To the editor:
I am responding to A Simpkins’ letter, headlined Reader takes issue with Remembrance Day letter, on page 9 of the Dec. 22 edition of the Free Press.
Thank you for your lesson in Canadian History from the North West Rebellion to Afghanistan. Please be assured my collection of books, documents, maps, strategies and photos make me well informed of the police and military actions both inside and outside of Canada.
My letter to the editor was my opinion of his mix up in priorities of pictures, that’s all.
Again, the lovely picture of the red serge Mounties, front and centre page should not have relegated the marching veterans colour party to a reduced photo in the second section. They should have been at least side-by-side, or top and bottom on page 1.
As for being the same picture every year, yes you are correct; the bunting, all the flags, the veterans and the people change, they are only passing through. I know for a fact some marching members in the 2009 Colour Guard are gone, not present in 2010 role call, and it will probably repeat itself in 2011.
Remembrance Day all across Canada is set aside and belongs to the veterans represented by their colour party, front and centre, and the core photo. This one day belongs to them; the Mounties can have the coveted page 1 the remaining 364 days of the year.
You sound like a proud person through your heritage and your station in life. However, your second paragraph of me berating the RCMP — wrong — you missed the point completely.
I am berating the editor over his choice of the news item and photos being in the wrong order.
I should not have to say this, but I will: nobody is throwing mud at our national police force as you seem to imply, or on your family heritage.
Lance and Norma Arnett
Westbank
