation. Further, the initiative represents the lives of U.S. service men and women, and their families, from all major conflicts and wars.
The items, presented during a ceremony held recently at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, include a vintage aviation-themed oil painting entitled "Twilight Majesty" by Canadian artist John Rutherford, as well as a series of 145 personal letters belonging to Colonel Allen G. Hart, dated May 8, 1925 to December 15, 1968. The letters detail Col. Hart's time serving in the U.S. military, most notably as a member of the "Jolly Rogers" Consolidated B-24 Liberator unit during World War II.
"From colonial times, into the 20th century with two World Wars, and continuing right up to the present, military conflicts have shaped the history of our two nations and forged an unprecedented bond between the military forces of the United States and Canada. I was honored to meet the founders of the Service and Sacrifice initiative, Canadian Forces members, Honorary Colonel Kevin McCormick and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Motyl, who were joined by Mr. Marc Serré, MP for Nickle Belt and a member of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, and to be able to assist with the repatriation of the letters written by Colonel Hart."
- U.S. Defense Attaché Colonel William J. Rowell, United States Embassy, Ottawa, Canada
"The Service and Sacrifice Initiative allows us to honor the personal and professional sacrifices of our military Allies in the U.S. while also raising awareness of the exceptionally strong bond between our two nations. The selfless dedication and exemplary professionalism of the men and women of the U.S. military over the centuries is a powerful testament to their nation's unwavering commitment to freedom and justice."
- Dr. Kevin McCormick, Honorary Colonel, Irish Regiment of Canada
"I am honored to be part of this important project and play a role in returning military pieces back to their country of origin. It's truly amazing how a personal letter or artifact can bring a person's story to life and highlight their tremendous courage and sacrifice in service to their country."
- Lieutenant Colonel Michael Motyl, Canadian Armed Forces Military Police
McCormick and Motyl have made donations and presentations to museums across the U.S. Most recently, they toured New York State repatriating military artifacts including pieces from the Civil War and WWI, at the New York State Military Museum, the Military History Society of Rochester, and the City of Utica. They are slated to further the mission of the Service and Sacrifice Initiative in early November with presentations being made to various senior officials and institutions in Washington, D.C.
SOURCE Huntington University
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